Accurately mapping poverty realities

According to Decision No. 1227/QD-TTg, for the 2021-2025 period, 14 ethnic groups with specific disadvantages were identified across 11 provinces. Except for the Brau people, who reside in standard-level communes, the remaining 13 groups live in areas classified as extremely difficult and have benefited from investment and support through Subproject 1, Project 9 of the National Target Program (NTP) on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas (Program 1719).

However, after five years of implementation, poverty reduction outcomes remain inconsistent across these groups. Data from the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs shows that by the end of 2024, only 4 out of 14 ethnic groups had seen a drop in poverty rates compared to 2019. The La Ha experienced the largest decline at 26%, while nine groups saw poverty increase - most notably the Lu people, whose poverty rate rose by 12%.

Even within the same ethnic group, outcomes varied by region.

The Lo Lo people, one of the 14 disadvantaged ethnic groups, mainly reside in Cao Bang and Ha Giang (now part of Tuyen Quang province). According to ministry data, as of the end of 2024, Ha Giang had 94 poor households out of 399 Lo Lo households (23.6%), while Cao Bang had 297 poor households out of 534 (55.6%). The overall poverty rate for the Lo Lo stands at 41.9%.

According to Decree No. 255/2025/ND-CP issued on September 29, 2025, disadvantaged ethnic groups are defined as those with fewer than 10,000 members, and which either have poverty rates above the average of all 53 ethnic minority groups or show a population decline compared to 2019 census data.

Disparities in poverty rates among the same ethnic groups are common. For example, the Si La people in Lai Chau have a poverty rate of 29.9%, while in Dien Bien it reaches 58.7%. The Bo Y people have a poverty rate of 16.2% in Tuyen Quang, but 28.2% in Lao Cai.

The Chut people are one of only two groups to significantly reduce poverty between 2019 and 2024 (a 16% drop). However, the impact also varied by region: in Dak Lak, their poverty rate is 12%, while in Ha Tinh it's 46.7%, and in Quang Tri it rises to 54.1%.

Adjusting policies for declining populations

According to Phi Manh Thang, Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, identifying disadvantaged ethnic groups is crucial to achieving the goals of Program 1719. For the 2026-2030 period, priority must be given to groups with persistent difficulties and unique disadvantages.

As per Decision No. 39/2020/QD-TTg and Decree No. 255/2025/ND-CP, disadvantaged ethnic groups are those with populations under 10,000. However, this rigid criterion needs to be considered more broadly, especially for groups with declining populations that still face significant challenges.

In 2019, the second nationwide survey of 53 ethnic minority groups showed the La Hu people had 2,952 households and 12,113 individuals, mostly in Lai Chau. But by July 2024, the third survey revealed a drop to 2,311 households and 10,314 people.

Alongside a shrinking population, poverty remains widespread among the La Hu. As of November 2024, the poverty rate among the La Hu was 73.87%, while the average across all 53 ethnic groups was 12.5%.

Serious social issues such as alcohol and drug abuse persist in some La Hu communities, further eroding the population’s well-being. Combined with economic challenges, these issues are undermining the overall quality of life for the group.

During a meeting with voters in Thu Lum commune on September 30, 2025, the Lai Chau delegation to the National Assembly proposed that the La Hu be designated a disadvantaged group for the 2026-2030 period. This proposal deserves thorough consideration from ministries and local authorities as they implement Decree No. 25/2025/ND-CP.

Sy Hao