Experts urge actions to address low fertility rate
An international policy consultation workshop held in Hanoi on August 28 sounded the alarm on Vietnam's declining fertility rate, with experts highlighting the linkage between education level, economic conditions and birth rates.
Hanoi (VNA)🦹 – An international policy consultation workshop held in Hanoi on August 28 sounded the alarm on Vietnam's declining fertility rate, with experts highlighting the linkage between education level, economic conditions and birth rates.
The hybrid event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Health's Vietnam Population Authority (VPA) and Merck Healthcare Vietnam Co. Ltd., gathered nearly 600 delegates from various ministries, agencies and localities.
The 2023 data revealed stark disparities in fertility rates across income groups. The wealthiest segment has a fertility rate of 2 children, while the poorest maintains a rate of 2.4 children. Those with a fairly good and average standard of living have fertility rates ranging from 2.03 to 2.07 children.
Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen warned that the national fertility rate has dipped below the replacement level, scoring a record low of 1.96 children per woman in 2023. This downward trend is expected to continue, reshaping the population's size and structure, and potentially leading to labour shortages and an aging population that could hinder the country's overall development.
Vietnam is facing a new challenge: maintaining a sustainable replacement fertility rate nationwide remains elusive, Tuyen cautioned, calling for measures to equalise fertility rates across regions and demographics.
Regionally, the southeast and the Mekong Delta have fertility rates below the replacement level. At the municipal and provincial level, 21 out of 63 cities and provinces, representing about 39.37% of the national population, are experiencing low fertility rates. Many of these provinces are located in the key economic regions of southern Vietnam, which are highly urbanised and experiencing rapid economic growth.
Tuyen urged localities to effectively follow the Party and State's population policies. The VPA was tasked with integrating expert feedback to propose practical solutions suitable for Vietnam, which should be incorporated into the Population Law to maintain sustainable fertility rates and improve population quality.
Participants at the event examined global perspectives and policies on addressing low fertility rates, drawing from policy toolkits and practical experiences in the Asia-Pacific region. These insights will contribute to the building of general guidelines to maintain the replacement fertility rate in Vietnam./.
There will be tens of millions of elderly people with desires for entrepreneurship, vocational training, and employment opportunities in the next decade, offering both significant challenges for society and an important workforce contributing to the country's economic growth.
Ho Chi Minh City is among the 21 cities and provinces with the lowest fertility rate in the country, heard a local ceremony on July 14 to launch a communication campaign integrated with providing population quality improvement services in areas with low fertility rates this year.
Vietnam, which is experiencing a period of population aging, is seeking ways to turn the situation into opportunities by optimising the strengths of senior citizens.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
