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In September 2000, Heads of the State and Governments of the United Nations together
committed to implement the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)
with 8 goals (Annex 1) by 2015. Viet Nam has adapted the MDGs to the country’s specific conditions and
integrated these goals into its socio-economic development strategies and programs. Based on the MDGs,
Viet Nam has set up its own 12 developments goals (Annex 2) (referred to as Vietnam’s Development
Goals (VDGs), which mainly focus on the social development and poverty reduction targets until 2010.
The VDGs, being in line with the common progress and taking into account typical development features
of Viet Nam, provide a basis to facilitate the implementation of MDGs in Viet Nam in a timely, reliable and
effective manner.
Poverty reduction by more than 50 percent. During the 5 years (2001-2005) Viet Nam has been
successful in reducing poverty and alleviating hunger. According to international-standard definition
poverty line (including both food and non-food poverty) the proportion of poor households in Viet Nam has
dramatically decreased from 58.1% in 1993 to 24.1% in 2004, reducing the number of poor households by
nearly 60% in more than a decade (Table 1).
1993 2004
The whole country 58.1 24.1
Urban/ Rural
Urban 25.1 10.8
Rural 66.4 27.5
Sub-Regions 1993 2004
North East 86.1 31.7
North West 81.0 54.4
Red River Delta 62.7 21.1
North Central 74.5 41.4
South Central Coast 47.2 21.3
Central Highlands 70.0 32.7
South East 37.0 6.7
Mekong Delta 47.1 19.5
Source: Vietnam Development Report, 2003 and GSO. 2005
From the table the proportion of poor households decreased in the whole country, in all urban and
rural areas as well as in all regions, although at different rates. The most rapid reduction of poverty was in
the North East, from 81.5% in 1993 to 31.7% in 2004; and slowest was in the North West, from 81% to
54.4%. Similarly the decreased rate of rural area was faster than that of urban area.
Universal primary Education has been achieved in Viet Nam. Primary school enrolment increased
from about 90% of the primary school age group in the early 1990s to 94.4% in the 2003-2004 school
years. The repetition of classes and number of dropouts has been reduced at all grades in primary schools.
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Gender Equality and Woman status. Viet Nam has achieved notable results in promoting gender
equality. The gender development indicator (GDI) increased from 0.668 in 1998 to 0.689 in 2004 among
the best performances in the region. The ratio of literate women to men between ages 15 and 24 was 0.99 in
2002. The proportion of female representatives in the National Assembly is over 27%, among the highest in
Asia.
Child Health Care has been improved. The child mortality rate of under-five fell dramatically
from 58 per thousand live births in 1990 to 31.4 per thousand in 2004. Similarly the infant mortality rate
was 44 per thousand live births in 1990 to 18 per thousand in 2004. The rate of children getting vaccinated
with 6 types of vaccines was 96.7%, relatively high in the region.
Woman’s Reproductive Health has been significantly improved. The maternal mortality rate was
reduced from 1.2 per thousand live births in the period 1989-1994 to 0.85 per thousand in 2004.
Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other Diseases. The Government of Viet Nam
has issued the National Strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention and established National Committee and
Provincial Steering Committees on HIV/AIDS prevention. There are 41 testing labs in 34 provinces/cities
to detect and monitor people affected with HIV/AIDS. Most of provinces have medical wards to treat
HIV/AIDS patients. Malaria is also under effective control in Viet Nam. The proportion of malaria cases
was reduced from 900 per 100,000 people in 1995 to less than 200 per 100,000 in 2004.
Environmental Sustainability. The sustainable development strategy has been approved by the
Government of Viet Nam. Natural preservation and protection has been focused and progressed.
Forestation was increased from 27% in 1990 to 37% in 2004. The proportion of people with access to clean
water increased from 26.2% in 1993 to 70% in 2004.
Global Partnership for Development is promoted in the spirit of “making friends with all countries
in the international community, striving for peace, independence and development”. Up to now Viet Nam
has signed more than 80 bilateral trade and investment agreements and established economic relations with
over 170 countries and territorial areas over the world.
The Challenges
Although Viet Nam has achieved remarkable results in implementing the MDGs, the country still
faces some problems and challenges:
• High poverty incidence still exists in rural, mountainous areas and Central
Highlands, the poorest areas in Viet Nam.
• The average working time of women is 13 hours a day while men work only 9
hours. Average income of women is 21% lower than that of men.
• The accessibility to maternal health care in the mountainous and remote areas is
limited. The rate of abortion and menstrual extraction has again increased.
• There are many problems with treatment HIV/AIDS because of high cost, lack
of funding and discrimination against HIV-infected people.
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• Competitiveness and high requirements of international trade make difficult and
challenges to the Vietnamese economy.
In Viet Nam so far 4 country MDG reports have been produced, namely:
2001: Progress Implementation of The Millennium
Development Goals (IDT/MDG).
2002: Bringing MDGs Closer to The People.
2003: Millennium Development Goals Closing the Millennium
Gaps.
2005: Viet Nam Achieving The Millennium Development
Goals.
The first three MDG reports were mainly prepared and written by UN Expert Country
Team (UNCT.) with active participation of the Government of Viet Nam. The latest
report of 2005 was prepared and produced by 12 different governmental agencies of Viet
Nam with financial and technical support from UNDP and contributions of from many
international and national experts and organizations. The Ministry of Panning and
Investment (MPI) was taking lead on the MDGR process and consolidating the reports
from the line ministries. The main source of data and figures were used from the General
Statistics Office (GSO) of Viet Nam. So the GSO as a leading agency to coordinate the
statistical activities according to the new Statistical Law 2004 provided the data and
assured the statistical quality for the MDG report. The report also uses data provided by
several international organizations and Vietnamese governmental agencies such as World
Bank, UNICEF, Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Education and Training
(MOET), Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), Committee for
Population, Family and Children (CPFC), etc.
The assessment of data quality in the latest MDG report of Viet Nam can be seen from
the Status of Statistics on MDGs in Viet Nam (Annex 3). The General Statistics Office,
the MOH, MOET, CPFC and MOLISA successfully provided the most of data and
indicators for MDG Report in relation with the poverty, education, gender equality, child
mortality and maternal health of the Goal 1, 2,3,4 and Goal 5. Many indicators were not
available for example the indicators relating to the Goals 6, 7 and 8, more specifically the
HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases data, environmental data and especially the data
about global partnership for development. No availability of these indicators is due to
lack of perception of importance and meaning of indicators or/and budget, or right
methodology of data collection.
The other problem of data provision for MDG report is lack of effective coordination of
statistical system and activities, although the General Statistics Office plays an important
role in data coordination. Most ministries have their statistical apparatus and statistical
units and they conduct specific surveys to collect data and information for producing
their own statistics and purpose, sometime led to overlapping or inconsistency. Therefore
the stronger and more unique statistical coordination system is needed in terms of setting
up the National Statistical Indicators System for MDG and National Agenda,
standardizing data with consistency and facilitating the dialogue between data producers
and data users for identifying the data gap to be filled, improving the quality of data and
better data availability for MDG report.
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2. Participation in the Two-week Sub-Regional Training Course on Statistics for MDG
Indicators
Among the 76 participants from 28 countries in Asia and the Pacific who attended Two-week
Sub-Regional Training Course on Statistics for MDG Indicators, there were 5 participants from
Viet Nam of which 3 were from the General Statistics Office (GSO) and 2 from the Ministry of
Panning and Investment (MPI). Usual responsibilities of staff member from the GSO (the
Department of Integrated Statistics and Department of Social and Environmental Statistics) who
participated in the course are collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating the data relating
to the social and economic indicators such as population, labor, poverty, education, health
statistics, etc., which are provided for the MDG and VDG reports. Now they are also involved in
creating and updating a database by Devinfo software for MDG and VDG Indicators of Viet Nam.
They have actively participated in preparation and production of the latest MDGR 2005 of Viet
Nam Achieving The Millennium Development Goals.
Although the Course was designed a ‘training for trainers’ on statistics for MDG
indicators, up to now there no similar courses have been conducted in Viet Nam. However during
the preparation of MDG Report 2005 a number of seminar/workshops were organized to gather
comments and suggestions from experts from the international organizations in Hanoi and the
governmental agencies for the report. There is an Action Plan for improving the statistical
capability by conducting training courses on statistics for MDG Indicators and Evaluation,
Monitoring and Preparation for the next MDGR of Viet Nam. The participants will be from line
ministries, GSO and provinces, who are directly involved in the MDG reporting process.
There are several points, which are suggested to be discussed in the seminar/workshop:
• Continuing to improve the data quality for MDG Indicators, identifying the
difficulties and challenges for indicators being not available and how to address
these problems for statistical availability of MDG indicators.
• Continuing to improve the statistical capacity and capability for statistical staff who
are directly involved in MDG reporting process. Similar two-week sub-regional
course workshops on statistics for MDG Indicators be conducted with more detail
and practical contents. Guidance for conducting in-country training course on
statistics for MDG indicators be discussed in the workshop.
• Strengthening the statistical coordination for MDG report with line ministries in
statistical activities. How to manage data with consistency and availability.
• Continuing to build and update the National statistical database for MDG report.
Integrating the MDG indicators into the National Statistical Indicators System
(NSIS).
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Annex 1.
SUMMARY OF MDGs
Annex 2.
VIETNAM’S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION GOALS
(VDGs) UNTIL 2010
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(2) Improve mother’s health condition after giving birth.
6. Reduce HIV/AIDS infection and eradicate other major diseases
(1) Slow the increase in the spread of HIV/AIDS by 2005 and have the rate of increase by 2010.
(2) Maintain the achievement of polio eradication; minimize the incidence and death of cholera,
typhoid, petechial fever, malaria, and plague, etc.
(3) Extend prevention of accidents, injury and harm reduction of smoking.
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
(1) Plant trees on bare land and bald hills; increase the percentage of forest cover to 43% by 2010;
increase trees in urban areas.
(2) Introduce step-by-step environmental friendly technologies into socio-economic sectors; ensure
that 100% of new factories use such technologies or are equipped with less polluted devices;
ensure that all wastes are treated by standardized processes; 50% of factories are granted
environmental protection certificates.
(3) Basically have achieved the improved and upgraded water sewerage systems in all cities,
industrial parks and export processing zones have access to standardized waste water treatment
systems, 80-90% of solid waste collected, 60% hazardous waste and 100% hospital waste treated;
environmental problems in all rivers are basically addressed.
(4) Ensure that 85% of the rural population and 95% of the urban population have access to clean and
safe water by 2010.
8. Ensure pro-poor infrastructure development
(1) Improve, upgrade, expand and build essential infrastructure constructions (e.g. small irrigation
works, schools, health clinics, rural roads, lighting power, clean water, market places, post offices,
and community meeting houses…); ensure that 100% of poor communes have access to essential
infrastructures.
(2) Ensure that, by 2010, 85% of the rural population has access to safe water with the amount of 60
liters/person/day; and 75% of rural families have sanitary latrines.
9. Job creation
(1) Provide jobs to 1.6 million people per annum, achieving the total of 8 million jobs in 5 years.
Increase the proportion of women to 50% in total new jobs by 2010.
(2) Increase the share of trained workers in the total workforce to 40% by 2010.
(3) Reduce the share of urban unemployed among the total number of people of working age to less
than 5% by 2010.
10. Develop culture and information to improve spiritual life of people; preserve culture of ethnic
minority groups
(1) Increase radio and television broadcasting time and programs in ethnic languages.
(2) Raise public cultural awareness to preserve and develop the ethnic minority traditional cultural
values. Preserve and develop the literacy of ethnic languages in areas where ethnic minorities
become majority.
(3) Support the greater participation of ethnic minority people in public administrative organizations.
(4) Ensure that the land use rights are given to communities or individuals living in ethnic
mountainous areas. Strengthen and expand activities of health care, culture, and information
down to grassroots levels and serve ethnic people.
11. Reduce vulnerability and develop social safety nets to support the poor and the disadvantaged
(1) Improve income of the poor, especially the female-headed poor households.
(2) Ensure that, by 2010, all families living in urban areas are granted land use right certificates and
ownership certificates of the houses built on lawful land.
(3) Reform insurance policies and mechanism to encourage people’s participation in volunteering
insurances.
(4) Improve jobs in terms of quality and quantity; ensure job security for the poor and for those with
extreme disadvantages.
(5) Protect juvenile children and well address the child labor at early ages.
(6) Develop natural disaster prevention and mitigation strategies. By 2010, have the rate of poor
people falling back to poverty due to natural disasters and other risks.
12. Promote further public administration reform and legal information provision for the poor
(1) Improve accessibility of the poor to a transparent government with accountability and people’s
participation.
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(2) Continue reform and improvement of policies that have impacts on the poor; identify better targets
and budget allocation of the programs that benefit the poor.
(3) Finalize the formulation of all reform strategies related to public sectors, governance and financial
management for better support to the poor.
(4) Reduce bureaucracy, push back corruption and realize the participatory public administration.
Annex 3:
1b. Poverty head count 1998-2003 The indicator is By Data has calculated from reliable
ratio 1993-1997 collected from Ministry Urban/rural routine reports of MOLISA and
of Labor, Invalid and and 8 region VLSS report of GSO
Social Affairs and
GSO.
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2. Poverty gap ratio 1992-1993, This indicator is By Urban, This indicator is calculated from
(incidence x depth of 1997-1998, calculated from rural and 8 Vietnam living standard surveys
poverty) 2001-2002 Vietnam Household regions. (1992-1993, 1997-1998, 2001-
Living Standard 2002). The indicator shows the
Surveys. In addition, changes of living standard
the indicator is overtime compared to trend of
calculated by poverty rate. For instance, if the
collaboration between poverty rate over years remains
GSO and MOLISA unchanged but Poverty gap ratio
decreases, which mean people’s
lives have been improved.
5. Proportion of 1995, Data are derived from By Urban, Data of this indicator were
population below 1996, Multiple Purpose rural, 8 calculated of surveys that
minimum level of 1999, Survey and Household regions sampling survey were designed
dietary energy 2001-2002 Living Standard and conducted scientifically by
consumption Surveys, GSO GSO.
Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Target 3: Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of
primary schooling.
6. Net enrolment ratio 1994-1995, This indicator is By The indicator has been collected
in primary education 1999-2000, collected from routine National, from reliable routine report of
2000-2001, reports of Ministry Of Urban, rural, MOET and GSO.
2001- Education and Training 8 regions
2002, and General Statistical and
20002- Office (GSO) provinces
2003.
7. Proportion of pupils who enrolment in grade 5 NOT AVAILABLE
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8. Adult literacy rate 1989, 1999 The population By Urban, This indicator was replaced by
(literacy rate of 15-24 censuses, GSO. rural, 8 indicator: Adult literacy rate of 15-
years olds) regions, 29 years- old. The indicator is
provinces calculated from population
censuses of GSO. It was
disaggregated to reach province.
10. Ratio of literate 1989, 1999 The population By Urban, This indicator is calculated from
females to males of 15 censuses, GSO. rural, 8 population censuses of GSO. This
to 24 years-olds regions, indicator was replaced by
province-s indicator: Adult literacy rate of 15-
29 years- old
11. Share of women in wage employment in the non-agricultural sector Now, Data are not available
12. Proportion of seats 1992-1997, This indicator is By Urban, Data of this indicator have derived
held by women in 1997-2002, calculated from reports rural, 8 from administrative report of
national parliament 2002-2007 of national parliament regions, national assembly following
and updated after an province-s tenure. So, the quality data are
election. exactly. In the next years data of
the indicator remains updating
Target 5: Reduce by two-thirds, between 1990 and 2015, the under-five mortality rate
13. Under-five 1995, This indicator is Nationwide Data of this indicator have been
mortality rate 1996, calculated from calculated from surveys, so it is
1999, 2000 population censuses reliable data.
(1999), Multiple
Indicator Cluster
Surveys (2000), Multi
Purpose Survey (1995,
1996), GSO.
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14. Infant mortality From 2000 Now the indicator is By This is measure from the result of
rate to 2003 calculated from, Urban/rural, The Population Censuses, but
Population Changes 8 regions, because the population censuses is
and Family Planning and conducted every 10 years.
Surveys, GSO. province, Currently, Population Changes and
data in 2000 Family Planning Surveys is good
is not source for this indicator
disaggregate
d by
provinces.
15. Proportion of 1 From 1992
Data of indicator are By urban, Now, in Vietnam this indicator is
year old children to 2003
collected from routine rural, 8 calculated according to
immunized against report of Ministry of region and international standard of
measles Health and General provinces. calculation is based on a source of
Statistical Office data: administrative report.
(GSO).
Goal 5: IMPROVE MATERNAL HEALTH
Target 6: Reduce by three-quarters, between 1990 and 2015, the maternal mortality ratio
16. Maternal mortality 1995, Data of indicator are Whole In Vietnam, annually, data of this
ratio 1996, collected from routine country indicator are often updated
1999, report of Ministry of following routine report. It helps
2000, Health (MOH) and user can compare between years.
2002, 2003 General Statistical Recently year, data of the indicator
Office (GSO). reflected reduced tendency.
17. Proportion of From 2000 Data source: Multi Urban/rural, This indicator also reflects access
births attended by to 2003 Indicators Cluster 8 regions to reproductive health services
skilled health Survey (2000), routine and although strictly speaking it is
personnel report of MOH and provinces measured directly in many
GSO (2001-2003) courtiers at present.
19. Contraceptive 1994, Data of this indicator By urban, This indicator has only been
prevalence rate 1996, are updated from rural, 8 calculated for females from 15-49
1998, 2003 routine report of regions, and years old. Data was collected
Ministry Of Health and provinces. from reliable routine reports of
General Statistical MOH and GSO.
Office (1993-2003),
GSO.
20. Number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS Data are not available
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21. Prevalence and From 1993 Data of this indicator By Data of this indicator have been
death rates associated to 2003 are updated from nationwide, collected adequately from 1993-
with malaria routine report of provinces 2003 of routine reports of GSO
Ministry Of Health and and MOH.
General Statistical
Office (1993-2003),
GSO
22. Proportion of population in malaria risk areas using effective malaria Data are Not Available
prevention and treatment measures
23. Prevalence and From 1993 Periodical reports of By Data of this indicator have been
death rates associated to 2003 MOH and GSO Nationwide, collected from reliable periodical
with tuberculosis provinces reports of MOH and GSO.
24. Proportion of 1993-2003 Now, data of this By urban, Similarly assessment of data of
tuberculosis cases indicator is collected rural, 8 above indicator
detected and cured from routine report of regions and
under directly MOH and GSO (1993- provinces
observed treatment 2003).
short course (DOTS,
WHO)
27. GDP per unit of energy use Data are not available
28. Carbon dioxide From 1994 From Ministry of By This indicator is only collected
emissions per capita to 2000 Natural Resources and nationwide from Ministry of Natural
(metric tons per capita) Environment Resources and Environment
29. Proportion of population using solid fuels Now, Data are not available
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30. Proportion of 1993, This indicator of Urban, rural, Data have been calculated from
population with 1994, Vietnam is calculated 8 regions surveys of GSO that sampling
sustainable access to 1995, to derive from surveys were designed and
an improved water 1998, 2002 household surveys conducted scientifically by GSO.
source (1993, 1998, and 2002) Sampling
and Multiple Indicator
Cluster Surveys (1994-
1995), GSO
Target 11. By 2020 to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives at least 100 million slum dwellers
31. Proportion of 1993, This indicator of Urban, rural, Data have been calculated from
population with access 1994, Vietnam is calculated 8 regions surveys of GSO that sampling
to improved sanitation 1995, to derive from surveys were designed and
1998, 2002 household surveys conducted scientifically by GSO.
(1993, 1998, and 2002)
and Multiple Indicator
Cluster Surveys (1994-
1995), GSO.
32. Proportion of 1994, This indicator of Urban, rural, Data have been calculated from
people with access to 1998, 2002 Vietnam is calculated 8 regions. In surveys of GSO that sampling
secure tenure to derive from 1994, 2002 surveys were designed and
household surveys data were conducted scientifically by GSO.
(1993, 1998, and 2002) disaggregate
and Multiple Indicator d by
Cluster Surveys (1994- provinces.
1995), GSO.
35. Proportion of bilateral ODA of OECD/DAC donors that is untied (OECD) - Not available
36. ODA received in landlocked countries as proportion of their GNIs (OECD) - Not available
37. ODA received in small island developing States as proportion of their GNIs (OECD) - Not available
38. Proportion of total development country imports from developing countries (by value and excluding arms) and
from LDCs, admitted free of duties (WTO, UNCTAD, World Bank, IMF) - Not available
Target 14. Address the special needs of landlocked countries and small island developing states (through the
Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development for Small island Development States and the outcome of
the twenty-second special section of the General Assembly)
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39. Average tariff impose by developed countries on agricultural products and textiles and clothing from developing
countries - Not available
40. Agricultural support estimate for OECD countries as percentage of their GDP - Not available
41. Proportion of ODA provided to help build trade capacity - Not available
Target 15. Deal comprehensively with debt problems of developing countries through national and international
measures in order to make debt sustainable in the long term
42. Total number of countries that have reached their HIPC decision points and number that have reached their HIPC
completion points (cumulative) - - Not available
43. Debt relief committed under HIPC initiative, US$ - Not available
44. Debt service as a percentage of exports of goods and services - Not available
Target 16. In cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive
work for youth
45. Unemployment rate of 15-24 year olds, each sex and total - Not available
46. Proportion of population with access to affordable essential drugs on a sustainable basis - Not available
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