The country has recorded significant achievements in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), especially in eliminating hunger and reducing poverty, and improving living standards.
Social support policies have been implemented and adjusted, and the social allowance rate has increased.
Vietnam has escaped from low-income status for the first time in centuries. In 2010, Vietnam was officially listed as a low middle income country with average per capita income reaching over US$1,100 per year.
With the implementation of the National Target Programme on Poverty Reduction and Programme 135 to improve living conditions for rural residents, along with the involvement of the whole political system in efforts to lower the number of poor households, Vietnam has set a good example in poverty reduction and received complements from the international community.
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State budget and external resources (official development assistance (ODA) and non-refundable aid), and support from businesses and individuals have also contributed to the nation’s social security policies.
Thanks to investment resources from poverty reduction programmes and policies, the rate of poor households nationwide has fallen by 2% per year, from 14.2% in 2010 to less than 4.5% in 2015, while the rate of poor districts was cut by 6% per year during that time, from 58.3% to only 28%.
The Vietnamese population is also better educated and has a higher life expectancy than most countries with a similar per capita income.
Despite making stellar achievements in the implementation of social welfare policies, the efficiency of the work remains limited as poverty reduction is unsustainable and gaps between the rich and the poor in terms of income and access to social services are widening.
In order to ensure social security, relevant ministries and sectors need to take synchronous measures and full advantage of organisations and partners.
