The Government of Vietnam, through its Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE), has announced an ambitious action programme to accelerate digital transformation in land management, resource governance, and environmental data systems, while significantly reducing administrative burdens for citizens and businesses across the country.

The programme has been introduced to implement Government Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP and Resolution No. 02/NQ-CP of Vietnam, focusing on socio-economic development, improving the business environment, and enhancing national competitiveness in 2026 through digital governance and e-governance reforms.

Strong Growth Targets with Sustainability at the Core

Under the plan, Vietnam’s agriculture and environment sector is targeting a GDP growth rate of 3.7–4 per cent, with total export turnover of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products projected to reach US$73–74 billion.

Alongside economic growth, the ministry has reiterated Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, and data-driven resource management.

Key environmental targets include:

• 95 per cent collection and treatment of urban domestic solid waste in Vietnam

• Maintaining 42.02 per cent forest cover nationwide

• 100 per cent online monitoring and control of large hydroelectric reservoirs to ensure water security and operational safety using digital monitoring systems

Digital Transformation Driving Administrative Reform

A major focus of Vietnam’s action programme is administrative reform through digital transformation, identified as a critical breakthrough for improving the investment and business climate.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment plans to:

• Eliminate and simplify 100 per cent of unnecessary investment and business conditions

• Abolish business conditions for industries not listed under Vietnam’s Investment Law

• Reduce administrative procedure processing times and compliance costs by 50 per cent compared with 2024

Digital transformation has been identified as the key enabler of these reforms. Vietnam will accelerate land digitisation and GIS-based land administration by:

• Completing local-level land databases across provinces and cities

• Integrating them into the national land database of Vietnam

• Developing an online land information sharing platform to provide transparent and timely access to digital land records for citizens and businesses

These measures are expected to reduce transaction costs, improve transparency, and strengthen the efficiency of state land management systems in Vietnam.

Advancing Green and Smart Agriculture in Vietnam

In the agricultural sector, the ministry will promote ecological, green, and sustainable agriculture in Vietnam, supported by high technology, geospatial data, and innovation. Key initiatives include:

• Large-scale commodity production of agricultural, forestry, and aquatic products

• Reorganisation of production linked to planting area codes and traceability systems

• Alignment with increasingly strict domestic and international market requirements

A major priority remains addressing the European Commission’s recommendations to lift the “yellow card” on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating favourable conditions for the sustainable expansion of Vietnam’s seafood export markets.

Rural Development and Environmental Protection Goals

The programme also sets specific targets for Vietnam’s rural development and environmental management, including:

• Around 15 per cent of communes meeting new-style rural standards under the 2026–2030 criteria

• 62 per cent of rural households using clean water that meets national standards

• Identification and announcement of minimum post-dam flows for 84 hydroelectric and irrigation reservoirs across nearly 700 works, supporting integrated water resource management

Key Solutions for Effective Implementation

To achieve these objectives, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has outlined 11 key groups of solutions, to be implemented in a coordinated and decisive manner from the beginning of the year.

Key focus areas include:

• Reviewing and refining institutions, policies, and legal frameworks to remove bottlenecks

• Aligning policy reforms with digital-first administrative systems and e-governance platforms

• Streamlining organisational structures by merging units with overlapping responsibilities

• Driving breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and geospatial intelligence as core engines of growth

The ministry emphasised that science and technology must move beyond supporting production to become true drivers of transformation—particularly in ecological agriculture, the circular economy, and greenhouse gas emission reduction.

Strengthening Vietnam’s Global Market Integration

Market development and agricultural trade promotion have been identified as overarching solutions. Vietnam aims to expand export markets, strengthen trade promotion efforts, and support businesses and cooperatives in integrating more deeply into global value chains supported by digital and spatial data systems.

Through this comprehensive action programme, Vietnam is positioning digital transformation, GIS-enabled land management, and national land databases as cornerstones of efficient governance, sustainable growth, and long-term competitiveness—reflecting a broader global trend in modern land administration and resource management.