Comprehensive internal and external assessment of Vietnam’s ecological sustainability using a SDG indicator system

As an emerging economy in Asia, Vietnam faces significant environmental challenges that can be measured to assess its sustainability. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of Vietnam’s sustainable development performance using a 22-indicator system aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2, 12, 13, and 15. By analyzing data from 2012 to 2022, we compare Vietnam’s progress across six main regions and with selected countries worldwide. The findings show Vietnam’s strengths, including stable population growth, relatively healthy lifestyles, moderate forest resources, rapid growth in renewable energy, and low energy emissions and ecological footprint compared to many developed nations. Areas for improvement include organic agriculture, waste management, and biodiversity conservation, where targeted indicators could boost progress. On the other hand, Vietnam’s limited advancements in higher education and investment in science and technology highlight enduring structural challenges. Most indicators position Vietnam ahead of several regional peers, although it still lags behind developed economies, indicating that the country is on a generally positive path. Ongoing data gaps hinder cross-indicator comparability, emphasizing the need for better monitoring. Policy recommendations call for urgent and long-term actions.