Viet Nam’s forestry sector is shifting from traditional timber exploitation to a promising carbon economy. Forests now act as major carbon sinks, generating carbon credits that can be sold to international organisations and businesses seeking to offset emissions.

In the context of implementing the commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, Viet Nam’s forestry sector is facing a dual historic mission: to accelerate its development to become a spearhead economic sector with global competitiveness while affirming its role as a core “carbon sink”, firmly protecting national ecological security.

Strengthening policies and legislation on forestry is an urgent requirement to ensure the effective implementation of the National Target Programme on Sustainable Forestry Development for the 2021–2025 period. This forms a crucial foundation for building a modern and internationally integrated forestry sector that makes a substantive contribution to Viet Nam’s green growth objectives and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions.

The export of timber and wood products plays a key role in Viet Nam’s economy, with high export turnover, but faces a series of challenges from market fluctuations and tariffs to raw material supply and environmental regulations. As such, enterprises working in this sector are compelled to restructure to improve competitiveness and achieve sustainable development.