$3,800 fine proposed to stop families from choosing fetus gender in Vietnam

The proposal to reduce the growing imbalance between male and female births is part of the Population Bill, which is open for public feedback until June 12.

In 2024 the sex ratio at birth was 111.4 boys for every 100 girls, far in excess of the natural rate of around 106 boys per 100 girls.

According to the General Statistics Office, this imbalance is concentrated mainly in northern provinces, especially the Red River Delta, home to Hanoi.

Ten out of 11 localities in this region have a ratio above 110, including Bac Ninh and Vinh Phuc (118.5), Hanoi (118.1), and Hung Yen (116.7).

Some north-central and northern mountainous provinces also recorded high ratios, such as Bac Giang (116.3), Son La (115), Lang Son (114.5), and Phu Tho (113.6).

In contrast, southern provinces remain close to the natural balance, ranging from 105 to 108.

The ministry attributes the gender imbalance largely to intentional interventions to select a child's gender.

Vietnamese law prohibits all forms of sex selection of fetuses and imposes penalties on violators, but the ministry believes the maximum fine of VND30 million is not a sufficient deterrent.

Mai Xuan Phuong, deputy director of the ministry's Population Authority, said many Vietnamese still prefer sons, especially as the country's fertility rate drops to 1.91 children per woman, below the ideal 2.1.

Many families, when only planning to have one child, try every means to choose the baby's gender.

The traditional belief that a male heir is needed to carry on the family line and worship ancestors combined with undervaluing women's roles in family and society are deepening the gender gap.

Easy access to medical services for fetal gender diagnosis also contributes to sex-selective abortions.

A report from the ministry on the implementation of the Ordinance on Population revealed that some health workers still discreetly inform parents about their unborn child's gender.

In practice, many doctors, especially in private clinics, reveal this information obliquely saying things like "takes after the father or mother," or "similar or different from the first child."

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan, speaking at an event on population last year, said Vietnam was facing a "low birthrate, surplus of men and shortage of women."

If the current gender imbalance persists, by 2034 the country could have 1.5 million more men than women in the 15–49 age group and 1.8 million by 2059, he added.