Water, sanitation and hygiene in Viet Nam
Policy brief
- Available in:
- English
- Tiếng Việt
Highlights
With a population of 97.4 million, Viet Nam's access to improved water supplies increased from 65 per cent in the year 2000 to 95 per cent in 2017, while access to basic sanitation jumped from 52 to 84 per cent during the same period. Despite the enormous progress made, 10.7 million people (10.15 million in rural areas and 550,000 in urban areas) still practice open defecation. Additionally, only 13 per cent of the population wash their hands with soap at key moments. The lack of access to water and sanitation coupled with poor hygiene practices contribute to high rates of diarrhoea, pneumonia and parasitic infections. As a result, one fourth of children under the age of five in Viet Nam suffer from stunted growth. In addition to their health being compromised, they are more susceptible to disease and infection and are less likely to grow to their full height or be economically productive when they become adults. Water, sanitation and hygiene are core elements of human capital development that drive Viet Nam's current and future productivity and growth. Human capital development is comprised of the knowledge, skills and health acquired over the course of one's lifetime. It therefore requires investment in children - especially in their early years and those who are most vulnerable - so that they can achieve full potential when they become adults and enter the job market. Water, sanitation and hygiene are indicators that are closely linked to education, skills development and stunting. Adequate investment in WASH would optimize Viet Nam's competitiveness in the regional and global market and accelerate its achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
