VNExpress-Dec 8
Ho Chi Minh City is introducing a policy offering VND3 million ($118) to women who have two children before the age of 35, aiming to address the city’s low birth rate and slow population growth. The initiative, detailed in a proposal from the People’s Committee, also includes prenatal and newborn screening support for low-income families. The policy comes as the city faces a fertility rate of just 1.32 children per woman in 2023, well below the replacement level of 2.1. HCMC will also provide VND2 million for pregnant women and newborns from poor or near-poor households, social protection beneficiaries, or those living in island communes. For communities, the city proposes rewarding district-level People’s Committees with certificates of merit and VND30 million if at least 60% of couples of childbearing age have two children. Areas that sustain this rate for five consecutive years will receive VND60 million.
Advertisement HCMC is one of 21 localities in Vietnam with a low birth rate, with its natural population growth at just 0.73% in 2023. The city’s authorities warn that prolonged low fertility rates could lead to rapid aging, labor shortages, and social welfare challenges. Other southern provinces, such as Hau Giang, Kien Giang, and Bac Lieu, have adopted similar reward policies with support between VND1-1.5 million per woman. The city also plans to phase out outdated population policies, such as incentives for communities without third children and sterilization procedures. Read more at:
