The Ministry of Health is proposing to organize commendation and honoring of couples and individuals who have two children in 10 provinces and cities with low birth rates to encourage people to have children, contributing to maintaining the replacement fertility rate in the context of Vietnam's continuously decreasing birth rate.
The proposal is mentioned in the draft Circular guiding the implementation of a number of contents under the National Target Program on health care, population and development for the period 2026-2035 (phase I: 2026-2030).
According to data from the Statistics Office in 2024, there are currently 10 localities nationwide with birth rates lower than the general average. Hanoi is the only locality in the Northern region on this list.
In 2024, each woman of reproductive age in Hanoi only gave birth to an average of 1.86 children, lower than the replacement birth rate and the lowest level ever recorded in the Capital. This trend has not shown signs of improvement as in the first 6 months of 2026, Hanoi recorded more than 37,600 babies born, a decrease of nearly 2,900 babies compared to the same period last year, according to the Hanoi Sub-Department of Population, Children and Social Evils Prevention.
In addition to Hanoi, the remaining 9 localities include Khanh Hoa (1.82 children/woman), Dong Nai (1.79), An Giang (1.74), Dong Thap (1.71), Vinh Long (1.60), Ca Mau (1.58), Can Tho City (1.55), Tay Ninh (1.52) and Ho Chi Minh City with the lowest level in the country, only 1.43 children/woman.
According to the Ministry of Health, Vietnam is facing a prolonged trend of birth reduction. From 2.11 children/woman in 2021, the total fertility rate decreased to a record low of 1.91 children in 2024, slightly increasing to 1.93 children in 2025. Preliminary data in 34 provinces and cities shows that in the first 6 months of 2026, this number is estimated to reach 1.96 children/woman but is still lower than the replacement fertility rate.
The Department of Population assesses that if the current trend continues, the goal of maintaining the replacement fertility rate nationwide by 2030 will be very difficult to achieve. Prolonged low fertility rates may lead to labor shortages, shrinking the population size, accelerating the aging process and increasing the pressure on socio-economic development in the coming decades.
To respond, the Ministry of Health proposed launching a movement to encourage couples to have enough two children. At the central level, it is expected to organize the launch and commendation of advanced examples nationwide in 2027 and 2029.
In localities, this activity will be organized annually, combined with many forms of communication such as seminars, policy dialogues, contests, festivals and propaganda programs to raise awareness about the benefits of having two children, while encouraging families to join hands to maintain the replacement fertility rate.
Previously, many localities have proactively issued financial support policies to encourage childbirth. Ho Chi Minh City currently supports 5 million VND at a time for women who have two children before the age of 35; Hai Phong supports 3 million VND; Tay Ninh supports 2 million VND; Dong Nai and Dong Thap both support 1 million VND.
In addition to supporting people, some localities also have a reward mechanism for communes and wards that achieve or exceed 60% of couples of childbearing age having enough two children continuously for 3 or 5 years. The highest bonus level belongs to Tay Ninh with 200-300 million VND; Ho Chi Minh City from 30-60 million VND; Dong Thap from 30-50 million VND and Dong Nai from 20-40 million VND.
