LocationsOp-Ed by Francesca Nardini, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Viet Nam
Toward Inclusive Viet Nam: Pride, Progress, and the Path
October 3, 2025
Francesca Nardini, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam.
Photo: UNDP in Viet Nam
As published on Ha Noi Times on 3rd October, 2025
Vietnam’s social fabric is evolving and doing so in ways that align with its aspirations of becoming a prosperous and more inclusive nation.
As Pride Month draws to a close, Viet Nam can celebrate not only its vibrant LGBTIQ community but also the steady progress in public attitudes toward diversity. A recent nationwide survey—conducted by UNDP in partnership with the Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment (iSEE) and the Institute of Sociology and Psychology—reached over 3,500 respondents, making it the most comprehensive survey to date on sexual orientation and gender identity. Its findings carry a powerful message: Vietnamese society is moving with determination toward greater openness and acceptance.
This shift is a testament both to the courage of the LGBTIQ community, who have become more visible, and to the leadership of Vietnamese institutions that over the past decade allowed space for dialogue and greater understanding on LGBTIQ inclusion. Together, they fostered an environment where diversity is increasingly seen as part of the nation’s collective strength.
Ten Years of Steady Progress on Inclusion
Compared to just a decade ago, awareness and acceptance of LGBTIQ people in Viet Nam have advanced remarkably. In 2013, only one in three respondents supported same-sex marriage. Today, nearly two in three (65%) express support, with opposition as low as 5.8%. Even more striking, 78% support the right of same-sex couples to jointly adopt and raise children.
Nearly 8 in 10 Vietnamese now recognize genders beyond male and female, and a similar majority reject the notion that being transgender is an illness or deviance. Almost 9 in 10 report feeling comfortable interacting with transgender people. These are powerful shifts that place Viet Nam ahead of many countries at the same income level, as evidenced by social attitude surveys collected by the Pew Research Center.
The findings of this latest survey confirm what UNDP’s Provincial Governance and Public Administration Index (PAPI) has also recorded: acceptance of diversity is steadily growing, particularly among younger generations. Viet Nam’s social fabric is evolving—and doing so in ways that align with its aspirations of becoming a prosperous and more inclusive nation.
As the country pursues its goal of becoming a high-income, developed nation by 2045, enabling every citizen to participate fully in the nation’s journey will be an important asset.
Photo: ics.gov.vn
Inclusion Pays: Why Diversity Fuels Viet Nam’s Growth
Inclusion is not only a matter of rights—it also brings clear economic benefits. World Bank case studies from countries as diverse as India and Serbia demonstrate how discrimination undermines labor productivity and constrains growth. This pattern is echoed in Viet Nam: a separate 2025 UNDP study on transgender experiences in the workplace found that more than half of respondents reported prolonged stress, declining self-esteem, and even withdrawal from the labor market due to stigma. Such exclusion prevents the economy from fully harnessing the talents and contributions of all its citizens.
Conversely, countries that foster greater inclusion are better positioned to attract investment, tourism, and skilled workers. A 2024 regional study by the think tank Open for Business demonstrated that more inclusive countries in Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam, are more competitive in drawing foreign direct investment. Thailand offers a telling example: by cultivating an environment where LGBTIQ communities are more visible and accepted, it has strengthened its attractiveness as a destination for tourism, innovation, and creative industries.
The Next Frontier: Laws that Further Reflect Viet Nam’s Values
The survey findings indicate broad public support for more inclusive measures. This comes at a timely moment, with several important policy opportunities on the horizon: the 10-year review of the Law on Marriage and Family, the review of the Law on Gender Equality, and ongoing discussions around the Gender Affirmation Law and a comprehensive non-discrimination law. These processes can be informed by growing public recognition of diverse family structures, equal treatment in the workplace, and protection for transgender people. Such attitudes provide a constructive basis for advancing Viet Nam’s inclusive development agenda.
Viet Nam’s longstanding traditions of solidarity and fairness, together with its commitment to prosperity for all, provide a strong foundation for this progress. As the country pursues its goal of becoming a high-income, developed nation by 2045, enabling every citizen to participate fully in the nation’s journey will be an important asset.
At the same time, Viet Nam’s active role in the Human Rights Council (HRC) underscores its commitment to international dialogue and to gradually strengthening protections for all. Notably, as an HRC member, Viet Nam twice voted in favor of establishing and later extending the mandate of the UN Independent Expert on Combating Violence and Discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Advancing inclusion domestically will reinforce Viet Nam’s standing as a constructive and forward-looking member of the global community.
