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Harmonising National Legal Frameworks with Emerging International Legal Norms on Marine Plastic Pollution: A Case Study of Vietnam
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This study looked at whether Vietnam's laws on ocean plastic pollution actually match up with global standards being developed to tackle this crisis. The good news: Vietnam has made real progress, like requiring companies to help manage the waste from their products. But there are still gaps—like weak tracking systems and unclear coordination between agencies—that need fixing so plastic waste doesn't keep leaking into the ocean, where it breaks down into microplastics that end up in seafood and drinking water.
Marine plastic pollution has become a defining transboundary environmental challenge, prompting the international community to pursue a legally binding global treaty. Vietnam, a rapidly developing coastal state, has introduced significant legal reforms to address plastic leakage; however, the extent to which its national framework aligns with emerging international norms remains unclear. This study examines Vietnam’s legal preparedness by analysing the consistency between domestic laws—particularly the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection and the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris—and global regulatory directions articulated under UNCLOS, MARPOL, the Basel Convention, and ongoing treaty negotiations. Using a qualitative case-study methodology, the research integrates doctrinal legal analysis, comparative policy review, and assessment of secondary empirical materials to identify strengths, weaknesses, and harmonisation needs. The findings reveal notable progress in Vietnam’s adoption of extended producer responsibility and its engagement in regional cooperation, yet highlight persistent gaps in upstream regulation, institutional coordination, monitoring capacity, and transboundary waste governance. These gaps indicate partial but incomplete alignment with the lifecycle-based approaches emerging globally. The study concludes that Vietnam must undertake deeper structural reforms to meet future treaty obligations and to strengthen the coherence and effectiveness of its marine-plastic governance. Enhanced coordination, improved monitoring systems, and broader circular-economy measures will be essential for full harmonisation with evolving international standards.
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Plastic and Microplastic Waste Governance in Vietnam: Analysis of Legal Gaps and Extended Producer Responsibility Mechanism in the Context of International Integration
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Researchers analyzed Vietnam's legal framework for plastic and microplastic waste governance, examining gaps in the Extended Producer Responsibility mechanism. The study found that despite recent regulatory progress, significant legal gaps remain in addressing microplastic pollution, and recommends strengthening enforcement and aligning domestic policy with international integration efforts.
The Study of the Laws of Vietnam to Prevent and Control Marine Environmental Pollution from Ship's Garbage
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This study examines Vietnamese maritime law governing the prevention and control of marine environmental pollution from ship-generated garbage, analyzing how existing regulations align with international standards for managing waste from vessel operations. The authors identify gaps in Vietnam's legal framework for controlling ship-source pollution and recommend strengthening enforcement and compliance mechanisms to protect national marine waters.
Policy and Legislations on Microplastics Pollution Management in Vietnam
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This paper reviews Vietnam's legal framework for managing plastic pollution, including microplastics, finding that while legislation exists it lacks specific provisions for microplastics and implementation is weak. Stronger, more targeted policy is needed to address the country's growing plastic waste problem.
Regulatory Frameworks for Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam: Legal Gaps, Extended Producer Responsibility, and Pathways Toward a Circular Economy
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Researchers conducted a doctrinal legal analysis of Vietnam's Environmental Protection Law 2020 and related regulations, identifying critical gaps in extended producer responsibility enforcement, single-use plastic restrictions, informal sector integration, and alignment with the emerging Global Plastics Treaty that collectively limit effective plastic waste management.
Current Status of Plastic Waste Pollution and Management in Vietnam: Challenges and Opportunities Toward a Circular Economy
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Vietnam is one of the world's top contributors to ocean plastic pollution, and this review paper takes stock of how the country produces and manages plastic waste, along with the laws in place to fix it. Poorly managed plastic waste doesn't just harm the environment — it breaks down into microplastics that can enter our water, food, and eventually our bodies, making better waste management a public health issue as much as an environmental one. The paper argues that shifting toward a "circular economy" (reusing and recycling materials instead of tossing them) offers a path forward, though real progress will depend on stronger policies and enforcement.
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