Environmental justice is an interdisciplinary field of research that has attracted growing attention from scholars worldwide. However, in Vietnam, research on environmental justice in general, and on the history of the formation and development of environmental justice theory in particular, remains limited. To systematize the historical development of environmental justice theory, provide new insights, and identify directions for further research in Vietnam, this article reviews the formation and development of the theory. Drawing on a philosophical approach and employing historical, logical, analytical, and synthetic methods, the article identifies three stages in the development of environmental justice theory. Originating in the environmental justice movement, the theory has gradually evolved into a multidimensional framework, expanding in scope, content, and the range of subjects of justice, while incorporating diverse theoretical perspectives.