亚开行-民间社会简报：越南（英）

Notes: In this publication, “$” refers to United States dollars. ADB recognizes “China” as the People’s Republic of China and “Vietnam” as Viet Nam. All photos are by ADB. This publication was completed before the merger of the Vietnamese provinces in June 2025. Therefore, names of the provinces mentioned in the publication refer to the geographical names prior to the merger.Country ContextViet Nam lies on the eastern side of mainland Southeast Asia. The landscape ranges from tropical coastal lowlands in the east to the temperate Annamite Mountains in the west. In the south is the Mekong Delta, a region at the mouth of the Mekong River, Southeast Asia’s largest river, which is known for its biodiversity and bountiful fishing and agriculture. Viet Nam’s population was about 100 million in 2023,a of which nearly 86% is ethnic Kinh. Vietnamese folk religion, combining elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, and local animist traditions, is widely observed. The official language is Vietnamese.For more than 1,000 years, the territory of present‑day Viet Nam was ruled by Chinese feudal dynasties, followed by a Vietnamese monarchy established a United Nations Population Fund. 2023. Viet Nam’s Population to Reach 100 Million in 2023–A Significant Milestone. News release. 17 March. https://vietnam.unfpa.org/en/news/information‑for‑media‑viet‑nams‑population‑reach‑100‑million‑2023.IntroductionInformal groupings to fulfill common needs were a traditional aspect of Vietnamese village life. Civil society in its contemporary form emerged in the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in the late 20th century. Extensive economic and political reforms, the arrival of international nongovernment organizations (INGOs), and a gradual loosening of restrictions on grassroots initiatives prompted the formation of local citizens’ groups. The development of a legal framework for citizens’ initiatives in the 1990s further encouraged the spread of diverse types of civic organizations. Although cautious at first, government agencies, beneficiary communities, and Vietnamese society as a whole have gradually embraced the idea of organizations that do not belong to the government or operate solely under its direction. The box provides more information on the operating environment for civil society in Viet Nam. Supporting livelihoods in Quang Tri Province. A farmer from Vinh Quang Village in the Gio Linh District, Quang Tri Province, checks her 1.2-hectare rice field nourished by water from the local canal network—emphasizing the importance of rural infrastructure in supporting livelihoods in Viet Nam. CIVIL SOCIETY BRIEFVIET NAMcontinued on next pagebox continuedin 938 AD. France asserted colonial rule over the Mekong Delta in the middle of the 19th century. During the colonial period, land was seized from local farmers and granted to large landowners, spawning multiple resistance movements. Following Japan’s occupation of the country during World War II, the Communist Party of V