With over 80 million inhabitants and an economy that has grown annually by an average of 7 percent during the past decade, Viet Nam is rapidly becoming one of the key political and economic players in South East Asia. Nevertheless, the country continues to struggle with such pressing issues as rural poverty, environmental degradation, public health crises, and the wide range of structural changes – social, economic, and political - that accompany growth and liberalisation.

Following the reunification of Germany in 1990, Development Cooperation between Viet Nam and the Federal Republic of Germany was a natural progression of the close and productive ties between Viet Nam and the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Some cooperation programmes between modern Germany and Viet Nam are a continuation of programmes that had been introduced by the former GDR, while other new projects were designed to meet the development needs of Viet Nam and the interests of both countries.

In support of Viet Nam’s ambitious goals for economic growth, employment creation, and poverty reduction, GTZ is implementing several projects and programmes on macroeconomic reform, the promotion of small and medium.-sized enterprises, and vocational training.

To promote sustainable rural development, environmental protection, and the effective management of natural resources, GTZ implements a number of projects in areas such as forest management, natural resource planning, quality improvement of agricultural products. In the area of public health, GTZ supports Viet Nam’s national programmes on family health and HIV/AIDS control, as well as providing care to persons with disabilities and training for orthopaedic technicians from throughout the country.