Ethnic minority students at a new, spacious school. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Vietnam has 53 ethnic minority groups with a combined population of 14.4 million people, living in 32 provinces and cities.

Government commitment to sustainable development

The National Target Program for Ethnic Minority and Mountain Areas for the 2021–2025 period was launched in late 2022, laying the groundwork for sustainable development in these strategically important regions.

Thanks to the program, the poverty rate among ethnic minorities has dropped an average of 3.4% per year, exceeding the target by 0.2%. Average per capita income has more than tripled compared to 2020. The percentage of working-age people receiving vocational training suited to local needs reached 54.8%, surpassing the program’s 50% target. 8,600 kilometers of roads have been built, and hundreds of schools upgraded.

42,000 temporary or dilapidated houses in disadvantaged communes and villages have been replaced, achieving 230% of the target, enabling Vietnam to realize its goal of eliminating dilapidated houses by the end of August.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien said: “The national target program  is a vivid expression of the deep concern of the Party and State for ethnic minority and mountain communities. The program received strong support from ministries, agencies, localities, the National Assembly, and the Government.”

The program to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide has brought in great success. (Photo: VGP)

According to Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, this is the first national target program dedicated specifically to ethnic minority areas that has delivered clear results. She said this demonstrates Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable development and ensuring fairness so that no one is left behind, as seen in the 3.2% poverty reduction rate and tripling of incomes compared to 2020.

A clear reflection of ethnic policy

In Phase II of the program for the next five years, Vietnam aims to complete all objectives for the entire 2021–2030 program, realizing the national goal set at the 13th National Party Congress that by 2030, Vietnam will be an upper-middle income country with modern industry. Vietnam plans to increase the program’s budget 10-15% to 6.5 billion USD.

In the coming period, Vietnam will focus on building and upgrading essential infrastructure, expanding production, raising incomes, and narrowing the gap with the national average living-standard, enhancing the quality and quantity of human resources, providing targeted support to disadvantaged ethnic minority groups, and guiding communities in applying technology in production.

The Vietnamese government will also refine policies, tailored to each region’s strengths and potential. Localities are urged to make targeted, focused investments; build brands for local ethnic products; support the application of science and technology; develop collective economic models; and promote partnerships with businesses to ensure production is linked with market consumption.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh outlines key tasks and solutions to develop ethnic minority and mountain areas in the coming time. (Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac)

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: “Investment in ethnic minority and mountainous areas is investment in development. Implementation must be decisive, grounded in reality while we also need innovative thinking, an adaptive approach, and flexibility. If so, I’m confident Phase II will be even more successful, with the spiritual and material lives of people in these areas improving year after year, term after term, and with no one left behind by Vietnam’s comprehensive, rapid, and sustainable development.”

The continued implementation of the National Target Program will help bridge development gaps, improve living standards in ethnic minority communities, and advance Vietnam’s sustainable development goals.