Aquaculture landscape in Vietnam's Mekong River Delta

Mekong River Delta’s aquaculture and landscape dynamics

As Vietnam's aquaculture heartland, MRD accounts for 70% aquaculture area and over 70% of country’s total aquaculture output. The region’s sector has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from small-scale, self-sufficient practices to a major commercial sector vital to the region’s economy, food security, and export markets. Despite constant challenges such as disease outbreaks and climate change that continue to adversely impacted the aquaculture farming in the recent years, MRD’s aquaculture sector has demonstrated resilience, experiencing robust growth of 3.5% per year from 2018 to 2023 averagely. The region’s success stems from the dense river system, coastal advantage, extensive aquaculture practices and comprehensive commitment to innovation and sustainability across stakeholders in the sector.

The MRD’s aquaculture sector thrives on a complex web of stakeholders – from suppliers, farmers, processors to supporters and influencers. These stakeholders, each with their own unique traits and roles, range from industry leaders to smaller, less organized groups. Despite their differences, they are all interconnected and rely on each other throughout the aquaculture value chain. Recognizing the specific characteristics and roles of each stakeholder is crucial for fostering better communication and collaboration. This shared understanding paves the way for stronger engagement and ultimately supports the long-term sustainable growth of aquaculture in the MRD.

Perceptions on various dimensions

Examining the future of aquaculture in the MRD requires considering both national and specific regional goals, alongside a range of political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) influences. Insights into these influences shall inform the sector's development direction, and supporting stakeholders in market navigation. Building upon the PESTLE framework, the report further identifies the sector's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT), ultimately outlining necessary changes and improvements, ultimately pointing towards potential business opportunities for private businesses, with a focus on small and growing companies.

• Input: promotes greater use of biotechnology, specifically micro-biological products for improved water quality and aquatic health; and realization of Black Soldier Fly's full potential as a sustainable feed alternative.
• Hatchery: needs improvement in genetics of pangasius broodstock and fingerlings; and in increasing the breeding of high-value wild species such as lobsters, mollusks, and marine fish to meet rising global demand.
• Farming: demands for integrating advanced, high-yield technologies into environmentally friendly intensive farming; adopting nature-based aquaculture models aligned with environmental and economic sustainability; and implementing renewable energy and efficiency solutions.
• Intermediary: adopts E-commerce platform providing farm inputs and end-market pricing trends enables farmers to optimize harvest times for better profits and lessen reliance on middlemen. 
• Processing: demands for technologies for recycling and reusing by-products to improve circularity; and traceability systems to enhance transparency.
• Retail: needs greater marketing and branding efforts to strengthen Vietnamese seafood’s recognition as a national brand; and support for product certifications that meet increasing demand for sustainable products.

The identified opportunities shall serve as foundation for informed decision-making and strategic planning for private sector development, ensuring that the efforts align with the local context alongside with potential avenues for international collaborations.

Please find the full report in 'Documenten' session below.