Social security is a fundamental right of every citizen and a responsibility shared by the State and society. It is also a direct investment in people and the nation’s future. The effectiveness of social security policies must be measured by social stability and public trust.
Poverty reduction policies deliver tangible results
In Song Kon commune, Da Nang city, the Co Tu ethnic minority comprise 90% of the population. Using funding from national target programs and other resources, the commune has made significant progress in poverty reduction.
Do Huu Tung, Chairman of the Song Kon commune People’s Committee, said: “We have benefited from policies under three national target programs, with investment in infrastructure, economic development, and livelihood models. The poverty rate has fallen by more than 5 % each year, demonstrating the attention and support the Party and State have given to ethnic minority communities.”
In Giang Thanh, a border commune in An Giang province, combining rice cultivation with black tiger shrimp farming has helped raise local standard of living.
Tran Minh Phuc, a resident of Tra Pho hamlet, is among the beneficiaries. He said: “People here used to endure many hardships, but life is much better now. The State brought electricity to the area, making it easier to pump water and carry out other activities. Life is more comfortable, and people have been able to build sturdy houses.”
Tuyen Binh, an agricultural commune on the border in Tay Ninh province, has made poverty reduction a priority. Support for livelihoods, housing, and living conditions has been rolled out in a coordinated manner.
In Ca Rung hamlet, most families now have stable housing. Tran Ba Duy, deputy head of the hamlet’s administration, said: “There are now five poor households in the hamlet, most of whose residents work in agriculture. This year, the State has provided funding to build another house for a poor household, bringing great joy to the community. Local authorities are seeking additional support for two near-poor households.”
Investing in social security means investing in the future
In Vietnam, policies covering poverty reduction, credit, housing, healthcare, education, employment, and disaster relief have provided a safety net for millions of families. Under Vietnam’s multidimensional poverty standard, the household poverty rate was 1.3% in 2025, down one percentage point from 2024. More than 99 million people are covered by health insurance (96.9% of the population) and roughly 2.5 million people receive social retirement allowance.
But Vietnam now has more than 17 million older people. By 2036, people aged 60 and older will comprise 20% of the population, which will demand more healthcare, long-term care, and income security. Natural disasters, epidemics, automation, and labor market volatility are creating other forms of vulnerability.
Protecting people against those risks will require sound policies and a social security system capable of anticipating emerging challenges and responding effectively.
On August 25, addressing a meeting in Hanoi with the Government Party Committee on social security implementation, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said the principle of “leaving no one behind” must be translated into tangible, measurable results.
Mr. Lam said: “We must establish social security records and a point of contact for service delivery. The Government must build a national social security database containing population, insurance, tax, employment, healthcare, education, housing, and disaster data, and ensure its safety, and privacy. Every citizen should have a life-cycle social security record. We must strengthen the social protection floor, reform social assistance policies, integrate overlapping programs, unify eligibility criteria, and be flexible to address specific needs. Assistance levels must take into account minimum living standards, price fluctuations, and budgetary capacity, with timely supplementary support for people facing unexpected hardships.”
The Government’s plan for implementing the top leader’s direction sets out a roadmap with two strategic milestones. First is to fundamentally establish a multi-tiered, inclusive, and digitized social security system, ensuring a minimum social security floor for the entire population by 2030. Second is to approach the standards of high-income, developed nations by 2045 with quality services, sustainable financial resources, transparent governance, and the capacity to respond rapidly to risks.
