The planted forest area in Vietnam increased from 3.0 to 4.4 million hectares in the period 2010–2020, but the loss of productivity from pests and diseases continues to be a problem. During this period, frequent and systematic plantation forest health surveys were conducted on 12 native and 4 exotic genera of trees as well as bamboo across eight forest geographic regions of Vietnam. Damage caused by insects and pathogens was quantified in the field and laboratory in Hanoi. The threats of greatest concern were from folivores (Antheraea frithi, Arthroschista hilaralis, Atteva fabriciella, Hieroglyphus tonkinensis, Lycaria westermanni,Krananda semihyalina, and Moduza procris), wood borers (Batocera lineolata, Euwallacea fornicatus, Tapinolachnus lacordairei, Xyleborus perforans, and Xystrocera festiva), sap-sucking insects (Aulacaspis tubercularis and Helopeltis theivora) and pathogens (Ceratocystis manginecans, Fusarium solani, and Phytophthora acaciivora). The number of new and emerging pests and pathogens increased over time from 2 in 2011 to 17 in 2020, as the damage became more widespread. To manage these pests and diseases, it is necessary to further invest in the selection and breeding of resistant genotypes, improve nursery hygiene and silvicultural operations, and adopt integrated pest management schemes. Consideration should be given to developing forest health monitoring protocols for forest reserves and other special-purpose forests.

Pine tussock moth (Dasychira axutha Collenette (Lymantriidae)) and masson pine caterpillar (Dendrolimus punctatus Walker (Lasiocampidae)) cause serious damage to Pinus massoniana and P. merkusii plantations in Vietnam. An integrated pest management (IPM) program is required to control these pests. Therefore, this study was undertaken to identify damage thresholds and to evaluate control options for implementing IPM in the Northeast and North Central regions of Vietnam. Three damage thresholds were considered: 50% loss of leaf area. Control options were manual collection of eggs and pupae and the use of light traps and biological agents. An initial IPM model was developed for each pest and these gave control efficacies of 82.4% (Da. axutha on P. massoniana) and 77.8% (De. punctatus on P. merkusii). Six extended IPM models were undertaken by forest companies giving pest control efficacies of 79.2%–85.9%. The collection of pine resin provides an important source of income to local communities and the resin yield in the IPM models increased by 20.9%–22.7% compared to untreated control plots. The IPM protocols would help in developing policies that promote a more sustainable management of forest pests in Vietnam, thus reducing dependence on the use of insecticides of environmental and public health concerns.

A new species of Endoclita C. & R. Felder from Yen Lap district, Phu Tho province, Vietnam, E. phuthoensis sp. n. and the female of Endoclita coomani (Viette) are described as new to science. Both are recorded feeding on Eucalyptus plantations for the first time. Larval and pupal tunnels of E. phuthoensis sp. n. and E. coomani in host stems in Phu Tho and Lao Cai provinces, Vietnam are described and illustrated for the first time. Tunnels were found within one meter above the ground. They are initiated at the bark surface, extend into the stem, usually at a downward angle, then bend upwards for a distance of less than 24 cm, contrasting with the proximal (downward) orientation of the tunnel in E. vietnamensis Buchsbaum & Grehan and E. salvazi Tindale. The tunnel entrance is surrounded by callus tissue that larvae feed on under a web of silk and debris. At pupation, larvae first construct a silk membrane across the tunnel entrance. Endoclita marginenotatus (Leech, 1898) is recorded from Vietnam (Mt. Fansipan) for the first time from a single specimen collected within natural forest habitat.

The wood-borer Bacchisa medioviolacea Breuning (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is identified as a major new pest of Docynia indica (Rosales: Rosaceae) orchards in the northwest mountainous provinces of Vietnam. The life cycle extends over two years (721.7 days ± 17.6 days), with overwintering as larvae. Adults emerge and disperse in summer. Females lay 6–12 eggs during an oviposition period of 2–3 days, and the incubation period ranges from 27 to 38 days. The larval and pupal periods take 554–701 days and 40–59 days, respectively. Adults survive for 12–23 days. In 2019, the damage incidence (P%) and the damage index (DI) in Yen Bai, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, and Dien Bien provinces ranged from 43.5% to 71.6% and 0.80 to 1.78, respectively. Further research on the distribution and host range of B. medioviolacea is required to help formulate a management strategy for this new orchard pest.

Notes are given on the biology and life history of the new species, Aetherastis grandisalba Heppner, 2021, damaging bark of cinnamon trees (Cinnamomum cassia) in Vietnam, along with morphological characteristics of the immature stages of this new lepidopteran pest.