Viet Nam, UK launch initiative to strengthen coastal resilience

The launching event brought together senior government representatives, development partners and coastal stakeholders to mark the start of a major new effort to strengthen the resilience of Viet Nam's coastal communities and marine ecosystems.

COAST Viet Nam is a five-year project, with a total budget of GBP 18.19 million GBP, of which GBP 17.5 million is funded through the UK Government's Blue Planet Fund and GBP 0.69 million is funded by the Vietnamese Government in counterpart funding.

The program aligns closely with the UK–Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in October 2025 and is a key milestone in the growing collaboration between the two countries.

Through its largest component, called COAST Facility, it will deliver expert

technical assistance, flexible grants, and long-term partnerships to strengthen governance and policy, promote inclusive coastal stewardship and sustainable livelihoods, and enable responsive coastal management.

Viet Nam is one of the Facility's four priority countries. With a coastline stretching 3,260 km and an Exclusive Economic Zone of over 417,000 square kilometres, the country's marine ecosystems underpin its food security, jobs, and economic growth.

But these critical resources face growing threats: climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices are increasing pressure on marine ecosystems.

COAST Viet Nam will help turn the tide by restoring ecosystems, improving livelihoods, and strengthening the governance systems that protect coastal communities.

COAST Facility Viet Nam aims to conserve, protect, and develop fishery resources; restore marine and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity and improve the climate resilience of marine and coastal aquaculture.

It also targets to promote sustainable livelihood transition for coastal communities, especially vulnerable groups (the poor, ethnic minorities, and women) affected by climate change as well as strengthen management and policy implementation capacity at national and subnational levels in fisheries, resource protection, ecosystem/biodiversity conservation, and climate change response.

The program will provide technical assistance, flexible grants, and lasting partnerships to advance these four outcomes in eight provinces namely Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Gia Lai, Khanh Hoa, Can Tho, An Giang, and Ca Mau./.