The Vietnamese government is taking action to address a severe gender imbalance at birth caused by a strong preference for male children.
Vietnam recently announced a 125 trillion dong ($6.97 trillion won, approximately $4.9 billion) health and population program that includes normalizing the sex ratio as a key objective, local media outlet VnExpress reported Wednesday.
The government aims to reduce the sex ratio at birth to below 109 by 2030 and below 107 by 2035. The sex ratio refers to the number of male births per 100 female births.
Vietnam's current sex ratio far exceeds the natural ratio of 104 to 106. As of 2024, it stands at 111.4, with the imbalance worsening in northern regions. In the capital Hanoi, the ratio reaches 118.1.
The distorted ratio is rooted in Confucian-based son preference. In Vietnam, the belief that "sons carry on the family line" is deeply ingrained regardless of wealth or education level.
In response, Vietnam's Ministry of Health has introduced policies to encourage having daughters. A draft population law announced in July proposed providing cash or essential goods to rural and vulnerable families who give birth to two daughters.
Even before the national policy, some local governments including Hai Phong, Hau Giang, and Bac Lieu had introduced experimental policies offering cash rewards to families with two daughters, which have shown some positive results.
Regulations on medical practices that reveal fetal sex will also be tightened. Doctors who disclose this information could face license revocation, and fines for sex-selection procedures will be increased.
The current fine stands at 30 million dong (approximately 1.7 million won), but the government is considering raising it to 100 million dong (approximately 5.58 million won).
