Census takers collect information from ethnic minority households in Tú Lý Commune, Đà Bắc District, the northern province of Hoà Bình. — VNA/VNS Photo Tuấn Anh

HOÀ BÌNH — The General Statistics Office (GSO), in coordination with the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, has started a census to collect socio-economic details of 53 ethnic minority groups. The statistic gathering will run until August 15.

The goal is to gather data for the National Statistical Indicator System and the Statistical Indicator System on ethnic minority affairs. This will inform the development and policy-making process for socio-economic development in ethnic minority regions for the period 2026-2030.

At the official launch ceremony, Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs, Hầu A Lềnh, spoke of the critical importance of the local-level information collection phase. He said: "Collecting complete and accurate information on the population and housing status will assist the Party and the State in formulating correct plans and strategies, laying the foundation for the rapid and sustainable development of the country and ethnic minority regions.”

Lềnh expressed hope that this survey would continue to provide quality information and data to the Party, National Assembly, Government, agencies, ministries, sectors and localities for strategic planning of ethnic policies. This effort aims to gradually resolve difficulties facing and maximise the potential of ethnic communities and regions, to strengthen national unity.

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Trần Quốc Phương said it was important to get the ethnic communities to help.

"The successful organisation of the launch ceremony is vital in communicating to the ethnic households in the province the purpose and significance of the survey , thereby encouraging active cooperation with census takers to provide complete, accurate, and timely information," Phương said.

Furthermore, the launch ceremony helps provincial leaders and the entire political system understand the importance of the survey, ensuring its effective implementation.

Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Việt Nam, stated that UNFPA always calls on countries worldwide to prioritise investing in improving population data systems, ensuring safety for everyone when collecting data, and especially ensuring that disadvantaged communities are represented.

Only when they are truthfully included in the data system with all their diversity can we combat prejudice and inequality, and build a resilient, peaceful, and prosperous future for all, the UNFPA official noted.

According to the GSO, the census will be conducted across 54 provinces and centrally-governed cities, including 51 provinces with communes in ethnic and mountainous regions.

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Minister and Chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs Hầu A Lềnh speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo

​This decision, approved by the Prime Minister, outlines the List of communes in areas III, II, and I in ethnic minority and mountainous regions for the period 2021-25. Additionally, the census will cover three provinces and cities with significant ethnic minority populations: HCM City, Long An, and Hà Tĩnh.

The survey targets ethnic minority households and actual residents living in these households at the time they are questioned. This includes individuals in the armed forces currently residing in these households but excludes those living in military and police-managed areas. The focus will be on the socio-economic, cultural, health and educational status of communes in areas III, II, and I, as well as other communes with ethnic minority populations.

For households, the survey will collect data on demographic characteristics, education, migration, marriage, health insurance usage, employment, birth history and contraceptive use of females aged ten to forty-nine, information on household deaths in the past twelve months, housing and living conditions, residential and production land, key livestock and access to public services.

For commune People's Committees, the survey will gather information on the commune's characteristics, electricity usage, roads, transportation, schools and teacher qualifications, cultural houses, health and environmental sanitation, markets, qualifications of commune-level officials and civil servants, religion and beliefs and phone and internet coverage.

The results of the survey will be handed over to the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs in April 2025 and are expected to be announced between May and July 2025. — VNS