Vietnam has made important progress in nutrition, but challenges remain—especially for women and children in remote, rural, and ethnic minority communities. Nationally, nearly 1 in 5 children under five are stunted, and in some regions the rate rises to 30%. Breastfeeding practices also fall short: only one in four infants are breastfed within an hour of birth, and fewer than half of babies under six months are exclusively breastfed. In addition, less than half of all children ages 6 to 23 months have a minimum acceptable diet both in terms of food diversity and meal frequency.

For more than a decade, HealthBridge Vietnam has been working in Son La province to address these challenges. In September 2025, we partnered with the Son La CDC to train 42 commune health staff and members of the Women's and Youth Unions in Thuan Chau and Mai Son districts on "Child Nutrition in the First 1,000 Days and Breastfeeding." The training emphasized the critical window from pregnancy to a child's second birthday, covering maternal health, breastfeeding, and complementary feeding. Participants gained practical skills, including preparing simple, nutritious complementary meals for young children.

Dr. Doan Thanh Phuc, Vice Director of the CDC Son La, stressed the urgent need for this work: one in three children under five in Thuan Chau still suffer from stunting and many pregnant women do not attend all four antenatal visits, thus missing important information about health and nutrition during pregnancy. She emphasized the intimate relationship between the health and nutritional status of mothers during pregnancy and the nutritional status of infants to highlight the importance of maternal care. Mr. Nguyen Van Huan from HealthBridge, shared Vietnam's regulations and policies aimed at protecting and promoting breastfeeding. For example, participants learned about the illegal practices of marketing breastmilk alternative products for children under two years old which is stipulated in the Decree 100/2014/NĐ-CP.

By the end of the training, participants reported improved knowledge and confidence. Equipped with new skills, health workers and union members will now travel village to village, offering nutrition education and cooking demonstrations to families. Such trainings are an important opportunity for community educators to come together and learn and reflect on their work. These efforts will ensure that every child, no matter where they are born, has the chance to grow up healthy and strong.