Vietnam implements many comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs

With the goal of repelling the HIV/AIDS epidemic, Vietnam has implemented many campaigns and programs with a comprehensive approach, providing full services from prevention, testing and treatment.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan said that in recent years, HIV counseling and testing programs have been expanded from medical facilities to the community with many diverse models, and prevention measures and harm reduction interventions have been widely and effectively implemented.

35 years with many bright spots

Professor Tran Van Thuan emphasized that since the first HIV-infected person was discovered in Ho Chi Minh City in 1990, after 35 years, HIV/AIDS prevention and control work has always received the attention and direction of Party and State leaders, the active participation of ministries, departments, branches, central and local organizations, and the support of international organizations.

In particular, the pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) program has grown strongly with more than 129,000 people being protected. In 2023, Vietnam will be assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the leading country in the Asia -Pacific region in PrEP treatment.

In addition, many models and initiatives on providing HIV/AIDS prevention and control services have been researched, applied and implemented in accordance with the changing context of the HIV epidemic, thereby maintaining HIV control in the community. HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities have also been included in the National Target Program on Health, Population and Development for the period 2026-2035 to sustainably maintain services in the context of reduced aid.

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan. (Photo: PV/Vietnam+)

Regarding treatment, as of June 30, 2025, the country has 536 HIV treatment facilities, treating 184,000 people infected with HIV, of which 92% are paid through the Health Insurance Fund. Vietnam is currently one of the world's leading countries in the quality of HIV treatment, with over 96% of patients having a viral load below the suppression threshold.

Mr. Tran Van Thuan affirmed that impressive results in HIV/AIDS testing and treatment have made Vietnam a bright spot in the region and the world, demonstrating the efforts of the health system and the cooperation of social organizations and community groups.

Join hands to end AIDS epidemic

Dr. Nguyen Luong Tam - Deputy Director of the Department of Disease Prevention said that currently, the HIV/AIDS epidemic situation in Vietnam is still complicated. In 2024, the health system conducted more than 3.4 million HIV tests and detected 13,351 positive cases through screening. By the end of 2024, Vietnam recorded 245,762 people living with HIV and 116,004 people dying from HIV.

The pattern of HIV transmission has changed dramatically over the past decade. Sexual transmission of HIV has increased by 70% and has become the main mode of transmission. More worryingly, HIV infection rates among men who have sex with men (MSM) have increased rapidly, especially among young people, who are more susceptible to changes in sexual behavior and social pressure.

The Mekong Delta has the highest HIV infection rate, accounting for more than 35%, followed by the southern provinces at 14.6%, especially Ho Chi Minh City at about 18.7% and could reach more than 20% after the merger. Many provinces not in the focus group also recorded an increase in new infections.

Vietnam continues to aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030, focusing on expanding the treatment-prevention model, increasing the rate of early detection, timely ARV treatment and maintaining viral load suppression, contributing to the implementation of the 95-95-95 target. Specifically, 95% of people living with HIV know their HIV status, 95% of people diagnosed with HIV are treated with ARVs and 95% of people receiving ARV treatment have viral loads below the suppression threshold.

Vietnam continues to aim to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. (Photo: TG/Vietnam+)

As financial and technical support from international partners gradually decreases, Vietnam is making efforts to deploy HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities from domestic resources, through health insurance funds and local budgets.

Mr. Nguyen Luong Tam emphasized: “Currently, we have moved from the phase of HIV emergency response to the phase of focusing on expanding coverage and improving service quality, implementing international commitments and creating conditions for everyone to access health services equally and without discrimination, ensuring that no one is left behind in the process of ending HIV by 2030.”

In 2025, Vietnam chose the theme "Unity is strength - Joining hands to end the AIDS epidemic" with a message calling for synchronous action from all levels, sectors, from central to local levels, social organizations, international partners, communities and individuals with key tasks of promoting early detection and early treatment with antiretroviral drugs (ARV) for people living with HIV. In addition, there is the expansion and diversification of HIV infection prevention programs; strengthening communication to change behavior, focusing on target groups; eliminating HIV-related stigma and discrimination in medical facilities and in the community.

"When the entire political system shares the same will, when the community is united and when advanced science is strongly applied, the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 is not just an expectation but can completely become a reality," Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan emphasized.

The Ministry of Health recommends that people who are not infected with HIV and belong to high-risk groups such as men who have sex with men, transgender women, sex workers, drug users... use PrEP by taking one pill every day to prevent the disease.

People infected with HIV are treated early with ARV drugs, and after 6 months of treatment, their viral load is below the detection threshold. At that time, this person will not transmit HIV to their sexual partner, reducing mother-to-child transmission. Thanks to that, many people infected with HIV can still get married and have healthy children./.

35 years with many bright spots

Join hands to end AIDS epidemic

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