Prevention policies for the marine ecological environment in the South China Sea as a consequence of excessive plastic compound use in Vietnam.

This article focuses on the issue of marine plastic pollution originating from Vietnam and evaluates the effectiveness of the country’s legal and policy frameworks in addressing this problem in the South China Sea (SCS). Vietnam is identified as a major contributor to ocean plastic pollution, releasing between 0.28 and 0.73 million metric tons of plastic waste annually, accounting for approximately 60% of the plastic pollution in the SCS. Despite the existence of several laws and initiatives—including the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, the Marine Plastic Waste Management Initiative for the Fisheries Sector 2020–2030, and the National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter—challenges such as inadequate enforcement, limited local governance capacity, and insufficient data hinder effective management. The study underscores the need for enhanced legal clarity, stronger enforcement, community education, and regional cooperation to sustainably reduce plastic pollution and protect Vietnam’s marine ecosystems.