Agriculture (including cultivation, animal husbandry, forestry, and aquaculture) is one of the
important pillars of the economy in the Mekong Delta region. The development of agriculture
in recent years has contributed to the socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and
food security not only for the Mekong Delta but also for the whole country.
The article focuses on analyzing the application of circular economy models, particularly in
the agricultural value chain, and the potential application of circular economy in the Mekong
Delta region of Vietnam.
In addition, the Mekong Delta is facing challenges from climate change, sea-level rise, and
the impacts of hydropower and irrigation projects from upstream countries of the Mekong
River. Therefore, sustainable development of the Mekong Delta requires a new approach.
The circular economy (CE) is an approach that has been used worldwide since the 1990s to
address issues related to resource depletion, environmental pollution, and ecological
imbalances caused by the linear economy. However, the concept of the CE is relatively new
in Vietnam in general and the Mekong Delta in particular. This article will introduce and
compare the concept of the CE with the linear economy, analyze the legal framework of the
CE in Vietnam, and the potential application of the CE in agriculture in the Mekong Delta
region towards minimizing pollution, contributing to the goal of green growth and sustainable
development