Three periods in the evolution of the population policy of Viet Nam
are documented in this article: initiation in the 1960s and 1970s;
maturity in the 1980s and 1990s; and legalization in the 2000s
and early 2010s. A framework was used for stakeholder analysis
in the sociopolitical context of Viet Nam in order to analyse
interactions between leading state agencies in the development
of population policy and their influence on the organizational
structure of the population programme. The current tensions in
the implementation of the population programme are highlighted,
and a new population policy is called for that would be more
conducive to addressing broader population and reproductive
health issues, in order to respond more effectively to new
challenges arising from the socioeconomic and demographic
transition of the country.