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| Vietnam | |
 Flag of Vietnam | |
| Population (in Mil.) | 89.6 |
 Sex Ratio (m/f)
| 0,99 |
 Life Expectancy Ratio (f/m)
| 1.05 |
 Fertility Rate
| 2.08 |
 Income Ratio (f/m)
| - |
 Literacy Ratio (f/m)
| 0,93 |
 Tertiary Enrolment Ratio (f/m)
| 0,77 |
 Women in Parliament (in %)
| 27,3 |
| SIGI Rank | 31 |
| More information on variables | |
| Did you know that Vietnam ranks number 31 of 102 countries on the OECD Social Institutions and Gender Index? To learn more, see the official country note "Gender Equality and Social Institutions in Vietnam" at genderindex.org: | |
Contents |
Social Institutions
The position and status of Vietnamese women has improved since the 1950s, but it was only in 2006 that the National Assembly passed the country’s first ever Law on Gender Equality. The law aims to redress wage and other gaps and rationalize existing gender related statutes (U.S. Department of State, 2007). Traditional perceptions still hold much of public life as a male domain, while women are responsible for domestic chores, including child-rearing. This is particularly true in rural areas and in the highlands. Vietnam is home to 54 official ethnic groups and some still nurture traditions that are patriarchal in nature, such as premature marriage of young girls and marriage of a widow to her late husband’s brother. Over 80% of the population belong to no religion at all, 10% are Buddhists and 7% are Christians.
Family Code
The Marriage and Family Law sets the minimum marriage age to 18 for women and 20 for men. Anyone who imposes marriage on under-age persons is subject to punishment, including imprisonment, under the Penal Code. Early marriages nevertheless occur in rural and mountainous regions and an estimated 8 percent of Vietnamese girls between 15 and 19 years of age are married, divorced or widowed (UN, 2004). Polygamy has been illegal in Vietnam since the 1950s. While parental authority is granted to both parents, it is typically the woman who is responsible for taking care of the children and does most of the housework. At birth, children become members of their father's patrilineage, except in some highland groups where matrilineal customs prevail (www.everyculture.com). With regards to inheritance, the Civil Code provides men and women with equal opportunities to write a will or benefit as an heir. If a person dies without a will, the law requires an equal distribution of property among the next of kin. In practice, however, the general custom is for the eldest son to inherit the parental home and the largest portion of the family property, particularly land. Younger sons will often inherit some land or other things of value, while daughters only receive small symbolic items (www.everyculture).
Physical Integrity
Domestic violence against women is discussed more openly today than before. Data on its actual prevalence are not yet readily available, but approximately two thirds of divorces were reportedly due in part to domestic violence. While the divorce rate has risen in the past few years, many women are believed to remain in abusive marriages rather than confront social and family stigma as well as economic uncertainty (U.S. Department of State). The Vietnam Women’s Union and international NGOs promote rehabilitation programs and shelters for victims of violence and sexual abuse, including prostitution.
Civil Liberties
There are no legal restrictions on women’s freedom of movement, although traditions and customs often insist on a woman to “follow her husband”. In addition, administrative procedures (such as the transfer of residence registration from rural to urban areas) may prevent women from exercising their right to freely choose their place of residence (CEADW, 2005). Women enjoy the freedom of dress, but may choose to wear clothes specific to their ethnic group.
Ownership Rights
Privately owned land is not legally recognized by the Vietnamese government. Individuals are instead granted long-term leaseholds through land use right certificates. The Land Law gives men and women equal rights to administer land, but women’s limited awareness of such rights make female land owners a minority. Customs also hold the husband as the head of the household and, as such, his name is usually the only name put on land use right certificates. Out of 12 million farmers having been allotted land by the end of 2000, only 10-12% were women (CEDAW, 2005). Both men and women have the right to own, manage and sell property. Some ethnic minority groups favour male ownership, whereas others follow matriarchal systems where women are in control of all family property. While there are credit and lending institutions that target women borrowers specifically, many women suffer from limited understanding of their financial possibilities and also lack the capacity to formulate effective business plans needed to acquire some loans.
In the news
- UNFPA Dispatch 08.07.2010 : When Girls Don’t Count as Much as Boys: Pre-natal Sex Selection in Viet Nam
Sources
- CEDAW (2005), Consideration of reports submitted by States parties under article 18 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, combined fifth and sixth periodic reports of States parties, Viet nam, CEDAW/C/VNM/5-6.
- Countries and their cultures, Culture of Vietnam, http://www.everyculture.com, accessed 15 February, 2008.
- OECD (2006), The Gender, Institutions and Development Data Base, http://www.oecd.org/dev/gender/gid.
- United Nations (2004), Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Fertility Report, New York.
- U.S. Department of State (2007), Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2006: Vietnam
The Women, Business and the Law
Where are laws equal for men and women? 
The Women, Business and the Law report presents indicators based on laws and regulations affecting women's prospects as entrepreneurs and employees. Several of these indicators draw on the Gender Law Library, a collection of over 2,000 legal provisions impacting women's economic status. This report does not seek to judge or rank countries, but to provide information to inform discussions about women’s economic rights. Covering 128 economies, Women, Business and the Law provides data covering 6 areas: accessing institutions,using property, getting a job, dealing with taxes, building credit, and going to court.Read more about the methodology.
For detailed information on Vietnam, please visit the Women, Business and
the Law Vietnam page.
