The process of forest resource degradation leading to serious consequences for the ecological environment has increased the interest of countries and major international organizations. At the Summit in Rio in 1992, a global policy on sustainable forest management (SFM) was published. Since then, SFM has been widely discussed. To evaluate the effectiveness of SFM, the SFM certificate has been introduced. The SFM certificate is a formula for recognizing forests whose management and exploitation activities meet environmental, economic and social sustainability standards. Some prestigious forest certifications issued in Vietnam include: VCS, FSC, PEFC... 

In Vietnam, the process of forest management and certification (CCR) was initiated in early 1998 with the establishment of a National Working Group at the National Workshop on Forest Management and Certification held from February 10-13, 1998, in Ho Chi Minh City.

From 1998 to November 2014, although Vietnam participated in the sustainable forest management process, the activities were only at the experimental level, spontaneously developed and waiting for aid. In 2006, the first unit to be granted Forest Certification in Vietnam was Quy Nhon Forestry Plantation Company (QPFL) in a joint venture with New Oji Company (Japan) with a total area of ​​9,762.61 hectares of planted forest with the main tree being Urophylla Silver.

Sustainable forest management and forest certification in Vietnam began to change when the Government issued Circular 38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT: "Guidelines on sustainable forest management plans". Circular 38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT has brought about positive works and magical effects. By the end of 2014, compared to before Circular 38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT, our country had increased by 23 forest owners with 136,706 hectares of forest granted FM certificates.

Circular 38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT has brought positive results in providing solid forest management activities in our country. However, after a period of implementation, it has also revealed some limitations such as: the scope of adjustment lacks forest specialties; lack of some forest owners: private enterprises, household groups, residential communities; lack of management of activities, use of forests in forest production; Lack of guidance on calculation methods for economic, social and environmental efficiency of the Sustainable Forest Management Method...

From 2018 to 2024, Circular 28/2018/TT-BNNPTNT was issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, replacing Circular 38/2014/TT-BNNPTNT; At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued the National Forest Certification System (VFCS) in September 2019, forest owners across the country developed and implemented sustainable forest management plans. With the government's attention and the gradual improvement of forestry policies, by June 2024, Vietnam had 489,283 hectares certified for sustainable forest management out of a total forest area of ​​14,677,215 hectares, of which 167,439 hectares were PECF certified.

In the next stage, the whole country strives to achieve 1 million hectares of forest certified by FSC and VCS/PEFC.

 It can be said that sustainable forest management and forest certification in recent times have achieved positive results, gradually raising awareness and capacity to implement solid forest management for forestry officials at all levels, forest owners, communities and businesses.