United Nations A/HRC/WG.

General Assembly Distr.: General

08 May 2023

Original: English

Human Rights Council

Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review
… Session

National Report submitted in accordance with paragraph 5 of the annex to

Human Rights Council resolution 16/211* Viet Nam

1*The
present document has been reproduced as received. It does not imply the expression of any opinion
whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations.
I. Methodology
In accordance with Resolution A/Res/60/251(2006) establishing the HRC,
Resolution 5/1 (2006), and Decision 17/119 (2011) of the HRC, the following Report
reviews the human rights situation in Viet Nam.

II. Protection and promotion of human rights at national level

(brief về thành tựu VN từ 2019-2023)
A. Civil and political rights
1. Equality before the law
2. Rights to life, respect for human dignity and bodily inviolability
3. Right to freedom of movement
4. Freedom of religion and beliefs
5. Right to freedom of expression and assembly and freedom of the press
6. Right of detainees and prisoners
7. (more)
B. Economic, social and cultural rights
1. Economic development, poverty reduction and social welfare
The gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019 witnessed an impressive result with
a growth rate of 7.02%, exceeding the National Assembly’s target of 6.6% – 6.8%. GDP
in 2020 increased by 2.91%, although being the lowest increase of the period 2011-
2020, but in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic happened complicatedly, negatively
affecting all socio-economic fields, this is a great success for Vietnam with the growth
rate in 2020 among the highest in the world. 2021 is the year in which many of our
country’s important events take place; is the first year in the course of implementing the
Resolution of the Party’s 13th National Congress, the 10-year Socio-economic
development Strategy for the 2021-2030 period and 5-year plans for the 2021-2025
period against the backdrop of the ever-harsher difficulties and challenges that our
country faces. GDP in 2022 was estimated to increase by 8,02%compared to the
previous year, achieving the highest increase in 2011-2022 due to the economic
recovery.
Viet Nam’s top priority in preventing the pandemic is to protect the life and
health of the people and minimize the number of infections, severe cases, and fatalities
caused by Covid-19.2 Thanks to a whole-of-government approach, the consensus and
cooperation of the people as well as the collaboration and support of international
partners, Viet Nam has carried out the largest vaccination program in history with over
204.73 million doses administered, resulting in about 97% coverage for people over 18
years old and about 90% coverage for children over 12 years old. This has enabled Viet
Nam to embark on its transition to a period of safe and dynamic adaptation, socio-
economic recovery, and development.
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The National Assembly of Viet Nam has approved the National Target Program
for Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Social Security for the 2021-2025, and the
National Target Program for Socio-economic Development in ethnic minorities, and
mountainous areas in the 2021-2030 period with comprehensive policies and measures.
By the end of 2020, 92 out of 292 (32.5%) extremely disadvantaged communes along
the coastal areas and on islands had been lifted out of poverty; 32.67% of villages
(1,298/3,973) and 5.69% of communes (125/2,193) had completed their P-135
objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic has set back progress in poverty reduction, halting
a decade of rapid wage growth, however, progress in reducing poverty was sustained in
2020 over a two-year period compared to 2018. This was a better outcome than for most
developing countries in the region and globally. With the new multi-dimensional
poverty line (approved in 2021), the near poor and poor household rate in Viet Nam
increases from 5.2% in 2020 to 9.35% in 2022, meaning an additional 10 million people
to benefit from the government’s social protection & poverty reduction policies and
programs in 2021-2025 period.
2. Employment promotion
2019 marked a milestone at the National Assembly through its adoption of the
revised Labour Code which embeds important changes in order to be more aligned with
ILO international labor standards and responsive to global integration. Viet Nam also
ratified ILO Convention 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining,
Convention 88 on Employment Services, and Convention 159 on vocational
rehabilitation and employment as great steps towards protecting and benefiting laborers
in the workplace. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam had a relatively low
unemployment rate of 2%. This rate, however, increased marginally in 2020, shortly
after the start of the pandemic. The unemployment rate of working age in 2022 is 2.32%,
down 0.88 percentage points compared to the previous year. The number of employed
workers aged 15 and over in 2022 will be 50.6 million. This number increased by 1.5
million people compared to 2021, but still lower than in 2019 of 56,800 people. The
labor force participation rate in the first quarter of 2023 was 68.9%, unchanged from
the previous quarter and up 0.8 percentage points year-on-year. The labor force
participation rate of women is 62.9% and that of men is 75.3%.
3. Supply of clean water
In 2020, the rate of households using hygienic water sources in Viet Nam reached
approximately 95-100%, meeting the goals set out in the roadmap to implement Viet
Nam’s Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Policies and projects on clean water
and sanitation in rural areas have positively contributed to hunger eradication and
poverty reduction in many localities. Environmental management of industrial zones
has made enormous strides. There are 263/290 (90.69%) operating industrial zones with
centralized wastewater treatment facilities across the country, increasing by 13
compared to 2019. In 2022, clean water plants nationwide provided more than 11.2
million cu.m per day, but only about 15% of wastewater is being treated and that poses
a major challenge. To create a legal corridor to help the water sector development with
stability and sustainability, the government included the project to develop the Law on
Water Supply and Sewerage for the 2021-2026 term.
4. Health care, education and housing for the poor
Population quality has gradually improved. Life expectancy is 73.7 years old in
2020, compared to 73.3 years old in 2015. Health care network is maintained across the
country, including border areas, islands, and mountainous and ethnic minority areas. In
the fight against Covid-19, medical centers have played important roles in taking care
of people, including the elderly and people with chronic diseases. Viet Nam has
proactively implemented the 2018-2030 National Plan of Action to eliminate HIV,
Hepatitis B, and Syphilis Transmission from Mother to Child and has recently adopted
the National Plan on Eradicating AIDS by 2030.
The Government ensures the provision of Covid-19 vaccines free of charge for
all and in accordance with WHO’s recommended list of priority groups. Despite the
global vaccine supply shortage and restricted economic conditions, as of March 26,
2022, Viet Nam has vaccinated over 204.73 million doses for its people and is one of
the six countries with the largest vaccine coverage (about 97% for people over 18 years
old and about 90% for children over 12 years old). Measures to ensure proper treatment
for Covid-19 cases have also been carried out. Particularly, during the initial stage when
the pandemic started spreading in Viet Nam, Covid-19 patients were treated free of
charge and quarantined in health facilities to prevent further spread. Viet Nam is also
studying and preparing for safe vaccination for children aged 5-11, taking into account
based on scientific evidence, taking into account the pandemic situation, and lessons
learned from other countries.
Ensuring the right to education continues to be one of the top priorities in the
development strategy. Despite budget constraints, Viet Nam maintains 20% of the State
expenditure on education. In the 2012-2020 period, illiteracy was eliminated for
295,308 people between the age of 15-60, raising their literacy rate to 97.85% and that
of the group aged 15-35 up to 99.3%. Viet Nam has also issued numerous measures of
tuition fee exemption and reduction or cost-of-learning support for vulnerable groups,
focusing on students of ethnic minorities, and students living in remote, remote areas or
in vulnerable situations, especially vis-à-vis the Covid-19 pandemic. Facing the
pandemic, Viet Nam has carried out various measures to prevent disruptions of
educational activities, protecting the right to education for pupils, students, and children,
such as switching to online education in “the new normal status” to facilitate their study
and ensure progress and quality of education programs, and providing computers and
other technological devices to pupils under the hardship of in minority ethnic areas. Viet
Nam is taking steps to help bring pupils and students back to school for safe in-person
education in the coming time.
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In the 2020-2021 school year, the whole country has 42,080 educational
institutions from kindergartens, preschools, primary schools, junior high schools, high
schools, and higher education institutions. For preschool and general education, there
are now 4,011 non-public educational institutions out of 42,080 institutions, reaching
9.5%, with approximately 1.5 million preschool children and students studying at the
school. Non-public preschool and general education institutions out of a total of 22.6
million students reached 6.8%.
The Program to support poor households in rural areas continues to be
implemented nationwide. As of May 2021, about 117,624 among 236,477 poor
households have been provided with loans of around 130.3 million USD to build houses.
Currently, Viet Nam is considering possible adjustments for housing support
mechanisms and policies targeting poor households in rural areas, to be in conformity
with the poverty criteria for the period 2021-2026. Viet Nam has issued policies to
support the construction of safe houses against storms and floods for poor households
in 14 provinces and cities in the Central region. As of May 2021, 89.6% poor households
received financial support to build or repairer storm/flood-proof housing, with a total
disbursed capital of approximately 22.4 million USD.

C. Protection of vulnerable groups and people in underprivileged areas

1. Care for the elderly
Vietnam has a total of 12 million elderly people, 90% of which are members of
the Vietnam Elderly Association. The Vietnam Elderly Association is growing stronger
and stronger in terms of organization, gathering a large number of elderly people to join
the Association. The Elderly Associations at all levels have many practical and effective
activities, serving as the core in caring for and promoting the role of the elderly.
To date, there have been nearly 3,500 intergenerational self-help clubs across the
country and this model has been introduced at many regional and international forums
as a good initiative of Vietnam. The model is included in the WHO regional action plan
on healthy aging; selected by the United Nations as one of the typical cases studied and
studied by many international and national organizations; won first prize in the regional
award for the initiative for a healthy aging Asia.
In particular, the elderly are given priority to vaccinate elderly people with
underlying diseases.
2. Rights of women
Vietnam ranks 60th in the world, 4th in Asia and first in the Council of
Parliamentary Union of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in terms of female
participation in elected bodies; ranked 3rd in the ASEAN region and 47th out of 187
countries in the world participating in the ranking of gender equality in political
participation and management.
 Currently, the ratio of leading and managerial cadres in Party and State agencies
has been improved in quantity and especially in quality. The 13th Central Committee
has 19 female comrades (9.5%). The 15th National Assembly achieved the rate of
30.26% female deputies, the highest ever; The Provincial Party Committee has 16%
female comrades, the Provincial People's Council has 29% female deputies… The
percentage of ministries and ministerial-level agencies with key female leaders is over
50%. Vietnam is in the top third of countries in terms of the percentage of women in
the National Assembly. The proportion of female People's Council deputies at all three
levels of the province, district and commune has increased compared to previous terms.
The proportion of enterprises owned by women reached 26.5%, ranked 9th out of 58
countries and economies studied; Many female entrepreneurs have a high reputation
and rank in the region and the world. In the field of culture and sports, many women
have won regional and international prizes. The female human resource for scientific
research has increased significantly; many women are professors, associate professors,
doctorates; thousands of female intellectuals with many domestic and international
successes, many of which have been awarded prizes for scientific research...
3. Rights of the child
Child care and protection policies have achieved promising results. The network
of preschools, kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools and high schools has
developed nationwide with public, people-founded and private types. The Government
has invested more than 20% of the State budget (VND 224,826 billion) in vocational
education and training. By 2021, Vietnam has reached the standard of universalization
of primary and lower secondary education. The mountainous provinces all have
boarding and semi-boarding schools for ethnic minority children. The rate of enrollment
at the right age at the lower secondary level increased from 92.5% to 98.5%.
The construction of safe, child-friendly schools is increasingly being expanded
and implemented effectively, thereby limiting school violence. Equality in education is
concerned through the issuance of policies and social mobilization to support girls,
ethnic minority children and children living in poor families to attend school.
The health system is continuously strengthened and strengthened in terms of
staff, equipment and medicines. 100% of communes and wards across the country have
medical stations and have obstetric and pediatric health workers. Children of poor
families, ethnic minority children residing in extremely difficult communes, children
under 6 years old are entitled to 100% of medical examination and treatment expenses.
The birth rate in 2021 will reach more than 98%.
In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, Vietnam has been flexible and
proactive in responding to the new situation with the motto "stop going to school, don't
stop learning"; supporting poor, remote and isolated children with conditions for online
learning with dual goals: ensuring safety against epidemics and completing quality-
assured school year tasks.
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The Child Protection System has been implemented and developed step by step.
The forms of care for children with special circumstances are diverse and more suitable
to the needs of each target group.
By 2021, the proportion of children with special circumstances will be reduced
to 5%; 90% of children with special circumstances are managed and monitored and
80% of them receive support and care to recover, integrate into the community and have
opportunities for development.
4. Rights of ethnic minorities
Vietnam ranks 60th in the world, 4th in Asia and first in the Council of
Parliamentary Union of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in terms of female
participation in elected bodies; ranked 3rd in the ASEAN region and 47th out of 187
countries in the world participating in the ranking of gender equality in political
participation and management.
Currently, the ratio of leading and managerial cadres in Party and State agencies
has been improved in quantity and especially in quality. The 13th Central Committee
has 19 female comrades (9.5%). The 15th National Assembly achieved the rate of
30.26% female deputies, the highest ever; The Provincial Party Committee has 16%
female comrades, the Provincial People's Council has 29% female deputies… The
percentage of ministries and ministerial-level agencies with key female leaders is over
50%. Vietnam is in the top third of countries in terms of the percentage of women in
the National Assembly. The proportion of female People's Council deputies at all three
levels of the province, district and commune has increased compared to previous terms.
The proportion of enterprises owned by women reached 26.5%, ranked 9th out of 58
countries and economies studied; Many female entrepreneurs have a high reputation
and rank in the region and the world. In the field of culture and sports, many women
have won regional and international prizes. The female human resource for scientific
research has increased significantly; many women are professors, associate professors,
doctorates; thousands of female intellectuals with many domestic and international
successes, many of which have been awarded prizes for scientific research...
5. Response to the effects of COVID 19
Vietnam is not yet a country with a strong economy, not yet a country with
modern medical equipment, but Vietnam has become a global bright spot in COVID-
19 prevention and control.
The World Health Organization, many leaders of countries, and the press of other
countries have recognized and highly appreciated Vietnam's epidemic prevention and
control results. Among them, the US electronic newspaper Business Insider
emphasized, no country with the same population size has controlled the virus as well
as Vietnam. Or Lowy Research Institute (Australia) announced on January 28, 2021 a
ranking of 98 countries in terms of success in responding to the pandemic, with Vietnam
ranked second (after New Zealand).
 In parallel with domestic epidemic prevention and control, Vietnam also
organized many relief flights to the epidemic center to welcome our overseas
Vietnamese back home. In addition, Vietnam also actively shared experiences with
other countries, participating in supporting some countries to prevent and control the
COVID-19 epidemic. Before the complicated development of the COVID-19
pandemic, Vietnam also chaired the proposal and was approved by the United Nations
General Assembly Resolution A/RES/75/27 to establish the International Day of
Epidemic Preparedness. on December 27 every year.
6. Poverty reduction support
Over the past decade, poverty reduction achievements in Vietnam have been
impressive. One of the clear indicators of this problem is Vietnam's continuously
increasing human development index according to the United Nations Development
Program. Over the past 30 years, the human development index has been continuously
improved… an increase of 40% compared to the first year of participating in the survey.
Vietnam's human development index in 2021 reached 0.7; putting Viet Nam in the
human development group at a high level and ranked 115/191 countries.
According to the multidimensional poverty report 2021 published in July, the
multidimensional poverty rate decreased continuously and significantly, from 18.1% in
2012 to 10.9% in 2016 and 4.4% in 2020. , thanks to increased productive employment,
Improvement of social services, and expansion of the social protection system.
Along with the development of society, the quality of human rights assurance in
Vietnam has been continuously improved through the application of a new poverty line.
To further effectively implement the goal of sustainable poverty reduction and ensure
the social security rights of the poor, Vietnam has issued a multidimensional poverty
line for the period of 2021 - 2025 with criteria for identifying poor households in terms
of income and income. Income and lack of access to basic social services are increased
compared to the 2016-2020 period, not only ensuring minimum income but also helping
to improve the access of the poor to social services. basic opportunities for employment,
health, education, housing, water and sanitation, and information. The multidimensional
poverty line for the period of 2021 - 2025 ensures a more comprehensive social security
right of the poor.
In order to ensure human rights, Vietnam not only applies a new poverty line,
but also adopts the National Targeted Program for Poverty Reduction in the 2021-2025
period, contributing to addressing poverty issues with focus, focus, Urgent, with clear
goals and deadlines. In parallel with the regular system of poverty reduction policies,
Vietnam approved the national target program for poverty reduction (since 1998)
focusing on targeted support for particularly difficult areas and the poor. On July 28,
2021, the XV National Assembly issued Resolution No. 24/2021/QH15, approving the
investment policy of the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction in
the 2021 - 2025 period (hereinafter referred to as the "National Target Program for
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Sustainable Poverty Reduction in the 2021-2025 period" for short) program) with the
goal of reducing poverty in a multi-dimensional, inclusive and sustainable manner,
limiting re-poor and poverty generation; support the poor and poor households to rise
above the minimum standard of living, access basic social services according to the
national multidimensional poverty line, and improve the quality of life. At the same
time, support poor districts and communes with special difficulties in coastal areas and
islands to get rid of poverty, especially difficult. The program focuses on investing in
the development of socio-economic infrastructure in the "poor core" areas, improving
the income and quality of life of the poor, training vocational skills, creating good jobs,
and supporting the poor. the vulnerable do not fall into poverty.

IV. Priorities and commitments in the furthering of human rights protection and
promotion in Viet Nam
A. Difficulties and challenges
The legal system should be more effective and less overlapping. The
administrative system needs to be reformed to better serve the people.
The people’s awareness of their rights is insufficient, and the capacity of officials
to guarantee the rights of the people is still weak. Human rights education in the national
education system in particular, and education and information for citizens to raise their
awareness of human rights in general require further efforts and time to yield far-
reaching outcomes.
Vulnerabilities and disparities still represent significant challenges in Vietnam.
Transient income poverty increased during COVID-19. Although the poverty rate
dropped nationally, the rates are still high among ethnic minorities. More specifically,
while digital transformation in the education sector has increased, inequality in access
to technology and equipment is still a challenge. The digital divide was more
pronounced during COVID-19. Access to health services has improved, but disparities
remain, especially between national level and district/community level health service
providers. When it comes to social assistance, cash assistance programmes have limited
coverage and low benefits. Migrants are broadly excluded.
Viet Nam is one of the countries heavily affected by climate change and natural
disasters. Environmental sustainability has emerged as a major challenge facing the
country. If this issue is not solved, growth will slow down; the livelihoods and living
conditions of the disadvantaged groups will be most affected.

B. The priorities and commitments of Viet Nam in the future

Priorities:
With a view to overcoming those challenges and achieving greater progress in
ensuring the rights of its people, Viet Nam has set a number of priorities for the next
five years.
 Viet Nam continues to give priority to the right to access to quality education
and human rights education by implementing a policy of compulsory, available and free
primary education for all, encouraging development, developing various forms of
secondary education, taking measures to encourage regular attendance at school and
reduce dropout rates. Vietnam gives priority to completing the action plan on human
rights education as recommended by the United Nations in line with the "World
Program on human rights education", focusing on developing the Project "Bringing
human rights people into education programs in the national education system, period
2017 - 2025".
Viet Nam further gives priority to ensuring human rights in response to climate
change with the policy of "people-centered, subject". This includes the right to
participation and information, transparency, accountability, equality and non-
discrimination in climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.
Ensuring the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,
focusing on sustainable reduction of multidimensional poverty, reducing inequality,
eliminating all forms of racial discrimination, ensuring sustainable livelihoods for
people and improving service quality, accessibility, social security, resilience to natural
disasters and epidemics, especially paying attention to vulnerable groups, including the
poor, women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, ethnic minority people.
Further strengthen human rights education to increase people's awareness and the
capacity of law enforcement agencies, including implementation of the project to
include the content of human rights propaganda in the national education program from
preschool to university.
Vietnam prioritizes continuing to promote gender equality as it is an important
factor to build a strong human resource, as well as enhance the quality of life for each
individual, each family and the whole society.
Vietnam also adopted Vietnam's National Decent Work Framework for the
period 2022-2026, which aims to ensure decent work for all. The focus of Framework
is to continue to support the development and improvement of the labor legal system,
and to promote labor market institutional reform; strengthening ecosystems to promote
the development of industries towards inclusiveness and sustainability; promote the
equipping of knowledge and skills for human resources to meet the requirements of the
digital era and the world of work.
Another priority of Vietnam is Right to health after the negative impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. This includes diversifying social insurance schemes, paying
attention to the material and spiritual-being.
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Commitment:
The State of Vietnam attaches great importance to and considers the promotion
and protection of human rights as a matter of highest priority. The well-being and
happiness of each and every Vietnamese person is the ultimate goal of all development
strategies and policies, ensuring that citizens get to enjoy the fruits of development..
Vietnam’s commitment to collaboration with all partners, in a constructive and
sincere manner, for the protection and promotion of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms. Vietnam also continues to conduct regular constructive bilateral human rights
dialogues with several partners and actively participate in regional efforts, particularly
the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee for Human Rights and the ASEAN
Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children.
Viet Nam shall continue to seriously observe its obligations under international
human rights conventions to which it is a Party, and will consider the possibility of and
prepare for accession to other international human rights instruments. Dialogue and
cooperation with Special Rapporteurs, including further consideration of extending
invitation to them, will continue to be a focus in the upcoming future. Presenting
candidatures to UN bodies that play important roles in the maintenance of peace and
security or that directly relate to the enjoyment of human rights of all people in the
world, is an important area of Viet Nam's priorities in this line.