Current Status of Women in Vietnam 2025: Gender Equality, Health and Trends

The current status of women in Vietnam is an important topic, reflecting the progress in gender equality, leadership, health, education, as well as the remaining challenges. In 2025, Vietnamese women are asserting their strong position in all fields, from politics, economics to culture.

1. Gender Equality and Women's Leadership

Gender equality is at the heart of national policies in Vietnam. According to the National Strategy on Gender Equality 2021-2030, the target by 2025 is for 60% of state management agencies and local authorities to have female key leaders, increasing to 75% by 2030. The Vietnam Women's Union is also strongly promoting this with the 2025 theme of "Promoting the role of women in building a clean and strong political system".

• Current situation:
  Vietnamese women hold 36% of senior leadership positions in businesses, second in Asia (according to Grant Thornton). Positions such as finance director, human resources director, and CEO are increasingly represented by women. However, gender stereotypes remain a barrier, making it difficult for women to advance, especially in the political field.

2. Women's Health: Challenges and Solutions

Women’s health is a top priority. Programs such as the Ministry of Health’s “For a Vietnam without the burden of HPV” are raising awareness about cervical cancer prevention.

• Concerning issues:
  • Premature ovarian failure in women over 30 years old, instead of 45 years old as before.
  • Screening for breast and skin cancer is not yet widely available.
• Solution:
  Women are encouraged to undergo regular cancer screening through ultrasound, mammograms, and abnormal signs checks. Healthy living habits such as yoga, a healthy diet (using chia seeds, green tea), and adequate sleep help reduce the risk of depression and chronic diseases.​​​​​​​​​​​​

3. Gender Violence: A Painful Issue

Gender-based violence, especially domestic violence, remains a major challenge. Cases of women being abused by their husbands or sexually assaulted by professionals (such as doctors) are constantly reported in the press.

• Current situation:
  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one-third of women worldwide have experienced physical or sexual violence. In Vietnam, domestic violence and cyber violence are on the rise, requiring stronger protection policies.
• Solution:
  • Strengthening communication on gender-based violence prevention.
  • Digital skills training for women to protect themselves online.
  • Build support centers for victims of domestic violence.

4. Education and Career: Opportunities and Challenges

Vietnamese women are increasingly educated, helping to close the gender gap. However, in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) fields, the rate of female graduates remains low due to social prejudice.

• Highlights:
  • 75% of female cadres in leadership planning will be trained by 2025, increasing to 90% by 2030.
  • Women are dominating industries like online business, healthcare, and food, especially in Q2 2025.
• Challenge:
  The wage gap between men and women persists, especially in STEM fields. Women also face pressure to balance career and family.

5. Social and Cultural Trends of Women 2025

Modern women in Vietnam are moving towards a confident, independent, and life-changing lifestyle. Notable trends include:

• Fashion and beauty:
  • Outfits like culottes, bubble shorts, and canvas shoes are all the rage.
  • Monochrome makeup and skin care trends during hot weather are emphasized.
• Lifestyle:
  Women are encouraged to live actively, exercise, and pursue their passions. Financial freedom and self-care are core values.
• Falling birth rate:
  The fertility rate in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024 will only reach 1.4 children per woman, lower than the natural replacement rate, reflecting the trend of women prioritizing their careers and personal lives.

6. Solutions to Promote Women's Power

To improve the situation of women, synchronous solutions are needed:

1. Support policy: Increase training and prioritize promotion for women in key areas.
2. Raising awareness: Promote communication on gender equality and violence prevention.
3. Health Investment: Expand reproductive health care and cancer screening services.
4. Digital Transformation: Supporting women to access digital skills to actively participate in the digital economy.

The State of Vietnamese Women in 2025 shows remarkable progress in gender equality, health, and education, but challenges such as gender-based violence and the wage gap remain. With supportive policies from the government and efforts from the community, Vietnamese women are increasingly asserting their important role in society. Let's join hands to build a future where women are respected and fully developed!