Vietnam’s fisheries sector faces complex challenges, requiring a multifaceted approach for resolution. Fishing capacity in coastal, inland, and offshore fisheries should be reduced to rebuild fish stocks. Additionally, measures are needed to address the vulnerabilities of workers, such as income instability and health risks due to climate impacts and regulations. This necessitates coordinated efforts across various government levels and ministries. Social assistance, social insurance, and active labor market programs can enable and incentivize households to engage in more sustainable practices and more resilient livelihoods. Leveraging digitalization can improve data sharing and registration processes, thereby facilitating the extension of social protection to informal workers who present majority among fishery households. Furthermore, this integration of databases can enhance fisheries management through better-informed decision-making which is vital for sustainable development in Vietnam’s fisheries industry.