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Vietnam
SNAPSHOT
Date of independence: 1945 (from France)
Capital: Hanoi
Population: 84.1 million (2006)
GDP per person: $571 (yr)
Source: World Bank Development Indicators
USAID IN VIETNAM
www.usaid.gov/locations/ asia/countries/rdma
CONTACT INFORMATION
Acting USAID Representative
Roger Carlson
15/F, Tung Shing Tower
2 Ngo Quyen Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel: 844-935-1260
Fax: 844-935-1265
Cheryl Jennings
Vietnam Desk Officer
Tel: (202) 712-4705
Email: cjennings@usaid.gov
USAID distributing relief supplies to residents of the central provinces after Vietnam was hit by typhoon Xangsane.
Overview
Vietnam's 84 million people are moving quickly from a centrally planned to a market-oriented economy, their social and economic progress propelled by 15 years of high growth and economic restructuring that has decreased poverty by 33 percent. Despite its ranking as the world's third most reforming economy and its being considered a model of successful development, Vietnam still faces the challenges of an HIV/AIDS epidemic fuelled by injecting drug use, a potential avian influenza pandemic, and the challenges of running an increasingly sophisticated economy while still developing global-standard legal, regulatory, and capital systems. Since a prosperous Vietnam is vital to maintaining regional stability in Southeast Asia, USAID's activities strive to accelerate its transition to an open, market-based economy, develop capacities to mitigate the harmful effects of HIV/AIDS, improve vulnerable groups' access to services, and ensure that environmental governance progresses along with economic and social development.
Programs
Governing Justly and Democratically
USAID's programs strengthen Vietnam's legal and regulatory framework while increasing civil society's ability to participate in and support legal and economic reforms. USAID provided the main supporting technical assistance for the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement. Implementing it effectively has brought both a surge in investment and bilateral trade flows and full accession into the World Trade Organization. USAID collaborated with the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry to produce the Provincial Competitiveness Index, which has supported provincial and local government reforms more conducive to the growth the private sector. Simultaneously, USAID has cultivated sustainable partnerships throughout the U.S. government and with the Vietnamese government to help transfer international standards of economic macro policy management.
Investing in People: Health
Global epidemics require creative and cooperative strategies to combat them. USAID's regional health program helps countries understand and monitor the extent of deadly diseases and improve prevention and treatment services. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief declared Vietnam its 15th focus country in 2004. USAID manages large-scale activities to prevent, treat, and care for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Vietnam, and the U.S. government provides annual funding to contain avian influenza. These efforts are all done in close collaboration with the Government of Vietnam and other large donors.
Peace and Security: Better Opportunities for People with Disabilities and Ethnic Minorities
USAID provides people with disabilities with better access to education, health care, employment, and essential services by supporting the development of a disability law, drafting the National Action Plan for Inclusive Education, and developing of the Barrier Free Codes and Standards for public building and transportation. In response to the alarming rate of people being trafficked throughout Southeast Asia, USAID developed a regional anti-trafficking program, as well as a Vietnam-specific anti-trafficking program providing scholarships to at-risk girls for vocational training and central-level policy support. In addition, USAID is implementing programs for ethnic minorities living in the Central Highlands to encourage greater access to social services and economic opportunities.
Economic Growth: Public-Private Partnerships
USAID's private sector partnerships with MasterFoods and the World Cocoa Foundation augment efforts to advance cocoa production and trade in the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands. An innovative public-private initiative will protect Vietnam's Dong Nai watershed and biodiversity corridor. USAID's Last Mile Initiative partnership with Microsoft, Intel, and Qualcomm promotes Vietnam's own public-private efforts to launch wireless connectivity and information communications technology applications at schools and community centers in 64 provinces, many in rural areas where cable lines did not reach.
Humanitarian Assistance
USAID assists drought-affected children and families, reduces vulnerability of urban communities through enhanced disaster preparedness and mitigation, and uses information technologies to improve disaster monitoring and management capacities.
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