Injuries and violence pose a major public health and development problem worldwide. Injuries and violence affect people of all ages, races and socio-economic status.Over the past few decades, as more attention has been paid to the worldwide problem of injuries, we have come to a better understanding of the nature and extent of injuries and violence. There are numerous effective measures for preventing injuries. However, for better allocation of resources for these measures, policy makers should be provided more informed information on injuries as a whole and cost of injuries in particularly. Information on cost of injuries can be collected through two main routes : hospital –based and community –based survey. This study conducted in Ba Vi district, a rural area, in northern Vietnam aims at describing and analyzing the cost pattern of injury cases seeking treatment in all Bavi’s public health facilities during a year. It is served to supplement needed information as a base-line study for policy makers in their decision of resources allocation for treatment and prevention programs. Total 2407 cases subjected to out-of –pocket payment were interviewed during 12 months in 2002 by doctors in all public health facilities. Traffic – related injury recorded the biggest part, 44% of total cases. 64% of injuried were adults in the age of 15-59 years. Injuries in males were twice than in females. Farmer was the most common occupation among the injured followed by pupils & students. Intentional injuries accounted for 7.8% of total cases and 10% of total costs. Total cost of injuries seeking treatment at all public health facilities in Bavi district in 2002 was D 498,000,000 (US$ 33,200) . Direct costs represented 78% of total cost compared to 22% for indirect costs. Average unit cost of an injury case was D207,000 (US$ 14). Unit costs were correlated with severity levels of injuries. Average unit cost of most serious case was D 1,648,000 (US$ 110) while a minor case had an unit cost of D 106,000 (US$7). Economic burden of injuries should be paid attention in a developing country like Vietnam where the burden of health care cost could easily lead to a poverty trap. On average, victims had to earn money equivalent to their income in a month for covering health care cost. Minor injuries took half of month while very serious injuries took 8.6 months. It is obvious that the economic burden of injuries pressure on victim’s life. While working with policy options for health care financing in Vietnam, policy makers should pay attention to how to popularize prepaid payment which is considered to be the most effective way of preventing poverty trap, not only caused by injuries but also by other diseases. Programs on injury prevention, especially traffic-related injuries, should be promoted