On September 20, 1977, Vietnam officially became the 149th member of the United Nations, marking a new chapter in its international integration.

Forty-eight years on, the country has emerged from the hardships of war to be recognized globally as a “bright spot” in advancing the UN’s development agenda.

As the world’s largest multilateral organization prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary, Vietnam is often cited by international partners not only for its achievements but also for its proactive and constructive role in global development.

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, member states adopted eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to be implemented from 2000 to 2015, targeting the most pressing challenges of developing countries. By 2015, Vietnam had achieved five of the eight goals, with poverty reduction recognized internationally as a notable success.

In 2015, the UN launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as an expanded and upgraded framework, emphasizing inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth through 2030. Vietnam was once again recognized as a front-runner in advancing these goals.

According to the 2024 SDG Report, Vietnam ranked second in Southeast Asia, behind only Thailand, with an SDG Index score of 73.4 out of 100, up 27% from 2015. Areas showing marked improvement included poverty reduction, education, clean water access, inequality reduction, infrastructure development and international partnerships, with poverty alleviation highlighted as the most impressive success.

Since 2015, the United Nations has launched the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expanded and upgraded from the MDGs, emphasizing inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth through 2030. Vietnam has once again been recognized as a frontrunner in realizing these goals.

Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam, noted that the country had become a model for poverty reduction in an unusually short period. She suggested that many nations look to Vietnam for lessons, and expressed UNDP’s strong commitment to continued cooperation with the Vietnamese Government to tackle the remaining SDG challenges as well as new ones in the 21st century.

Vietnam’s poverty reduction achievements are underpinned by a comprehensive policy framework, ranging from direct support in health care, education, housing and clean water to livelihood development and job creation. National programs such as Program 135, the New Rural Development Program, and more recently, the National Target Program on Sustainable Poverty Reduction 2021-2025, have been instrumental in narrowing regional development gaps.

US researcher Sam Korsmo, who has studied Vietnam for more than three decades, identified three key factors that distinguish the country from others: nationwide anti-poverty policies with broad coverage; a relatively low Gini coefficient indicating a more equitable society; and sustained political stability, particularly since the launch of the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and the devolution of powers to local administrations

With its pioneering role in carrying out both the MDGs and SDGs, Vietnam has been regarded as a key partner of the United Nations. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted that Vietnam has consistently been a strong partner of the UN since joining in 1977. He said the country’s leadership in achieving the MDGs has provided a solid foundation for advancing the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, while also contributing significantly to the promotion of lasting peace.

With just five years left until the 2030 SDG deadline, experts have underlined that development is not a destination but a continuous process, with the SDGs representing only a milestone. UN agencies, including UNDP, have pledged to accompany Vietnam in accelerating progress toward these goals.

Kanni Wignaraja, UNDP’s Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, observed that Vietnam has consistently integrated the SDGs into national development planning. She raised the question of whether provinces and localities had fully mainstreamed the goals into their own strategies, stressing this as a priority for UNDP’s support. She underlined that true success would be measured not by reports but by real improvements in communities, and pledged closer collaboration with domestic and international partners to achieve that outcome.

Building on nearly half a century of progress, Vietnam has contributed to realizing the MDGs and SDGs while establishing itself as a proactive and responsible member of the international community, recognized as a trusted partner committed to peace, prosperity, and a greener, fairer, and more sustainable future for all.

Vietnam shares experience in economic development to achieve SDGs

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong highlighted Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in economic development and population affairs to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) while addressing the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

Vietnam gathers opinions on building voluntary national review on SDGs

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on March 24 jointly held a consultation conference on Vietnam’s voluntary national review (VNR) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG),