In the coming years, it is projected that more than half of the global population will live with overweight or obesity, a trend particularly pronounced across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This surging prevalence is expected to have profound economic consequences, with global costs potentially exceeding four trillion US dollars by 2035. Central to this phenomenon is the proliferation of ‘obesogenic’ food environments — landscapes shaped by the widespread availability, affordability, and promotion of unhealthy, highly processed foods that encourage poor dietary habits.
Vietnam offers a compelling case study of how these dynamics play out in rapidly changing food environments. Traditional street markets and informal vendors have long been the backbone of food access, providing fresh and affordable produce. However, the wave of modernization has seen a drastic transformation characterized by the expansion of modern retail formats, including convenience stores and supermarkets, which increasingly stock ultra-processed, packaged foods laden with sugars, salts, and unhealthy fats. These retail shifts, while introducing convenience and sometimes improved food safety, inherently facilitate greater exposure to unhealthy food options.
Walk into a typical convenience store in Hanoi, and one is immediately confronted by aggressive marketing campaigns, including buy-one-get-one-free promotions on sugary beverages. Far from being inconsequential advertising, these promotions reshape consumption patterns, embedding a preference and habit for sugar-laden drinks from an early age. Research indicates that over one-third of adolescents in Ho Chi Minh City consume sugary drinks daily, a worrying statistic given the link between such consumption and rising childhood overweight.
Indeed, the data are stark. Childhood overweight prevalence among Vietnamese youth aged 5 to 19 more than doubled between 2010 and 2020. This underscores not only the scale but also the rapidity of the dietary transition. The omnipresence of unhealthy food marketing across physical outlets, schools, streets, and increasingly digital platforms, means children are constantly exposed to stimuli encouraging the consumption of unhealthy foods, complicating efforts to reverse these trends.
Experts like Brice Even from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT emphasize that the issue extends beyond individual responsibility; the default food choices are overwhelmingly ultra-processed and aggressively marketed. Simply urging families to ‘try harder’ in their nutrition choices neglects the structural aspects of food environments. “We must reshape the places where choices are made,” Even asserts, highlighting the necessity for systemic policy interventions that reorient the broader food landscape.
Vietnam’s food policy landscape is undergoing a critical evaluation through the use of tools like the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI). This methodology systematically benchmarks the extent to which government policies regulate crucial aspects of the food environment, including labeling, marketing, pricing, and retail regulation. The application of Food-EPI in Vietnam has revealed significant policy shortfalls, with particular weaknesses noted in marketing restrictions, nutrition labeling, and fiscal measures that could disincentivize consumption of unhealthy foods.
To address these deficiencies, Vietnamese researchers and policy experts have collaboratively developed a set of pragmatic strategies aimed at making healthier diets the easier choice for consumers. Key among these is the call for strengthened nutrition standards that go beyond mere food safety to incorporate nutrient profiling, and clear, standardized definitions that delineate ‘healthy’ from ‘unhealthy’ foods. This would include specific targets to reduce salt, sugar, and trans-fats in processed products, providing a scientific and enforceable framework for the food industry.
In parallel, policies must strike a balance between fostering modern retail growth and preserving consumer access to fresh, wholesome foods. Supporting traditional markets and informal vendors is central to this approach, along with zoning laws and public procurement policies designed to limit the spread of unhealthy food outlets in underserved neighborhoods, thereby promoting equity in food access.
Tightened food marketing regulations represent another critical pillar of reform. Stronger, mandatory restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children are necessary to counteract pervasive advertising that shapes early dietary preferences. Such measures should complement existing nutrition education campaigns, drawing on global evidence that integrated policy frameworks yield the greatest impact.
Fiscal policy also plays a transformative role. Vietnam’s recent approval of an excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, set to be implemented in 2027, marks a significant advancement. Evidence from multiple international contexts supports the efficacy of sugary drink taxes in reducing consumption. Expanding fiscal tools to cover a broader range of ultra-processed foods and increasing subsidies for nutritious options would enhance this approach, leveling the economic playing field and making healthier foods more affordable.
Crucially, advancing these policies requires robust enforcement and evaluation mechanisms. Continuous monitoring and inspection, combined with rigorous impact assessments, enable refinement of regulations and ensure accountability. The dynamic nature of food environments demands adaptive policy frameworks capable of responding to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Vietnam’s trajectory encapsulates a broader global narrative: food environments are evolving at a rapid pace, often outstripping policy responses. The country’s initiative to impose fiscal measures on sugary drinks signals vital political will that, if harnessed effectively, could catalyze comprehensive reforms. Aligning fiscal policy with improved labeling standards, retail regulations, and marketing restrictions would establish a coherent, scalable model for other LMICs confronting similar challenges.
Ultimately, transforming food environments is not a question of choosing between safety and nutrition; it requires integrated strategies that address the complex incentives shaping consumer behavior and industry practices. Policymakers must transcend appeals to individual choice and leverage regulatory, fiscal, and structural tools to create healthier default options. With evidence-based frameworks and political commitment, it is possible to reshape the food ecosystem in ways that support public health goals and curb the burgeoning obesity epidemic.
Vietnam’s experience underscores the urgent need for collective action, involving government bodies, public health advocates, the food industry, and consumers, to recalibrate the factors influencing diet at multiple levels. As diets shift globally towards higher reliance on processed foods, the lessons from Vietnam highlight both the risks of inaction and the potential of informed, coordinated policy interventions to create healthier food landscapes worldwide.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Vietnam food environment: Unpacking the national policy landscape
News Publication Date: 8-Aug-2025
Web References:
- Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI): https://www.informas.org/food-epi/
- Vietnam Food Environment Policy Brief: https://hdl.handle.net/10568/176172
- Research on policy assessment: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1548956
References:
- World Obesity Atlas 2023: https://www.worldobesity.org/resources/resource-library/world-obesity-atlas-2023
- Study on sugary drink consumption among adolescents: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34118086/
- Data on childhood overweight prevalence: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9947684/?
Image Credits: CIAT/Ha Dao
Keywords: Food policy, Public policy, Regulatory policy, Food industry
