Vietnam is a multi-ethnic country. In addition to Kinh (Viet) people occupying 85 percent of the whole country, there are other 53 ethnic groups with 15 percent of the whole population. Most of the ethnic minority population is living in mountainous areas and has low living standards. Their poverty incidence is considerably higher than that of the national average level and the gap is increasing. In poverty reduction policies and programs, the Vietnamese government noted an emphasis on the extremely poor regions and ethnic minority groups. The paper focuses on the following:
• Reviewing the government’s poverty reduction policies toward ethnic minorities.
• Analyzing and evaluating impacts of poverty reduction policies on ethnic minority groups.
• On that basis, elaborating recommendations for improving poverty reduction policies and measures in ethnic minority regions in Vietnam.
The analysis is based on the data collected from CBMS in 17 communes in the whole Vietnam. Poverty status and impacts of the government policies and program are presented for 15 representative ethnic groups.