Based on the environmental changes occurring in Vietnam over the past, as well as the emerging pressures on the environment due to socio-economic development activities in future, it is possible to establish a matrix for assessing the interactive relationship between impacts of socio-economic development and the environment as shown in table 2. The impacts causing environmental degradation are divided into 3 levels: heavy (l), moderate ([) and light (m).

On analysing the matrix in table 2, it can be seen that the key environmental issues in Vietnam at present are the degradation of following 5 components of the environment: forest, biodiversity, land, water (both inland and sea water), and the air. The specific problem that needs to be addressed urgently is the problem of solid waste (hazardous and toxic waste) released from urban centres and industries.

The ensuing chapters of part III present the current state of environment with regard to each challenging concern mentioned above.