"Have More Daughters"... Vietnam Takes Drastic Step with Medical License Revocation for Disclosing Fetal Gender

Vietnam Faces Worsening Gender Imbalance Due to Son Preference Culture
Doctors to Lose Licenses for Disclosing Fetal Gender
Support for Families with Two Daughters and Stricter Gender Selection Regulations Proposed

Vietnam has launched a major overhaul of its population policies at the national level to correct the deepening son preference phenomenon and the resulting imbalance in the birth sex ratio.

According to recent reports from local media outlets such as VN Express, the Vietnamese government has announced a health and population program with a total budget of 125 trillion dong (approximately 6.97 trillion won). The core objective is to reduce the birth sex ratio to below 109 by 2030 and below 107 by 2035. The birth sex ratio refers to the number of boys born per 100 girls.

Vietnam has launched a major overhaul of its population policies at the national level to correct the deepening son preference phenomenon and the resulting imbalance in the birth sex ratio. Pixabay

Currently, Vietnam's sex ratio far exceeds the natural rate (104-106). As of 2024, the national average is 111.4, with the imbalance particularly pronounced in the northern regions. In the capital, Hanoi, the ratio reaches 118.1, and in certain areas such as Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, and Thai Nguyen provinces, it surpasses 120. According to United Nations Population Division statistics, Vietnam ranked as the fourth most imbalanced country among 217 countries in 2023. This stands in contrast to South Korea, which overcame its historical son preference issue and stabilized its ratio at around 105 in 2023.

Experts attribute the cause to the deeply rooted Confucian culture of son preference. Although women in Vietnam have a high rate of workforce participation and the proportion of female executives and female members of parliament exceeds the global average, household perceptions have not significantly departed from traditional practices. Regardless of whether they live in rural or urban areas, or their income or education level, the traditional belief that "a son continues the family line" remains widespread. Across Vietnam, it is common to find renowned temples claiming to help women bear sons, and some of these temples exploit visitors' desperation by selling expensive offerings to deities said to grant sons.

To mitigate these issues, the government is actively promoting policies that encourage the birth of daughters. In a draft population law released in July, the Ministry of Health proposed providing cash or daily necessities to rural or vulnerable households with two daughters. Some local governments, such as Hai Phong, Hau Giang, and Bac Lieu, have already piloted similar policies and are reported to have achieved some positive results.

Street scene in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. Pixabay

Regulations to prevent sex-selective practices are also being strengthened. The government is revising rules to allow for the revocation of medical licenses for doctors who disclose the sex of fetuses, and is considering raising administrative fines for sex-selective procedures from the current 30 million dong (about 1.7 million won) to a maximum of 100 million dong (about 5.58 million won).

The Ministry of Health views the current situation as serious. Hoang Thi Thom, Deputy Director of the General Office for Population and Family Planning at the Ministry of Health, warned, "If the trend continues, by 2034 there will be 1.5 million more men than women aged 15 to 49." The General Statistics Office of Vietnam also pointed out, "Despite the government's efforts, the sex ratio imbalance has actually worsened over the past two years."