Crisis Management for a Conflict with North Korea

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'Để phụ nữ dám sinh, cần thay đổi hệ sinh thái hỗ trợ'

To Encourage Women to Dare to Give Birth, the Support Ecosystem Needs to Change

VN Express | Local Language | News | Nov. 18, 2025 | UndeterminedDemographics

Vietnam is facing rapid population aging alongside a declining fertility rate, especially in urban areas. Despite multiple pro-birth proposals, current policies fall short in making women feel secure and supported when having and raising children. Nguyễn Thị Tuyến, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Women's Union, highlights that low fertility reflects both social progress in women’s education and labor participation, and significant challenges including economic pressures, cultural gender norms, and the constraints of modern lifestyles.

Key barriers for women include economic and employment challenges like high living and childcare costs, limited flexible work options, and career setbacks during maternity leave. Cultural expectations place the bulk of childcare and household responsibilities on women, while men’s involvement remains limited. Additionally, educated women often delay or avoid childbirth due to fears of losing personal freedom and quality of life. Tuyến stresses that low fertility is not caused by women prioritizing careers but by inadequate social and policy support to meet their needs.

Priority policies should focus on stable employment and income, flexible work arrangements, increased maternity and childcare allowances, and reducing costs of healthcare, education, and housing for young families. Developing childcare services for children under 36 months, especially in industrial zones, and promoting gender equality at home through longer paternity leave are essential steps. Current support mechanisms such as public daycare and childcare allowances remain insufficient, and policies must directly address these practical challenges to be effective.

Learning from countries like South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, Tuyến notes that financial subsidies alone cannot raise fertility if women lack supportive living and work environments. Vietnam’s Party and State are working on a comprehensive ecosystem to support families, emphasizing employment, housing, childcare, welfare, and gender equality. Without such measures, population decline will accelerate aging, reduce productivity, and strain welfare systems. Encouraging childbirth requires shared responsibility across political systems, businesses, and families, with a focus on creating conditions where women can balance motherhood and personal development without compromise.

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