Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the fastest developing countries in the world, experiencing continuous GDP growth of 6-8% per year from 2000-2011. With its rapid economic expansion and a population of 91.5 million (July 2012), Vietnam is becoming an increasingly important market, as well as gaining importance as a producer in its own right, especially in the garment, rice, pepper and tea industries. Lured by Vietnam’s stunning scenery, vibrant culture and rich heritage, tourists are currently flooding to the country in unprecedented numbers, while foreign investors flock to mark their stake in the country’s burgeoning economy.

Over the last fifteen years, Vietnam has made remarkable achievements in reducing poverty. Current official poverty levels stand at 9.5% and Vietnam is poised to become a middle income country within the next two years and to achieve its Millennium Development Goals by 2012. However, pockets of extreme poverty still remain, mostly in ethnic communities in the mountainous northwest and north central regions, while increasing urbanisation has also created new pockets of poverty in and around the cities in the Mekong and Red River deltas.

SNV has been active in Vietnam since 1995. With a team of more than 65 international and national staff, SNV’s work in Vietnam focuses on the following programmes: 

Find out more about our ongoing projects here.