The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has released a draft plan aimed at returning the country’s sex ratio at birth to natural levels by 2035. The proposal, released for consultation on Saturday, seeks to reach a balance of approximately 106 boys for every 100 girls. The plan focuses on curbing sex-selection services and addressing traditional cultural preferences for male children.
Vietnam has historically maintained one of the highest skews toward male births in Asia. According to the draft document, the ratio reached 112.2 boys per 100 girls in 2016 and peaked at 114.8 in 2018. The ministry reported that the figure eased to 110 boys per 100 girls by 2025. The new government targets aim to bring this ratio below 109 by 2030 before reaching the natural equilibrium five years later.
To achieve these benchmarks, the ministry proposes stricter enforcement of existing laws that prohibit fetal sex selection. The draft outlines plans for increased inspections of medical facilities and enhanced monitoring of online advertisements for sex-selection services. Additionally, the government intends to launch public campaigns to challenge the social pressures and traditional beliefs that prioritize male heirs.
The scale of the proposed change involves moving from the 2025 level of 110 boys per 100 girls to 106 per 100 girls over the next decade. For every 1,000 births, this represents a shift from approximately 524 boys to roughly 514 boys. The Ministry of Health attributes the current imbalance to a combination of shrinking family sizes and easier access to prenatal sex-identification technologies, which have allowed traditional preferences for sons to manifest in birth statistics. By increasing oversight, the government aims to restrict the use of these technologies for non-medical gender selection.
Medical providers and digital platforms will notice the effects of this policy through increased regulatory scrutiny and potential penalties for advertising or performing prohibited services. The draft paper indicates that these measures are necessary to maintain social stability and prevent long-term demographic pressures. The plan was released for public consultation on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Following the review period, the government will determine the final implementation dates for the heightened inspections and enforcement measures.