Despite starting later than other countries in the region, Vietnam has made considerable progress, with a sharp increase of green projects over the past few years.
A green certified building in Vietnam. (Photo: afamily.vn)
Hanoi (VNA)﷽ – As many as 163 buildings in Vietnam were certified as green in 2024, doubling the number of the previous year, according to the recently released Vietnam Green Building Market Overview 2024.
So far, the country has had a cumulative total of 559 green-certified buildings with a combined floor area of 13.6 million sq.m. This figure far exceeds the original targets of 80 green buildings by 2025 and 160 by 2030, according to the report, issued by the EDGE certification system and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank.
Experts held that despite starting later than other countries in the region, Vietnam has made considerable progress, with a sharp increase of green projects over the past few years.
According to the Government’s Decree No. 15/2021/ND-CP, green buildings must meet specific criteria and standards in their design, construction, and operation to ensure energy efficiency, resource conservation, environmental protection, and quality living conditions.
Green projects are expected to contribute to Vietnam’s commitment under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) by helping reduce 74.3 million tonnes of CO2 emissions by 2030 in the construction sector, on the path towards net-zero emissions by 2050.
The most common green certifications in Vietnam include EDGE (issued by the IFC), LEED (by the US Green Building Council), Green Mark (by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority), and Lotus (by the Vietnam Green Building Council).
By building type, the report indicates that green-certified residential neighbourhoods have declined over the past four years due to challenges in the real estate market but are now showing signs of recovery. The total certified floor area is approaching the peak levels seen in 2019 and 2020.
Industrial green buildings have grown significantly over the past two years, particularly with the emergence of green warehouses. The shift of manufacturing to Vietnam, along with accelerated industrialisation, production expansion, and logistics growth, has driven this trend. In 2024, green-certified office projects reached their highest scale ever. Meanwhile, green retail and education projects have also seen significant growth.
🌃 Ho Chi Minh City topped localities nationwide in 2024, with a total floor area of 3.4 million sq.m. certified green. It was followed by Hanoi, Binh Duong, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong./.
Vietnam has had more than 400 green buildings with a combined certified construction area of about 10 million sq.m, according to the Ministry of Construction.
Green buildings in Vietnam total only 305 with a combined certified construction area of nearly 7.5 million sq.m by September 30, 2023, according to Nguyen Cong Thinh, Vice General Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment under the Ministry of Construction.
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
