Vietnam faces a growing challenge related to malnutrition, encompassing undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition. Current food systems fail to address the triple burden of malnutrition — undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition (Popkin, 2019; Béné, 2019; Fanzo, 2020). The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that approximately 462 million people worldwide are underweight, while 1.9 billion adults (39%) are overweight or obese. In 2020, globally, 149 million children under the age of five were stunted, 45 million were wasted, and 38.9 million were overweight or obese (FAO, 2021).
Many populations have shifted from traditional diets, rich in locally sourced grains, pulses, fruits, and vegetables, towards a globalized diet high in animal proteins, fats, sugar, and processed packaged foods. This dietary shift is happening in Vietnam as well (NIN, 2021). The prevalence of undernourishment in Vietnam decreased from 18% to 11% between 2008 and 2018 (FAO, 2018). Improvements were also observed in chronic malnutrition (stunting) in children under five, dropping from 32% to 24% between 2007 and 2015 (UNICEF and WHO, 2019). However, the rate of overweight and obesity is rapidly increasing, particularly in urban areas (Vietnam Ministry of Health, 2021). The WHO reported in 2018 that 9.7% of children and adolescents in Vietnam were overweight, alongside 25% of women and 20% of men (WHO, 2018). Recent data show that overweight and obesity among school-aged children rose from 8.5% in 2010 to 19% in 2020, with urban areas at 26.8%, rural areas at 18.3%, and mountainous regions at 6.9% (NIN, 2021). Overweight individuals are at higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers. Unhealthy eating is largely a result of unhealthy food environments (Hawkes, 2006; HLPE, 2017). Therefore, better understanding of food environments is essential for developing interventions that lead to healthier food systems.
The SHiFT initiative has explored how Vietnam’s policies affect the food environment, focusing on six key domains: food product properties, food outlets, marketing, desirability, prices, and availability.
Through a comprehensive analysis of over 230 policy documents, researchers found that while Vietnam has made significant strides in improving food safety, critical gaps remain in promoting healthier food environments. For instance, policies aimed at regulating food marketing, especially to children, are insufficient. Additionally, there are few incentives to promote affordable healthy foods, and the increasing availability of processed and ultra-processed foods poses major public health challenges.
Key findings include:
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Food Product Properties: While safety standards exist, the nutritional quality of processed foods is poorly regulated, particularly in terms of salt, sugar, and trans-fat content.
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Food Outlets: There is little policy support for developing healthy food retail environments, with modern retail channels often promoting unhealthy options.
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Food Marketing: Aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, particularly towards children, remains a major concern, with few restrictions in place.
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Food Prices: There are minimal policies making healthy foods more affordable or discouraging the consumption of unhealthy options.
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Food Availability: While urban areas have access to a wide range of food outlets, the availability of fresh, healthy food in rural and mountainous areas is limited.
The study recommends that Vietnam strengthen its regulatory framework across these domains to create a more conducive environment for healthy diets. This includes implementing clearer food composition standards, enhancing marketing regulations, and making healthy food options more accessible and affordable for all populations.
For further details, the full report is available for reference, providing a deeper insight into the recommendations for improving Vietnam’s food policy landscape.