A legacy of partnership for every child
This year marks 50 years of the UNICEF-Viet Nam partnership for child rights and 35 years since the country ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child
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- Tiếng Việt
In 1990, Viet Nam became the first country in Asia —and the second globally— to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child, just one year after it was adopted by the UN General Assembly. By then, UNICEF had already been working alongside the Government of Viet Nam since 1975. This year, we celebrate key achievements over the decades and proudly commemorate a partnership dedicated to advancing child rights and improving the lives of the most vulnerable children.
Together with the Government, we have helped transform the landscape of child well-being and development - expanding access to healthcare, adequate nutrition, education, clean water and sanitation, and protection. From reducing child mortality to strengthening legal frameworks and child protection systems, this partnership continues to drive meaningful change for every child.
This photo essay traces the history of our long-standing collaboration with Viet Nam. The photographs presented here serve as a visual record of both challenges and achievements over time, reflecting our shared commitment to improving the lives of children and families. Many of these images have been generously contributed by former colleagues whose personal archives have preserved important moments in this journey. We are especially grateful to colleagues who worked in Viet Nam in the 1980s — Fouad Kronfol, Representative; Leo Goulet, Chief of Water and Sanitation; and Lou Mendez, Supply Officer — for the time and passion they devoted to rescuing and sharing their visual memories.
A partnership for every child
Early efforts to deliver basic health services — reaching remote villages, protecting children’s lives.
Classrooms of hope: learning with limited resources, but with passion and UNICEF’s support
Access to clean water
Caring families – Positive parenting
