Family sustainability and child protection in Vietnam

This paper reviews social and economic changes impacting on family sustainability and child well-being in Vietnam. It further analyses the national child protection system with a highlight on the development of the national legal and policy framework, the beginnings of a professionalised workforce and a growing number of services to prevent and respond to children in need of protection in Vietnam. The paper first provides an overview of socioeconomic trends affecting families and children in Vietnam, then presents a critical analysis of the formalised, professionalised child protection system that has emerged to support children in need. The paper discusses the challenge of contextualising child protection policy and services in Vietnam, and advocates for the careful consideration of context in the development of children's service systems to ensure appropriate and effective safeguarding of children's best interests.