Vietnam
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to see examples
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Vietnam has seen good economic growth in recent years and continues reforms to move towards a market economy integrated into the world trading systems. It remains, however, a predominantly agricultural country with three-quarters of the population, and over 90% of the poor, living in the countryside. Vietnam has lifted 20 million people out of poverty in less than ten years and its march towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) shows consistent improvements in areas such as education enrolment and infant mortality. However, social inequalities need addressing and Vietnam's integration into the international economy needs consolidation.
EU Aid programmes 2007-2013
The EU-Vietnam Country Strategy Paper (2007-2013) 
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focuses on two main priorities, which are directly in support of the government's own initiatives:
- Support for the Vietnam Socio-economic Development Plan, helping to reduce poverty and reach the MDGs
- Support for the health sector through the government's pro-poor health policy
Additional actions include trade-related assistance and support to EU-Vietnam strategic dialogue under a bilateral cooperation agreement, in particular the sub-group on ‘Cooperation in institution building, administrative reform, governance and human rights’.
Cross-cutting themes, an integral part of EU-Vietnam cooperation, include environmental protection, culture and education, gender equality, the promotion of human rights and good governance.
The multi-annual indicative programme for the first four years of this strategy (2007-2010) allocates €160 million to address these priorities.
Regional and thematic programmes are also available to provide grant support to relevant organisations in Vietnam.
Recent assistance
Bilateral cooperation between the EU and Vietnam began in 1989, with support for returning refugees and their re-integration. The objective of the first EU-Vietnam Cooperation Strategy (1996) was to support the country's transition to a market economy and to help mitigate some of the social costs it could entail. The 2002-2006 strategy [787 KB] put poverty reduction as the main priority by supporting two main programmes: the enhancement of human development through education, health, and rural development (€78 million); and integration of Vietnam into the international economy (€46 million).
Other assistance was received through thematic budget lines of the Commission and Asia-wide programmes.
More information
The European External Action Service is responsible for drawing up the EU-Vietnam cooperation strategy.
The Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam is responsible for activities in the country.