In the statistics of the number of divorce cases tried in 2023 by the General Statistics Office, the whole country recorded 32,060 divorce cases, a sharp increase compared to the number of 22,762 cases in 2020.
Of which, the Mekong Delta region had 10,733 divorce cases (tried at provincial and district levels). Compared to the Southeast, the number of divorce cases in the Mekong Delta is double, although the population of this region is about 2 million people lower than the Southeast.
If calculated on the total nationwide, out of 10 divorces, 3.35 cases occur in the Western provinces.
By locality, in 2023, Ho Chi Minh City was the city with the highest number of divorces (1,816 cases), followed by Ca Mau province (1,309 cases), Tien Giang (1,262 cases), and Nghe An (1,227 cases).
The province and locality with the fewest number of divorces is Bac Kan with 55 cases.
Speaking with Lao Dong reporter, Dr. Pham Thi Thuy - lecturer at the National Academy of Public Administration, Ho Chi Minh City branch, psychological consultant at the Ho Chi Minh City Women's Cultural House - said that there are two important factors affecting the divorce rate: culture and economy.
"In key economic regions like Ho Chi Minh City, with high immigration, economic factors have a huge impact on marriage.
Geographical distance between spouses and children, difficulties in raising children, along with the increased risk of infidelity have contributed to making marriages more likely to break down.
Culturally, places that develop and have a large immigrant population will have unstable cultures.
Experts also point out that one of the factors affecting the divorce rate is the crowd psychology effect. There are people who are struggling in their marriages, they see many couples getting divorced around them so they also decide to get divorced.
In modern times, when the view on the standard of family happiness changes, many people no longer value the value of a lasting marriage but rather value personal happiness. When the ego grows bigger, the marriage cracks, many couples choose to break up rather than find a way to resolve the conflict.
However, Dr. Pham Thi Thuy believes that a high or low divorce rate is not a completely negative sign. She believes that divorce has a positive side, helping couples and children have a better life. If a couple continues to maintain an unhappy marriage, it will create a toxic environment for children.
"If the couple can resolve the conflict together and come up with a solution to preserve the marriage. As long as they still respect and love each other, the marriage can still be saved. That is an important principle. Otherwise, divorce is only a matter of time."
In addition, today's youth also tend to be "lazy in love", afraid of marriage, less interested in their emotional life as a couple, plus the distraction of electronic devices also makes couples have less time for each other, affecting the feelings and stability of the family.
