Development and environmental management have, for too long, been treated as separate objectives in Viet Nam – as in most countries. Viet Nam’s extraordinarily rapid development has brought immediate and major benefits. But it has also led to poor people suffering pollution, climate change and soil infertility. It is time for development and environment to be considered together. This paper reviews what has worked well in integrating environment and development objectives in Viet Nam, as well as what currently constrains integration. It assesses future needs, given rapidly changing demographic, economic and environmental situations. Its recommendations offer a sure footing for ‘preparing for green growth’ in a future middle-income Viet Nam.