Vietnam is located in South-East Asia and borders Laos, Cambodia and China. Its capital is Hanoi and is divided into 59 provinces, which are then divided into districts and communes. Vietnam has a population of 84.1 million people of which 72.9% live in rural areas. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is US$ 2,600 (2007 estimate) or US$ 638 (2005) in real terms. The government Statistics Office defined the official poverty rate at VND 213,000 (US$ 13.001) per month based on data from 2006.

Over the next few years Vietnam will see an ageing of its population. In 2000 more than half the population was under 25 and it is estimated that by 2020 40% of population will be under 25 and 10% over 60.

Vietnam is ranked 105 out of 177 on the Human Development Index2 (HDI). In the late 1980s Vietnam initiated pro-poor economic policies called “Doi Moi.” In parallel there has been rapid economic growth which has led to a sizeable decrease in poverty levels, with a decrease in the number of people living below the international poverty line from 58% in 1993 to 16% in 2004. Poverty mainly affects rural population and minority groups. Included in the Doi Moi policy was the aim to find alternative sources to government funding, including for the health sector.

Many people are considered to be living just above the poverty line and are therefore at risk of falling below this level. (6) In Vietnam poverty affects rural areas to a larger extent than urban dwellers, with 90% of the poor living in rural areas.  Life expectancy at birth is overall 71.07 years (68.27 for males and 74.08 for females).

Economic and agricultural development in Vietnam has meant that from the 1980’s to 1990’s Vietnam experienced a significant change in food availability. From a recipient of food aid, Vietnam became a net exporter with surplus food and also a shift from staple based diets to more Western diets. From 1990 to 2000 consumption of both meat and fat doubled, consumption of eggs tripled and fruit consumption increased by a factor of 10. This has led to an increase in risk factors for many NCDs even in rural areas.

References:

  • Central Intelligence Agency. Vietnam. World Factbook. [Online] 20 March 2008. [Cited:1 April 2008.] www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/vm.html.
  • United Nations Development Programme. Viet Nam at a glance. [Online] [Cited: 1 April 2008.] www.undp.org.vn/undpLive/Content/UNDP/About-Viet-Nam/Viet-Nam-at-a-Glance.
  • Joint Donor Report to the Vietnam Consultation Group Meeting. Social Protection -Vietnam Development Report 2008. Hanoi : s.n., 2007.
  • Jowett, M and Thompson, R. Paying for Health Care in Vietnam: Extending Voluntary Health Insurance Coverage. York : University of York, 1999.
  • Tuan, NT, Tuong, PD and Popkin, BM. Body mass index (BMI) dynamics in Vietnam. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008, Vol. 62, pp. 78-86.
  • Minh, HV, et al. Risk Factors for Chronic Disease Among Rural Vietnamese Adults and the Association of These Factors With Sociodemographic Variables: Findings From the
  • WHO STEPS Survey in Rural Vietnam, 2005. Public Health Research, Practice and Policy. 2007, Vol. 4, 2, pp. 1-10.

Map from CIA World Factbook: www.cia.gov

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