Hanoi aims to reduce the birth rate by 0.2 per 1000 population and the number of women having a 3^rd child by 0.5%. The targets were stated at Monday’s meeting to mark the 50^th traditional day of the Vietnamese Population and Family Planning sector on December 26^th. According to reports at the meeting, Hanoi has taken the lead in population and family planning affairs with its role model families of one or 2 children. Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Viet Tien addressed the ceremony: “Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular is entering a period of golden population. Hanoi’s population growth rate has reaches the replacement fertility level. But drastic measures are needed to cope with new challenges”.