ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces Vietnam’s diverse flora, conservation status, and the development of its botanic gardens. The importance of botanic gardens is nationally comprehensive and many are planned to be developed. Although botanic gardens are highlighted in several national policies, they are developed according to local rather than national planning. As a thorough assessment of the country’s botanic gardens is not available, their nearly 150-year development history and 11 selected botanic gardens are briefly introduced. Preliminary data show that at least 212 threatened plant species besides several hundreds of other endemics have been collected and conserved in the country’s botanic gardens, although environment education and entertainment rather than conservation of plants are emphasized in several large and well-known ones. Nevertheless, new collections and conservation programs are being conducted. In the moment, it needs a national assessment of the present status and actual related demands for development and operation of botanic gardens with careful consideration of both national and local plant conservation strategies and needs; this will serve as a sound foundation for a strategic national plan that should soon be developed with clear targets, detailed actions, and consensus instruction for national and local policies and actions. More exposure of players, especially policy makers and governmental authorities responsible for biodiversity conservation, to successful international experience appears to be critical to ensure such a masterplan to be feasible and effective.
