SEAFDEC Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center
Viet Nam is located on the west side of the South China Sea with an area of about 331,000 km2 and a coastline of about 11,409 km. The exclusive economic zone is around 237,800 km2 and there are more than 4,000 islands and islets scattered offshore. The country has about 2,370 rivers including the Red River with a basin area of about 1.9 million ha and the Mekong River with a basin of about 4.1 million ha.
Fisheries is a crucial sector for the development of Viet Nam, especially in food security, poverty alleviation, sustainable livelihood, economic growth, and rural employment. In 2019, the gross domestic product from fisheries was 3.40 % and the fish available for consumption was 37.70 % kg/capita. The fisheries sector is categorized into marine capture fisheries (coastal, inshore, and offshore) and aquaculture (marine, freshwater, and brackishwater). The Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is responsible for the development and management of the fisheries sector of Viet Nam.
In 2019, Viet Nam ranked 7th in world capture fisheries production and 4th in world aquaculture production as well as a major exporting country in the world with a top three ranking. For the national production, capture fisheries contributed 47 % and aquaculture contributed 53 %. However, the production from inland fisheries was low due to the negative impacts of the construction of new dams and reservoirs.
Total fishery production of Viet Nam by quantity (MT)
| 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
| Total | 8,270,200 | 7,768,500 | 7,313,400 | 6,803,900 | 6,549,700 |
| Capture Fisheries | 3,777,700 | 3,606,700 | 3,420,500 | 3,163,300 | 3,036,400 |
| Marine Capture | 3,583,000 | 3,396,700 | 3,213,300 | 2,973,600 | 2,839,900 |
| Inland Capture | 194,700 | 210,000 | 207,200 | 189,700 | 196,500 |
| Aquaculture | 4,492,500 | 4,161,800 | 3,892,900 | 3,640,600 | 3,513,300 |
Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2019
Total fishery production of Viet Nam by value (US$ 1,000)
| Major species/group | 2019 | 2018* | 2017* | 2016* | 2015* |
| Tunas | 359,909 | – | – | – | – |
| Molluscs | 309,844 | – | – | – | – |
| Natantia | 134,544 | – | – | – | – |
| Crabs | 50,360 | – | – | – | – |
*Production not reported by species
Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2019
Production of major species/groups of species from aquaculture of Viet Nam by quantity (MT)
| Major species/group | 2019 | 2018* | 2017* | 2016* | 2015* |
| Catfishes | 1,612,500 | – | – | – | – |
| Shrimps/prawns | 903,129 | – | – | – | – |
| Cyprinids | 440,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Molluscs | 315,000 | – | – | – | – |
| Tilapias | 263,107 | – | – | – | – |
| Common carp | 134,312 | – | – | – | – |
| Crabs | 71,757 | – | – | – | – |
*Production not reported by species
Source: Fishery Statistical Bulletin of Southeast Asia 2019
Export and import of fishery products of Viet Nam by quantity (MT) and value (US$ 1,000)
| Year | Export | Import | ||
| Quantity (MT) | Value (US$ 1,000) | Quantity (MT) | Value (US$ 1,000) | |
| 2019 | 1,814,198 | 8,694,596 | 592,209 | 1,888,515 |
| 2018 | 1,717,841 | 8,911,638 | 546,114 | 1,859,331 |
| 2017 | 1,823,542 | 8,586,492 | 626,474 | 1,765,991 |
| 2016 | 1,665,798 | 7,344,113 | 478,819 | 1,366,351 |
| 2015 | 1,596,160 | 6,774,148 | 431,110 | 1,300,954 |
Source: FAO Fishery and Aquaculture Information and Statistics Service