Top 10 Poorest Provinces in Vietnam That Need the Most Support

Quang Nam, also known locally as 'Quang Nom', is a province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. The name 'Quang Nam' means 'expansion to the South'. The province is rich in cultural heritage, home to two UNESCO World Heritage sites, the ancient town of Hoi An and the My Son Sanctuary. Quang Nam is also a land of distinguished individuals who have contributed greatly to the country. However, despite its cultural significance, Quang Nam remains one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam, and the poorest in the Central Coast region. Over 70,000 households live in poverty, accounting for 18.19% of the population.

Soc Trang is one of the poorest provinces in the Mekong Delta region. About 80% of its rural population lives in remote or coastal areas, and 29.5% of its residents are from the Khmer ethnic group, living alongside other ethnic communities. The majority of people here engage in agriculture and small-scale industries, with their livelihoods closely tied to the land. With a poverty rate of 24.31%, Soc Trang has the highest number of poor households in the Mekong Delta, making it one of the most disadvantaged provinces in Vietnam. According to Lam Dung Liem, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Soc Trang, the province still has over 8,000 poor households and more than 28,000 near-poor households. As of April 2021, the local Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs reported that 3,640 households in Soc Trang are struggling with poor housing, especially in some ethnic minority areas, where the poverty rate remains high.

Dien Bien is a province located in the Northwest region of Northern Vietnam. It borders Lai Chau and Son La provinces of Vietnam, Yunnan province of China to the north, and Phongsaly of Laos to the west. The province is rich in tourism potential, especially in the fields of culture and history. Most notable are the historical sites related to the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, including the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Headquarters in Muong Phang, as well as the strongholds at Him Lam, Ban Keo, and Doc Lap, and the A1, C1, D1, and E1 hills, along with the French command center (Ducat's bunker). Despite its historical significance, Dien Bien remains one of the most disadvantaged provinces in Vietnam. Over 90% of the population is made up of farmers, mainly relying on agriculture. With a poverty rate of 38.25% and an additional 6.83% in near-poverty, Dien Bien has the highest rate of poverty in the country.

Ha Nam is located at the southern gateway of Vietnam, just 56 kilometers from Hanoi, along the major North-South transportation route. To the north, it borders Ha Tay, to the east it borders Hung Yen and Thai Binh, to the west it is bordered by Hoa Binh, and to the south by Ninh Binh. The province covers an area of 1,542 square kilometers, which makes up 0.47% of the country's total land area. Key transportation routes include National Highway 1A, the North-South railway, and several important provincial roads. Ha Nam is also served by the Hong River, Day River, and Chau River, which facilitate water transport. Despite its strategic location and infrastructure, Ha Nam currently has the highest poverty rate in the Red River Delta region.

On August 6, 2016, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited Ha Nam to discuss its economic and social development. Despite progress, Ha Nam remains a poor province and continues to receive financial support from the central government. During his visit, the Prime Minister proposed several directions for the province’s development to help it escape poverty in the future.

Quang Binh is a coastal province in the North Central region of Vietnam. According to statistics, the province has a poverty rate of 17.36%, making it one of the poorest provinces in the country and the most impoverished in the North Central region.

Quang Binh is widely known as one of Vietnam's poorest provinces. The harsh climate and the devastation caused by the war have left many of its people in difficult living conditions, below the national average. In order to improve its economic and social conditions, Quang Binh must attract more development projects. Focusing on tourism and regional specialties could provide the key to overcoming poverty and achieving sustainable growth.

Located in the northern part of the Central Highlands, Kon Tum covers an area of over 961,000 hectares with a population of around 375,000 people. It is one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam, with a poverty rate of 20%, which translates to approximately 22,000 households. Of these, 89% are from ethnic minority groups. The local economy is still underdeveloped, and most of the economic development relies on state support and assistance from non-governmental organizations.

In the past year, Kon Tum's budget revenue was about 2,000 billion VND, but the province had to spend up to 5,000 billion VND. The province faces challenges in attracting investment, and its industrial zones remain small both in scale and diversity. In line with efforts to combat poverty, Kon Tum has provided housing for over 4,700 households and land for production to more than 4,800 households.

The province has also implemented new strategies to improve land use by focusing on land allocation, forest protection, and forest development. They have supported the growth of livestock farming, vocational training, and job transitions, while integrating land production with planning and issuing land-use certificates to ensure long-term stability for local communities.

Located in the southern part of the Central Coast, Binh Thuan is a coastal province severely impacted by climate change. Due to its vulnerability, the province faces challenges in economic development, and it remains one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam and the most disadvantaged in the Southeast region.

Over the years, efforts to reduce poverty in Binh Thuan have received strong attention and direction from local authorities. Financial resources have been allocated for poverty reduction projects, with particular emphasis on poverty alleviation models that ensure stable incomes for the poor.

As a result of these poverty-reduction models, ethnic minorities in Binh Thuan have undergone significant changes in their mindset and agricultural practices. Many new, highly productive farming and business models have emerged, benefiting from the application of modern scientific and technical advancements. The living standards of ethnic minority communities have steadily improved, bringing about tangible socio-economic development.

Thanh Hoa is located in the northern part of central Vietnam. It is a large province both in terms of land area and population, ranking 5th in area and 3rd in population. The city of Thanh Hoa has a population of over 500,000 people with a high population density of 3,411 people per square kilometer. Statistically, Thanh Hoa has the highest number of poor households in the country, with over 128,000 families living in poverty. The province has 11 out of 27 mountainous districts, home to more than 1 million people from ethnic groups such as Thai, Muong, Mong, Kho Mu, and Dao.

Among these, 7 districts are part of the 30a Program, which targets poverty alleviation in remote areas. These include Mường Lát, Quan Hóa, Quan Sơn, Bá Thước, Lang Chánh, Thường Xuân, and Như Xuân. Located in border regions, these districts play an important role in national defense and security. However, they still face very high poverty rates.

Nghe An is the largest province in Vietnam, located in the North Central region. The provincial capital is Vinh, which lies 291 kilometers south of Hanoi. Spanning an area of 16,490 square kilometers, Nghe An is the fourth most populous province in the country with over million residents, following Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Thanh Hoa.

As of early 2020, the poverty rate in Nghe An stood at 4.11% (equivalent to 41,041 households), and the near-poverty rate was 7.35% (approximately 75,389 households). By the end of 2020, the poverty rate had decreased to about 3% (a reduction of 1.11%), while the near-poverty rate had fallen to 4.5% (a 2.85% decrease).

Despite these improvements, Nghe An remains a poor province, with 80% of its population still engaged in agriculture. It ranks second, after Thanh Hoa, for the highest number of impoverished households in Vietnam. The province is implementing the policy: 'Internal strength, external attraction, unity, advancement, and acceleration,' aiming to create the conditions for escaping poverty and achieving development.

Son La is a mountainous province located in the Northwest region of Vietnam. Covering an area of 14,125 square kilometers, it accounts for 4.27% of the total area of Vietnam, ranking third in size among the 63 provinces and cities. The province is home to over 92,000 poor households, making it one of the three poorest provinces in the country. According to a report from the People's Committee of Son La, more than 36,000 people in the province are facing food shortages.

Despite its natural resources and potential, Son La remains one of the poorest provinces in Vietnam. The province has 11 districts and one city, with five of the districts classified as poor under the government’s rapid and sustainable poverty reduction program (Program 30a).