The genetic relationship of some Asiatic hard clam (Meretrix meretrix) based on mtDNA COI sequence analysis was investigated for populations collected in Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Nghe An provinces in Vietnam. In addition, this research also targets at species identification based on COI sequences. In total of 59 sequences analyzed, 19 sequences belonged to Meretrix meretrix species with Gen Bank accession number DQ399399.1. 17 sequences of M. meretrix were used for genetic relationship analysis among 3 populations. In which, 6 polymorphic sites, 3 parsimony informative sites and 4 haplotypes observed for the COI gene. Moderately genetic population diversity was observed, overall haplotype and nucleotide diversity were 0.476±0.233 and 0.00151±0.00069, respectively. Generally, genetic differentiation (F ST ) (F ST < 0.15) was moderate. The genetic distance was rather low, which ranged from 0.001 (Thai Binh-NgheAn, Thai Binh-Nam Dinh populations) to 0.002 (Nam Dinh -Nghe An populations). The result of haplotype network constructing indicated that populations shared common haplotype and there was no specific isolation of the haplotypes of the populations. Hence, it showed M. meretrix populations had intimate genetic relationship. The result of phylogenic tree indicated that three M. meretrix populations (Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Nghe An) had a very small or no genetic variation among populations.