^{Children are safer in the rear seat and in a child safety restraint. Photo credit: Center for Injury Policy and Prevention Research, Ha Noi University of Public Health} 

Road traffic crashes and drowning pose deadly risks, especially to young people in Viet Nam.  

To reduce the risk of drowning, WHO has worked with the Government and partners to develop technical and practical guidance on drowning prevention, build the capacity of provinces to run classes on swimming and water safety, and implement public awareness campaigns on child drowning prevention.  

In the past decade, the country has made real progress in reducing injuries, disability and deaths from road traffic crashes.  

WHO and partners have supported these efforts through assistance in the development of laws on helmets for motorcyclists, and more recently, legislation requiring children to sit in the backseat and be secured in child safety restraints while travelling in cars – all measures proven to reduce injuries and save lives.  

^{At Yen Thanh District Hospital, a lack of wate compromised patient care, said Dr Phan Thi Thuy. Photo credit: WHO Viet Nam} 

Climate change and air pollution threaten the essential ingredients of good health – clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food supply and safe shelter. They have the potential to undermine decades of progress in health in Viet Nam. 

WHO is proud to collaborate with partners to support the Government’s commitment to improve air quality – especially in the country’s big cities where air pollution often ranks among the world’s worst. Priority actions include monitoring emissions where they are created; more collaboration between sectors and between cities and provinces; research into effective ways to reduce pollution; and mobilizing resources to sustainably improve air quality.  

Viet Nam is one of the countries that is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change – which is already increasing health risks from more frequent and more intense storms, floods, heatwaves and droughts, as well as diseases such as dengue. 

Viet Nam has joined  WHO’s Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH) to help the health system contribute to the country’s target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.  The health sector is not only affected by climate change; it also contributes to climate change. Globally, the sector accounts for 4.6% of harmful greenhouse gas emissions. 

WHO is also working with partners and the Government to strengthen the climate resilience and environmental sustainability of health-care facilities. This collaboration is already helping hospitals around the country serving their local communities more safely, despite the challenges of an unpredictable climate.  

^{WHO Representative in Viet Nam Dr Angela Pratt presents WHO’s Tobacco Tax Policy Brief on National Assembly TV.}

In Viet Nam, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, are responsible for 80% of deaths.  

WHO is proud to work with partners to support the Government’s efforts to reduce the risk factors for NCDs – like smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity.  

The changes will help reduce the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks – and therefore reducing harm and health costs for decades to come – while generating additional revenue for key Government priorities.  

The vote followed work by national agencies, supported by WHO and partners, to build public and political support for the taxes. To assist decisions on tobacco excise, WHO used a tobacco tax simulation model, TaXSiM, to predicts the effects of different tax options on price, consumption and Government revenues. WHO compiled the results – and recommendations to benefit both health and the economy – in a tax policy brief that was shared with decision makers.  

^{Doan Thi Hien, 77,  visits her local commune health centre in Nhi Binh, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo Credit: WHO Viet Nam} 

Early detection and timely treatment are the key to successfully managing NCDs. However, many people living with NCDs may not be aware they have them or have access to district or provincial hospitals.  

One way to help address this challenge is to bring testing and care closer to where people live. WHO and partners have been working with the Government to help improve grassroots health care. 

For example, since 2016, WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health to support commune health stations to manage up to 80% of people with mild or moderate NCDs, with nationally standardized protocols and tools that most commune health stations can now use. 

Under this approach, piloted in Ho Chi Minh City, the number of hypertension patients visiting commune health stations nearly doubled, and the number of diabetes patients increased nearly 4 times. 

With focus on better grassroots care, 20% more patients had controlled blood pressure, and 56% more patients had controlled blood glucose. There was also improvement in the supply of essential medicines for hypertension and diabetes. 

Preparing for and responding to health emergencies

^{Dr Angela Pratt, with Mr Dương Đức Thiện of the Ministry of Health and WHO Health Security and Emergency team members, discussing distribution of WHO's donation of one million water purification tablets. Photo credit: WHO / My Pham} 

In Viet Nam, WHO and partners are helping strengthen health security in the context of an ageing population, increasing exposure to climate change threats and a growing risk of zoonoses.  

During the COVID-19 pandemic, with the support of partners, WHO provided technical support to the Government’s strong efforts to protect health, society and the economy, and offered emergency assistance, such as for the procurement and delivery of needed equipment, vaccines and treatment supplies. Lessons from the pandemic experience are informing ongoing work to strengthen health security systems, including pandemic preparedness and response, for the future.  

As well as disease outbreaks, health emergencies can take the form of disasters, as Viet Nam saw in 2024 during Typhoon Yagi – which damaged more than 550 health-care facilities.  

WHO in Viet Nam sincerely thanks all our Member States, partners and donors who have generously contributed to the Organization’s work in support of the Government and people of Viet Nam. With sustained and predictable financing, WHO will be able to continue to advance health equity, help bring health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) back on track, and “future-proof” health systems and communities - ensuring resilience against the inevitable shocks and challenges of the post-SDG era.