Vũng Tàu – A Model for a Marine Economy Innovation Ecosystem?
The Story of Vũng Tàu: Both an Inspiration and a Lesson for Provinces Aspiring to Thrive in the Marine Economy.
For many years supporting innovation in the marine economy sector, we have observed that each coastal province in Vietnam possesses its own unique advantages. However, not all provinces have successfully identified their distinct characteristics or positioned themselves within the national marine ecosystem. Even for those that have, the challenge of leveraging technology to enhance and highlight those strengths remains significant. In this context, Vũng Tàu stands out as a prime example of a province that has recognized its strengths, worked diligently to refine them, and is actively building a marine ecosystem with open, dynamic, and mutually supportive elements—despite being in its early stages. The story of Vũng Tàu can serve as both inspiration and a valuable lesson for other provinces with ambitions and a proactive spirit in the marine economy.
Positioning from Local Strengths to a Vibrant Innovation Ecosystem
Vũng Tàu has positioned itself as Vietnam's largest fisheries hub and is working to transform from a traditional fishing ground into a center for innovation-driven solutions in the fishing industry. This transformation encompasses modern port systems, superior logistics capabilities, and supporting products for fishing vessels, catch operations, and seafood processing. Over time, Vũng Tàu has developed a modern fisheries ecosystem, significantly contributing to the national marine economy and establishing a strong position in the ASEAN region.
The foundation of this positioning lies in the robust infrastructure Vũng Tàu already possesses, including advanced ports, rich fishing grounds, and an experienced, dedicated workforce. More importantly, the province sustains its position by fostering a culture that values and embraces innovative solutions in its areas of strength. Each year, the province organizes innovation competitions in the fisheries sector to attract talent and creative ideas from across the country, especially from coastal provinces. For example, startups from Kiên Giang and Cà Mau have come to Vũng Tàu to present and test new solutions, ranging from environmentally friendly fishing technologies to smart aquaculture devices. Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu is not only a welcoming destination for these initiatives but also provides resources for incubation, testing, and developing solutions locally. Advanced infrastructure and strong local government support have transformed the province into a "living laboratory" for innovative ideas in the fisheries sector.
Beyond the startup factor, what stands out even more is the active involvement of large enterprises in Vũng Tàu’s marine economy ecosystem. These companies have an open mindset, actively seeking and investing in innovative solutions from startups, regardless of their location. The innovation competition tours, often sponsored and led by these businesses, take entrepreneurs to problem areas, presenting them with challenges faced by the province in hopes of finding viable solutions.
Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu, with its advanced infrastructure and strong support from local authorities, has transformed into a "living laboratory" for innovative ideas in the fisheries sector.
Startups such as Basea Food and the fishing vessel "Ngọc Quỳnh" (famous in the media for catching a massive school of sailfish in the Trường Sa waters in 2018) have grown into successful models, not only affirming Vũng Tàu's role but also spreading positive influence across the southern region.
From this generation of entrepreneurs, Vũng Tàu has also seen the rise of high-tech startups like SDVICO, led by young entrepreneur Trần Thái Sơn. Initially focused on solutions such as desalination technology to provide usable water for fishing vessels, SDVICO has centered its innovations around the fishing industry. Starting from a single technology, SDVICO has expanded into new technological directions and extended its market beyond fisheries, introducing products like lubricant additives.
Challenges and Untapped Potential
Despite significant progress, the fisheries innovation ecosystem in Vũng Tàu still has many untapped areas, particularly in digital technology, regional and international linkages, and the utilization of local cultural values.
The application of digital technology is an inevitable trend in enhancing the efficiency and value of the fisheries sector. However, Vũng Tàu still lacks strong investment in modern solutions such as big data-based fisheries management, digital traceability technology, or the use of artificial intelligence to optimize supply chains. These technologies not only help protect marine resources but also increase product value, creating greater competitiveness when exporting to international markets.
Additionally, although Vũng Tàu has attracted some talent from other regions, it does not yet have a synchronized network with Vietnam’s 28 coastal provinces. Provinces like Kiên Giang and Cà Mau focus on fisheries and aquaculture, while Khánh Hòa and Bình Thuận emphasize biotechnology and renewable energy for value-added processing. How can Vũng Tàu connect with them? A tightly connected system, where each locality leverages its strengths in areas like extraction, processing, logistics, or trade, would not only enhance specialization but also minimize unnecessary competition, creating a more efficient and complete fisheries value chain.
At the international level, Vũng Tàu’s connection with regional organizations like SEAFDEC or ASEAN cooperation initiatives is still relatively weak. This limits the ability to learn and apply advanced technologies from countries with developed fisheries industries, such as Thailand, Indonesia, or Japan.
Furthermore, fisheries in Vũng Tàu carry not only economic value but also rich cultural traditions. However, these local cultural values have not been fully exploited to create unique experiential tourism products. Organizing fishing tourism tours, where visitors can participate in seafood catching with fishermen or learn about traditional processing methods, would not only add value to the tourism and culinary industries but also highlight the region’s unique cultural identity.
A Pathway to a Comprehensive Innovation Ecosystem
To fully realize its potential, Vũng Tàu must focus on strategic investments to build a comprehensive innovation ecosystem. First and foremost, the development of digital technology infrastructure is a key prerequisite. This includes investments in digital platforms for the fisheries sector, from sustainable resource management to product traceability.
Simultaneously, Vũng Tàu needs to strengthen regional and international linkages. Establishing a closely connected network with Vietnam’s 28 coastal provinces and regional organizations like SEAFDEC will help the province optimize the value chain while creating opportunities to learn and collaborate on technology, policies, and resource management practices.
Promoting an open innovation culture is another critical direction. This can be achieved by fostering collaborative programs between local businesses and startups from other provinces, leveraging diverse resources and knowledge to develop new solutions.
Finally, creating unique fishing tourism products by combining local culture with modern technology will not only enhance Vũng Tàu’s image but also add economic value to the local tourism and culinary sectors.
Fisheries entrepreneurship in Vũng Tàu is not merely a story of local innovation but a broader picture of connectivity, collaboration, and creativity in the national marine economy. Positioning itself from existing strengths, attracting talent and resources, and expanding partnerships regionally and internationally will enable Vũng Tàu to not only maintain its position but also evolve into a modern, sustainable, and culturally rich marine economic hub within ASEAN.
This journey requires structured investment, a long-term strategy, and the unified efforts of all stakeholders, making Vũng Tàu a true model of innovation in Vietnam’s marine economy.
