In the context of globalization, climate change, and environmental crises increasingly threatening humanity’s survival, the traditional mindset of economic development based solely on resource exploitation and GDP growth is revealing serious limitations. Vietnam, a rapidly industrializing developing nation, is no exception. The question is no longer “should we,” but rather “how must we” pursue economic development in tandem with environmental protection—like two inseparable wheels driving toward a sustainable future.
Workshop “Green transformation in industrial zones for sustainable development of Hai Phong City” organized by the City Economic Zone Management Board
Hai Phong—a leading locality in industry, logistics, and seaports in Vietnam—is a microcosm of this challenge. The city’s impressive economic achievements over the past decade, such as maintaining double-digit GRDP growth for ten consecutive years, surpassing VND 100 trillion in budget revenue, and sharply increasing foreign direct investment, have placed it among the country’s economic front-runners. However, this progress comes with a pressing challenge: how to ensure these numbers are not gained at the expense of environmental quality, natural resources, or public health.
In reality, unchecked “hot” growth leads not only to long-term ecological consequences but also poses major barriers to future sustainable development. Lessons from major cities in the region—where pollution, water degradation, and land exhaustion prevail—serve as stern warnings. Vietnam in general, and Hai Phong in particular, must choose a different path: development that does not mean sacrifice, but balance between economic interests and environmental well-being.
Green transformation is no longer a slogan—it’s an imperative. In the digital economy era, green and circular economies are irreversible trends. They are not only ethical standards but also market demands, as more international partners adopt ESG (Environmental – Social – Governance) standards in cooperation and investment. Enterprises that fail to transform, adopt clean technologies, or meet environmental standards will gradually be excluded from global value chains. Similarly, cities that do not adapt in time will lose their competitiveness in attracting investment, talent, and innovation.
Therefore, economic development and environmental protection must not be seen as separate goals, but rather as organically linked. Developing eco-industrial zones, using renewable energy, recycling materials, promoting green technologies, carbon tracing, building smart cities, and green ports are not just aesthetic choices—they are survival foundations. This is not just a responsibility to nature but an investment in the future—a future where sustainable growth is not an abstract idea but a concrete, essential reality.
Hai Phong has all the conditions to be a model in this transition: strategic location, developed infrastructure, a young labor force, an attractive investment climate, and a clear political directive toward “green growth, digital transformation, and urban-economic expansion.” What remains is the determination to act, the coordination among all levels and sectors, and above all, the sense of responsibility from businesses and the community.
The economy cannot grow sustainably if the environment is destroyed, and the environment cannot be protected if development is stalled. The solution is not to favor one over the other but to achieve harmony, balance, and integration. We need bold decisions, concrete actions, and inclusive participation to make “sustainable development” a reality—not just a phrase in policy documents.
Economic development in tandem with environmental protection is not just a slogan—it is a matter of survival, a commitment of the present to the future, and of our generation to the next.