Viet Nam's new five-year National HIV/AIDS Strategy (2000-2005) focuses on slowing the spread of infection at community level, slowing progression to AIDS in HIV-positive people, and minimizing the impact of HIV/AIDS on social and economic development. It also emphasizes home care for people with HIV/AIDS and community mobilization for prevention.

Activities in Viet Nam tend to target populations perceived as particularly "high risk" (e.g. IDUs, sex workers, migrant labourers, fishermen, truck drivers). In June 2000, responsibility for coordinating Viet Nam's national HIV/AIDS response shifted from the National AIDS Committee, formed in 1994 and headed by the Deputy Prime Minister, to the new National Committee on Drugs, Prostitution and AIDS (NCDPA). The NCDPA also took over the responsibilities of the former National Drug Control Committee and the Steering Committee on Social Evils.

Training care providers in home-care for people with HIV/AIDS

International NGOs and bilateral assistance organizations are present in force in Viet Nam. Their HIV/AIDS work is substantially in developing communication models for IDUs, sex workers, seafarers and other vulnerable groups, and in strengthening communities and health facilities in care for people with HIV/AIDS and STIs. Some local NGOs are also active.

UNICEF has established strong partnership with the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC), Vietnam Youth Association, the Vietnam Women's Union and the Young Pioneer Council, mass organizations with nationwide reach among priority target groups.

UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, UNFPA and UNDCP cooperate closely in HIV/AIDS programming as members of the national UN Theme Group on HIV/AIDS and the HIV/AIDS Action Group (HAG).