Social protection systems in Viet Nam have been instrumental in mitigating risks associated with ill health, disability, work-related injury and old age, protecting vulnerable groups, and narrowing inequalities between different socio-economic groups of the population. Over the past two decades, poverty rate has decreased sharply for the whole population, ethnic minorities included, and health outcomes have improved. Although it is difficult to isolate the contribution of social policies to improved living standards, it is undeniable that the efforts of the government to invest in social protection have had positive effects on social outcomes.