Vietnam

Sugar Tax (Incoming)

Vietnam passed the amended Law on Special Consumption Tax in June 2025, approving an excise tax on drinks with >5g sugar per 100ml. The tax will start in 2027 at 8% and increase to 10% in 2028.

Mandatory nutritional labelling

On December 30, 2023, Vietnam's Ministry of Health released Circular 29/2023, which provides guidelines for mandatory nutritional labeling on food products. As of January 1, 2026, pre-packaged foods must adhere to the updated nutritional labeling requirements outlined in MOH's Circular 29/2023. These requirements encompass the labelling of nutritional ingredients and reference values for energy, protein, carbohydrates, fat, sodium, and sugar, specific to various categories of pre-packaged foods. This will replace the voluntary labelling system currently in place.

Minimum standards and guidelines on actions to protect children from the harmful impact of marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages in the ASEAN region

This report outlines the minimum standards and guidelines for ASEAN Member States to protect children from the harmful impacts of food and non-alcoholic beverage marketing. It also includes a rationale for strengthening legislation, guidelines for developing, implementing, enforcing, and monitoring legislation, and an overview of existing unhealthy food marketing regulations in the region.

Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Obesity (2022)

These updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of obesity were issued in 2022. They recognise obesity as a chronic disease and outline multidisciplinary treatment options for adults as well as children, and adolescents.

National Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health Disorders (2022-2025)

The plan aims to strengthen control of non-communicable disease risk factors, and promote preventive measures, early detection and effective management to limit the increase in non-communicable disease incidences and deaths. Targets include reducing the rate of physical inactivity and improving obesity management treatment.

National Nutrition Strategy for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045

The strategy intends to improve the nutritional status of all Vietnamese people through nutritional interventions, inter-sectoral coordination, and nutrition education. It sets specific goals to control the rate of overweight and obesity in infants at less than 10%, at under 19% in children, and under 20% in adults.

Ensuring proper nutrition and increasing physical activity for children to improve health (2018-2025)

Decision No. 41/QD-TTg approved this scheme to ensure an increase in children and students' physical activity and an improvement in their nutrition, with the goal of improving health and preventing the development of non-communicable diseases. The plan aims to ensure schools provide nutrition and health education, opportunities for physical activity and do not sell food and drink that doesn't meet nutrition requirements.

Healthy Vietnam Programme (2018-2030)

This programme was approved by the Prime Minister in September 2018, with the goal of improving the health of the Vietnamese population by promoting healthy behaviours like physical activity and good nutrition, and enhancing healthcare to reduce morbidity and mortality.

National Action Plan for Communication and Advocacy for Dietary Salt Intake Reduction (2018-2025)

The action plan aims to raise awareness of the harms of excessive salt consumption, and how to effectively reduce salt intake, with the goal of preventing and controlling non-communicable diseases. Strategies include a widespread communication campaign, education in schools, and salt reduction interventions at food establishments.

NCD Country Profiles 2018 (Obesity Targets)

The profiles also provide data on the key metabolic risk factors, namely raised blood pressure, raised blood glucose and obesity and National Targets on Obesity (as of 2017)

Action Plan to Reduce the Double Burden of Malnutrition in the Western Pacific Region (2015–2020)

The WHO action plan to reduce the double burden of malnutrition in the Western Pacific Region. It calls for accelerated efforts to improve nutrition. The plan includes targets to halt the increase in childhood overweight and adult and adolescent diabetes and obesity by 2025.

National Strategy for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Asthma, and Other Non-Communicable Diseases (2015-2025)

The strategy aims to control the rate of increase and reduce the rate of non-communicable disease in Vietnam. It aims to raise awareness of preventive measures, reduce risk factors (including obesity), and enhance service delivery and healthcare.

Obesity treatment guidelines

10 tips on proper nutrition for period 2013–2020

Food-based dietary guidelines for Vietnam. The current version is due to be revised in 2020/1.

National Nutrition Strategy for 2011-2020, with a vision to 2030

One of the key objectives of this strategy is to effectively control overweight, obesity and risk factors of nutrition related to non-communicable chronic diseases in adults.

GNPR 2016-17 (q7) Breastfeeding promotion and/or counselling

WHO Global Nutrition Policy Review 2016-2017 reported the evidence of breastfeeding promotion and/or counselling (q7)

Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes: National Implementation of the International Code Status Report 2016 (Promotion of Breastfeeding)

The 2016 report provides information on the status of implementing the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and subsequent relevant World Health Assembly resolutions (“the Code”) in and by countries. The report also identifies in which countries they actively promote the benefits of breastfeeding.

National Steering Committee for Nutrition