Nutrition needs to be improved to raise height of Vietnamese
Malnutrition has greatly contributed to Vietnamese people’s shortness compared with other countries in Asia and Europe, according to the National Institute of Nutrition.
Malnutrition has greatly contributed to Vietnamese people’s shortness compared with other countries in Asia and Europe, according to the National Institute of Nutrition.
Vietnamese men are 163.7cm tall on average – 13.1cm shorter than the World Health Organisation standard. Vietnamese women are 153cm on average – 10.7cm below the standard.
Compared with other countries in the region, Vietnamese people are on average about 8cm shorter, according to Le Bach Mai, deputy director of the National Institute of Nutrition.
The clearest difference in height between Vietnamese people and others is seen in children 6-12 months old and 6-11 years old.
In 2014, 24.9 percent of children under 5 were malnourished and 14.5 percent underweight. The highest proportions were seen in the Central Highlands, the northern mountains and mid-land areas.
According to statistics from a nationwide survey on micronutrients released earlier this month, the lack of nutrients is decreasing, but slowly. It’s still common in children and pregnant women. The rate of anaemic children is 27.8 percent, and 32.8 percent for pregnant women. Thirteen percent of children under 5 have a vitamin A deficiency.
Nutrition experts affirmed that genetic heredity is not responsible for Vietnamese people’s shortness. Vietnamese children who are born and grow up in Europe grow as tall as those in their host country.
The experts said children’s meal portions have yet to meet necessary standards for growth. Currently they only get 60.3 percent of the required calcium and 10.6 percent of the required vitamin D.
Factors that affect children’s height and weight mainly occur in the foetal stage and in the first two years, they said. So it is vital to provide the correct micronutrients to children during those periods.
Daily iron and folic acid supplements for pregnant women and for a month after they give birth are extremely important to prevent anaemia.
To increase Vietnamese people’s height, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved a project that set a target of raising the average height of Vietnamese people by 2.5 to 3cm by 2030. One of the main aspects is assuring preschool and primary school students get milk.-VNA
About 2.1 million or 24.9 percent of the Vietnamese children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition, according to statistics from the National Nutrition Institute.
Vietnam has made great progress in addressing micronutrient deficiency over the past years, but there is still a long road ahead for the country to catch up with regional countries, according to the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) under the Ministry of Health.
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
Dr Pham Minh Hung from the University of Economics and Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the fixed-term contract mechanism is a correct step, liberating the entire system from traditional constraints which have long stood in the way of innovation.
The partnership will focus on studying and recommending LRT routes that connect the city’s transport network with urban development zones, industrial parks, and TOD areas. The research will cover Thu Dau Mot city and surrounding areas, with completion scheduled before August 15, 2025.
Media must not only serve as a channel for information but also act as a vanguard in shaping public opinion, combating misinformation, upholding the Party’s ideological principles, and reinforcing unity between Vietnam and Laos.
In Vietnam, the voluntary blood donation movement was first launched on January 24, 1994. In 2008, the Prime Minister established the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.
Currently, 20 Vietnamese citizens remain in Iran, including embassy staff and personnel. All are safe, mentally stable, and in regular contact with the embassy.
A VietnamPlus survey of 764 young people shows that 83.9% of Gen Z use smartphones to read news, only 12% use computers, and the rest access content via tablets.
GVB Startup 2025 attracted the participation of nearly 150 individuals and organisations from across Vietnam. The event seeks to promote bold and ambitious startup ideas and projects, contributing to the future of global innovation, and supporting startups through the provision of resources, networking opportunities, and market insights.
AI could not replace human judgment in verifying information and sensitive political events, and that humans remain the final gatekeepers of content, said Leonid Kovachich, head of the Asian department at Sputnik's international broadcasting division.
A veteran journalist of Argentina has praised the modern evolution of Vietnam’s press, which now serves a dual purpose: introducing Vietnam to the world while bringing global perspectives to domestic audiences.
The court announced that Quyet had submitted a written request to be tried in absentia, citing serious health issues. According to an official statement from Hospital 19/8, the defendant is suffering from multiple illnesses, experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, with doctors warning of a “very high risk of death.”
A senior Party official highlighted the VNA’s consistent role over the past eight decades, noting that it remains a mainstream, uninterrupted, timely, accurate, and authoritative source of news that helps shape public opinion, strengthen public trust, and safeguard the ideological foundation of the Party.
Children provided with Vitamin A (Source: VNA)
