Gender-responsive procurement helps boost women’s businesses in Viet Nam
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Mother and Son won prizes of UN Women’s songwriting and poem contest
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Promoting Greater Cybersecurity for Women and Girls in Viet Nam
Digital security and privacy protection for women and girls in Viet Nam’s digital transformation were the focus of a workshop in Hanoi Learn more
A safe space provides essential services for women and children survivors of violence in Ho Chi Minh City
In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, a groundbreaking initiative is offering hope for women and children grappling with violence and abuse. Learn more
Helping vulnerable women in Viet Nam reclaim their resilience in the wake of COVID-19
At least 1,443 vulnerable women affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Tien Giang Province, southern Viet Nam, have received cash grants of VND 5.5 million (USD 200) each... Learn more

UN Women Viet Nam

UN Women’s Strategy Note (SN) for Viet Nam 2022-2026 aims to significantly advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in the country. Fully aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2026, the global UN Women’s Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and Viet Nam's Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2030, the SN aims to support Viet Nam in achieving its national development priorities and the SDGs, in particular SDG5, so that no women or girls are left behind.

We build on the knowledge and lessons learned from previous years aiming to work better, broaden our reach and impact, and pursue long-term sustainability through all our normative, coordination, and programmatic interventions.

Working with national and international partners, UN Women addresses gender-based inequalities and discrimination, and promotes behavioral and social norms change.

Leveraging on UN Women's triple mandate, our programming focuses on four thematic areas to drive results to complex and inter-connected challenges:

  1. Gender and Climate Change, Humanitarian Action (HA), and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
  2. Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)
  3. Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)
  4. Women Peace and Security (WPS)

Viet Nam’s Gender Equality Snapshot

Viet Nam has shown commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE), through the adoption of a comprehensive legal framework on GEWE including:

  • Law on Gender Equality; Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control;
  • The National Strategy on Gender Equality;
  • The National Programme on Gender-Based Violence Prevention;
  • The National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security

However, challenges persist in various areas. Patriarchal social norms and negative gender stereotypes are still pervasive. Violence against women is a significant concern. Meanwhile, women’s overrepresentation in the informal sector undermines their position in the economy and erodes their resilience to economic shocks. While climate change and natural disasters threaten the livelihoods, education and safety of rural, ethnic-minority and poor women and girls, with at least seven major storms and floods, flash floods or landslides being recorded each year, women are not actively engaged in climate change education and planning. Additionally, disasters exacerbate the burden of unpaid care and domestic work on women, while also heightening the risk of violence against them.

VIET NAM'S GENDER EQUALITY SNAPSHOT

Figure 1

Gender Inequality Index

 

 

UNDP (2022) Human Development Report.
(note: Figure provided in for 2021)

Figure 2

Proportion of Women National
Assembly Deputies

Governance and Participation in Public Life

ADB, Australian Aid, ILO, UN Women (2021). Country Gender Equality Profile
Viet Nam (Note: Figure provided in for 2021-2026)

Figure 3

Labor force participation rate by sex

Women's Economic Empowerment

 

ADB, Australian Aid, ILO, UN Women (2021). Country Gender Equality Profile in Viet Nam
(Note: Figure provided in for 2020)

Figure 4

Time spent per day on unpaid domestic
and care work, by sex

Women's Economic Empowerment

 

ADB, Australian Aid, ILO, UN Women (2021). Country Gender Equality Profile in Viet Nam
(Note: Figure provided in for 2016)

Figure 5

Percentage of women aged 15 to 64 who
have experienced any physical, sexual,
emotional, economic violence or controlling behaviours by their husband

Ending Violence against Women

 

MOUSA, CSO and UNFPA (2020). Summary Results of the National Study on Violence
against Women in Viet Nam - Journey for Change

Figure 6

Time spent per day on unpaid domestic
and care work, by sex

Women's Economic Empowerment

 

ADB, Australian Aid, ILO, UN Women (2021). Country Gender Equality Profile in Viet Nam
(Note: Figure provided in for 2016)

UN Women’s Key Achievements 2017-2021

Publications

Strategic Note Brochure - UN Women Viet Nam (2022 - 2026) - The Strategic Note (SN) articulates the multi-year strategy, rationale, envisioned results, targets, and resource requirements for UN Women Viet Nam. In essence, the SN provides a roadmap for improving the lives of women and girls in the context where UN Women operates. Download

Featured videos

Invest In Sport - Invest In Girls | PSA
Joint commitment to build a safe city for women and children in Da Nang, Viet Nam

More videos and stories

Contact us

Green One UN House
304 Kim Ma, Ba Dinh, Hanoi, Viet Nam
Tel: (+84 24) 385 00100 | Fax: +84 43 822 3579 
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Featured publication

Caroline Nyamayemombe

Hope in Action

Journeys for Rebuilding Resilience of Women Impacted by Covid-19 in Viet Nam. Read more

@unwomenvietnam

Country representative

Caroline Nyamayemombe

Caroline Nyamayemombe

Caroline Nyamayemombe is a Zimbabwean with over twenty years of work experience in the United Nations system... Read more