Abstract

From 2002 to 2010, the GSO plans to conduct the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey every 2 years (in the years ending with even numbers) in order to monitor systematically living standards of Vietnam population's classes and at the same time, to monitor and assess the implementation of the Comprehensive Poverty Alleviation and Growth Strategy defined in the Country Strategy Paper approved by the Government Prime Minister. In addition, this survey also contributes to the evaluation of results of realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Socio-Economic Development Goals set out by Vietnamese Government.

The VHLSS 2004 includes topics which reflect the population's living standards: demographic characteristics, education background, professional/ technical level, income, expenditures, use of health services, employment status, housing, amenity as possession, property, goods, electricity, water and sanitation conditions. In addition, this survey includes two new topics: “Agricultural, forestry and fishery land” and “Non-agricultural, forestry and fishery sectors” for more in-depth analysis. Technical assistance was provided by experts of the UN Statistics Division and the World Bank in designing questionnaires for the 2 new contents and sampling.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual
• Community
• Consumption expenditure item/product

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents).

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Survey sample was selected, based on the Population and Housing Census 1999. The sample size included 45,900 households representative of the whole country, urban and rural area and 64 provinces. Survey sample was divided into 2 types: 36,720 households surveyed on income and 9,180 households surveyed on income and expenditures. The survey sample was sub-divided into 2 minor samples for data collection in 2 stages: the first in May 2004 and the second in September 2004.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

VHLSS 2004 questionnaires are developed based on the VHLSS 2002 questionnaires to ensure the comparability between two surveys. These are some changes in households and commune questionnaires. The major changes in the VHLSS 2004 household questionnaire are -- two additional new modules for long household questionnaire that are found in section 9 (additional section) and section 10 (non-farm self employment activities).

The questionnaires are structured as follows:

• Section 1: Demographic characteristics (Roster)

• Section 2: Education and vocational training

• Section 3: Health and health care

• Section 4: Income

• Section 5: Expenditure

• Section 6: Fixed assets and consumer durables

• Section 7: Housing, water and sanitation

• Section 8: Participation in the poverty alleviation and hunger eradication programme and credit

• Section 9: Agriculture, forestry and aquaculture (expanded)

• Section 10: Business other than agriculture, forestry and aquaculture (expanded)

The commune questionnaire consists of 10 sections:

• Section 0: Survey information

• Section 1: Demographic characteristics and general situation of the commune

• Section 2: General economic status and assistance programmes

• Section 3: Opportunity for non-farm employment

• Section 4: Agriculture and land

• Section 5: Infrastructure

• Section 6: Education

• Section 7: Health

• Section 8: Public security and social issues

• Section 9: Credit and saving

Abstract

In the implementation of the Party and State policy “Doi moi”, the General Statistical Office (GSO) has conducted many household living standards survey to collect information on the living standards of all social societies to serve policy-making and socio-economic development planning.

From 2002 to 2010, VHLSS are to be conducted (in every two- year) to monitor systematically the living standard of Vietnam's societies and at the same time, to exercise the monitoring and assessment of the implementation of the Comprehensive Poverty Alleviation and Growth Strategy defined in Country Strategy Paper approved by the Government Prime Minister. In addition, these surveys also serve the evaluation of realization of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Socio-economic Development Goals set out by Vietnamese Government.

The 2002 VHLSS included all the keynote contents reflecting the living standards of the population and the basic socio-economic condition of communes/wards that might affect the living standards of the local people. As regards households, it collected data in relation to demographic characteristics of the household members, the education background, professional/ technical level of each member, income, expenditures, use of medical facilities of all kinds, employment, housing and amenity as possession, personal effects, utilities (power and water supply), sanitation and participation in the poverty alleviation programme.

As regards communes/wards, it collected a wide rage of information related to demography, nationality, infrastructure, farming, production promotion conditions, non-farming activity and law and order.

Household questionnaires and communes/wards questionnaires of the 2002 VHLSS were designed more scientifically to ensure feasibility. They had been, in fact, piloted in Bac Ninh, Binh Dinh and Dong Nai provinces prior to the actual survey.

Survey sample were selected, based on the Population and Housing Census 1999. The sample size included 75.000 households representative of the whole country, urban and rural area and 61 provinces. Survey samples were sub-divided into 4 minor samples for the quarterly surveys in 2002 for more thorough data collection in anticipation of the harvests that might somehow get in the way. To provide information on assessment of the living standards in 2001-2002, GSO developed and released the detailed results of the 2002 VHLSS, including relevant statistics and initial analysis. Expenditure related data were synthesized from samples of 30.000 households; others, from samples of 45.000 households.

To bring out the changes in the living standards, the 2002 VHLSS results were compared with the results obtained from other living standards surveys, e.g. the 1992-1993 living standards survey (1993 VLSS), the 1993 rich-poor status survey (1993 RPSS), the 1997-1998 living standards surveys (1998 VLSS), the Multipurpose household surveys throughout 1994 to 1997 and 1999 (MHPS)

The data on demography, labor, and employment ect… were collected from the 2002 VHLSS, not replace all the data already released from the surveys conducted in this area, but to shed more light on and make more on insightful analyses of the factors affecting the living standards.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Household
• Individual
• Community
• Consumption expenditure item/product

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Vietnam household living standard survey 2002 was selected, based on the Population and Housing Census 1999. The sample size included 75.000 households representative of the whole country, urban and rural area and 61 provinces. Survey samples were sub-divided into 4 minor samples for the quarterly surveys in 2002 for more thorough data collection in anticipation of the harvests that might somehow get in the way.

Survey sample were designed by 2 samples: one big sample (45,000 households) which mostly concentrated on income of households to assess living standard for national, regional and provincial levels ; one smaller sample (30,000 households) with both information about income and expenditure to evaluate intensive living standard at central and provincial levels. Following are detail contents :

• Implementing survey in 2002 with income and expenditure questionnaire of 30,000 household sample (Income and expenditure survey). This sample was divided into 4 smaller ones, with 7,500 households of each which conducted in first month of four quarters in 2002 respectively. The 30,000 household sample showed estimations at national and regional levels for 2001-2002.

• In the first six months of 2002, survey was implemented on all sections, except for expenditure section (in Income and expenditure survey) for 45,000 household sample (Income survey). This sample was divided into 2 small samples with 22,500 households of each and conducted in quarter I, II/2002 respectively. Survey of 45,000 household sample combined with 15,000 households of Income and expenditure survey (30,000 household sample) which conducted in the first month in quarter I, II/2002 to establish one 60,000 household sample that showed estimations for national, regional and provincial levels for 2001.

The detail is shown as following:

Collecting data perriod Income and expenditure survey Income survey Total Total 30,000 45,000 75,000

Divided into : QI/2002 7,500 22,500 30,000 QII/2002 7,500 22,500 30,000 QIII/2002 7,500 7,500 QIV/2002 7,500 7,500

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

VLSS 2002 used 3 questionnaires: - Short household questionnaire (excluded most of consumption expenditure information) - Long household questionnaire (including detail consumption expenditure information) - Commune questionnaire

The household questionnaire contains 9 sections each of which covered a separate aspects of household activity. Here are sections: 1. Household Roster 2. Education 3. Employment 4. Health 5. Income and Household Production 6. Expenditure (collected only for long questionnaire) 7. Durable Good and Asset 8. Housing 9. Participation in Poverty Reduction Programs

The commune questionnaire includes 9 sections and was administered by the team leader and completed with the help of village chiefs, teachers, government officials and health care workers. The questionnaire was administered in both rural and urban areas but some section was only collected in rural area such as non-farm employment opportunities and infrastructure and transportation. Here are commune questionnaire sections: 0. Survey Information 1. Main Characteristics of The Commune/ Ward 2. General Economic Conditions and Aid Programs 3. Non-Farm Employment Opportunities 4. Agriculture 5. Physical Infrastructure and Transportation 6. Education 7. Health 8. Public Disorder and Other Social Affairs

The VHLSS aims to monitor living standards, the effectiveness of government strategy, and socio-economic development goals in Vietnam. The sample size in 2022 included almost 47,000 households from across Vietnam. Household heads, household members, and key commune officials were interviewed. The study was known as the Vietnam Living Standards Survey (VLSS) for the two initial surveys in 1993 and 1998. In 2002, changes were made to the format of the study, and it was renamed as VHLSS. From 2002 to 2010, VHLSS was conducted every two years. Since 2011, VHLSS has been conducted annually.

Vietnam HSS: Household Size (HS): Whole Country data was reported at 3.800 Person in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.810 Person for 2014. Vietnam HSS: Household Size (HS): Whole Country data is updated yearly, averaging 4.005 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2016, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.440 Person in 2002 and a record low of 3.800 Person in 2016. Vietnam HSS: Household Size (HS): Whole Country data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.H021: Household Living Standard Survey (HSS): Household Size .

In 2021, there were over 16.7 million households in rural areas of Vietnam. By comparison, the number of households in urban areas was much lower in the same year. In total, there were over 27 million households in Vietnam that year.

Key information about Vietnam Household Expenditure per Capita

• Vietnam Annual Household Expenditure per Capita reached 1,478.147 USD in Dec 2024, compared with the last update number of 1,441.275 USD in Dec 2022.
• Vietnam Annual Household Expenditure per Capita data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1999 to Dec 2024, with an averaged value of 0.000 USD.
• In the latest reports, Retail Sales of Vietnam grew 7.986 % YoY in Oct 2025.

CEIC calculates Annual Household Expenditure per Capita from Monthly Average Household Expenditure per Capita multiplied by 12 and converts it into USD. The National Statistics Office provides Average Household Expenditure per Capita in local currency. The State Bank of Vietnam average market exchange rate is used for currency conversions.

The household consumption of households in Vietnam had an estimated year-on-year growth of *** percent in 2022. The year-on-year consumption change of Vietnamese households were slower in both 2020 and 2021, with possible impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Forecast data shows positive change in household expenditures in succeeding years.

Abstract

The General Director, the General Statistics Office (GSO), issued Decision Number 308/QD-TCTK dated 5nd April 2006 on Conducting the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey in 2006 (VHLSS 2006) in order to collect necessary information for monitoring, supervising and evaluating the implementation of the “Comprehensive Strategy for Growth and Poverty Alleviation” approved by the Government Prime Minister. The survey was conducted nation-wide, involving a sample scale of 45,945 households (36,756 households for income survey, 9,189 households for income and expenditure survey) in 3,063 communes/wards, representative for whole country, 8 regions, urban/ rural area and provinces. Organizationally, the survey was conducted to collect information in 2 rounds, 2006 and by direct interviews with headed households and key commune officials.

Geographic coverage

The VHLSS 2006 was conducted nation-wide, involving a sample scale of 45,945 households (36,756 households for income survey, 9,189 households for income and expenditure survey) in 3,063 communes/wards, representative for whole country, 8 regions, urban/ rural area and provinces.

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals
• Communes

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents)

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Survey sample was selected, based on the Population and Housing Census 1999. The sample size included 45,900 households representative of the whole country, urban and rural area and 64 provinces. Survey sample was divided into 2 types: 36,720 households would be surveyed on income and 9,180 households would be surveyed on income and expenditures. The survey sample was sub-divided into 2 minor samples for data collection in 2 stages: the first in May 2006 and the second in September 2006.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

1. Income and Expenditure questionnaire
2. Income questionnaire
3. Commune questionnaire

Cleaning operations

Data editing took place at a number of stages throughout the processing, including: a) Office editing and coding b) During data entry c) Structure checking and completeness d) Secondary editing e) Structural checking of Stata data files Detailed documentation of the editing of data can be found in the "Data processing guidelines" document provided as an external resource.

Vietnam HSS: Durable Goods Per 100 Household: Colour TV data was reported at 102.400 Piece in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 101.100 Piece for 2014. Vietnam HSS: Durable Goods Per 100 Household: Colour TV data is updated yearly, averaging 92.100 Piece from Dec 2004 (Median) to 2016, with 7 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102.400 Piece in 2016 and a record low of 69.800 Piece in 2004. Vietnam HSS: Durable Goods Per 100 Household: Colour TV data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.H029: Household Living Standard Survey (HSS): Durable Goods.

Vietnam HSS: HS: Household Head Gender: Female data was reported at 3.200 Person in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 3.240 Person for 2014. Vietnam HSS: HS: Household Head Gender: Female data is updated yearly, averaging 3.415 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2016, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.710 Person in 2002 and a record low of 3.200 Person in 2016. Vietnam HSS: HS: Household Head Gender: Female data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.H021: Household Living Standard Survey (HSS): Household Size .

Vietnam HSS: GINI Coefficient: Rural data was reported at 0.408 NA in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 0.398 NA for 2014. Vietnam HSS: GINI Coefficient: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 0.390 NA from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2016, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 0.408 NA in 2016 and a record low of 0.360 NA in 2002. Vietnam HSS: GINI Coefficient: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.H030: Household Living Standard Survey (HSS): GINI Coefficient.

Vietnam: Household consumption, billion USD: The latest value from 2023 is 235.64 billion U.S. dollars, an increase from 226.07 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. In comparison, the world average is 363.59 billion U.S. dollars, based on data from 154 countries. Historically, the average for Vietnam from 1995 to 2023 is 93.74 billion U.S. dollars. The minimum value, 15.26 billion U.S. dollars, was reached in 1995 while the maximum of 235.64 billion U.S. dollars was recorded in 2023.

Actual value and historical data chart for Vietnam Household Final Consumption Expenditure Us Dollar

The household registration system known as ho khau has been a part of the fabric of life in Vietnam for over 50 years. The system was used as an instrument of public security, economic planning, and control of migration, at a time when the state played a stronger role in direct management of the economy and the life of its citizens. Although the system has become less rigid over time, concerns persist that ho khau limits the rights and access to public services of those who lack permanent registration in their place of residence. Due largely to data constraints, however, previous discussions about the system have relied largely on anecdotal or partial information. Drawing from historical roots as well as the similar model of China’s hukou, the ho khau system was established in Vietnam in 1964. The 1964 law established the basic parameters of the system: every citizen was to be registered as a resident in one and only household at the place of permanent residence, and movements could take place only with the permission of authorities. Controlling migration to cities was part of the system’s early motivation, and the system’s ties to rationing, public services, and employment made it an effective check on unsanctioned migration. Transfer of one’s ho khau from one place to another was possible in principle but challenging in practice. The force of the system has diminished since the launch of Doi Moi as well as a series of reforms starting in 2006. Most critically, it is no longer necessary to obtain permission from the local authorities in the place of departure to register in a new location. Additionally, obtaining temporary registration status in a new location is no longer difficult. However, in recent years the direction of policy changes regarding ho khau has been varied. A 2013 law explicitly recognized the authority of local authorities to set their own policies regarding registration, and some cities have tightened the requirements for obtaining permanent status. Understanding of the system has been hampered by the fact that those without permanent registration have not appeared in most conventional sources of socioeconomic data. To gather data for this project, a survey of 5000 respondents in five provinces was done in June-July 2015. The samples are representative of the population in 5 provinces – Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Da Nang, Binh Duong and Dak Nong. Those five provinces/cities are among the provinces with the highest rate of migration as estimated using data from Population Census 2009.

Vietnam HSS: HS: Quintile 2: Household Head Gender: Male data was reported at 4.100 Person in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4.150 Person for 2014. Vietnam HSS: HS: Quintile 2: Household Head Gender: Male data is updated yearly, averaging 4.415 Person from Dec 2002 (Median) to 2016, with 8 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.960 Person in 2002 and a record low of 4.100 Person in 2016. Vietnam HSS: HS: Quintile 2: Household Head Gender: Male data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by General Statistics Office. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.H021: Household Living Standard Survey (HSS): Household Size .

The expenditure on household goods in Vietnam gradually increased in the past five years. From *** trillion Vietnamese dong in 2018, this figure was estimated at *** trillion Vietnamese dong in 2022. The household goods consumption in the country was forecast to continue increasing until 2024.

Abstract

The VHLSS 2010 was conducted nationwide with a sample size of 69,360 households in 3,133 communes/wards which were representative at national, regional, urban, rural and provincial levels. The survey collected information during four periods, each period in one quarter from the second quarter to the forth quarter in 2010 and one period in the first quarter of 2011 through face-to-face interviews conducted by interviewers with household heads and key commune officials in communes containing sample enumeration areas. The survey collected information to be a base for assessment of living standard, poverty and the gap between the rich and the poor serving for policy making, planning and national targeted programs of the party and the State in order to continuously improve the living standard of citizen across the country, in all regions and localities.

Geographic coverage

Whole country

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals
• Consumption expenditure item/ product

Universe

The survey is respresentative at national, urban, rural and provincial levels.

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

The VHLSS 2010 was conducted nationwide with a sample size of 69,360 households in 3,133 communes/wards which were representative at national, regional, urban, rural and provincial levels. Indicators belonging to other areas of specialty are compiled from the VHLSS 2010 data for clarification and in-depth analysis of factors impacting on living standards, so results on these indicators should not be used in place of published data on these subject matters. Average household size in 2010 was 3.89 persons overall with a gradual decline seen over time (it was 4.44 persons in 2002, 4.36 persons in 2004, 4.24 persons in 2006 and 4.12 in 2008). This trend was seen in both urban and rural areas, in all regions and for different income quintiles. Average household size was higher in rural areas than in urban areas, higher among poor households than among better off households and higher in mountainous areas than in delta nregions. According to the VHLSS 2010, the average household size in rural areas was 3.92 persons, 1.03 times higher than that in urban areas and it was approximately the same as in 2008 (this figure in 2008 was 1.02 times higher). Average household size of the poorest households (quintile 1) was 4.18 people, 1.2 times higher than of the richest households (quintile 5). Household size in the Northern midlands and mountain areas and the Central Highlands is higher than in other regions.

Sampling deviation

There are three stage stratified cluster design. The sample of the VHLSS is selected in the way to represent the entire country (in which: urban/rural areas), 8 regions (in which: urban/rural areas), and proviences/cities. According to the Master Sample, there are two stage area sample from enumeration areas of the 1999 Population and Housing Census. There are also in the technical document, informations about the PSU (Primary Sampling Unit), SSU (Secondary Sampling Unit), Sample Allocation and Sample Size.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

The survey questionnaire contains 11 sections:

Section 1. Some basic demographic characteristics related to living standards Section 2. Education Section 3. Labour - Employment Section 4. Health and health care Section 5. Income Section 6. Consumption expenditure Section 7. Durable goods Section 8. Housing, electricity, water, sanitation facilities and use of Internet Section 9. Participation in poverty reduction programs Section 10. Business production activities Section 11. Commune general characteristics

Cleaning operations

Data editing took place at a number of stages throughout the processing, including:

a) Office editing and coding b) During data entry c) Structure checking and completeness d) Secondary editing e) Structural checking of Stata data files Detailed documentation of the editing of data can be found in the "Data processing guidelines" document provided as an external resource.

Abstract

The VHLSS 2008 was conducted nation-wide with a sample size of 45,945 households (36,756 households in the income survey and 9,189 households surveyed on both income and expenditure) in 3,063 communes/wards which were representative at national, regional, urban, rural and provincial levels. The survey collected information during two periods in 2008 through face-to-face interviews conducted by interviewers with household heads and key commune officials in communes containing sample enumeration areas.

The survey collects information to be a base for assessment of living standard, poverty and the gap between the rich and the poor serving for policy making, planning and national targeted programs of the party and the State in order to continuously improve the living standard of citizen across the country, in all regions and localities.

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals (household members)
• Communes

Universe

The survey covered all de jure household members (usual residents).

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sample 1: Sample for 2008 living standard survey and for computing weight of consumer price index (CPI). This sample is selected from the master frame designed for VHLSSs in the period 2000-2010 which contains 3,063 communes/wards, 3 areas are selected in each commune/ward from areas of the Population and Housing Census 1999.

Sample size of the Sample 1 includes 45,945 households selected from 3,063 areas of the master sample frame and is divided into 2 types: - Sample for income and weight of CPI includes 36,756 households to collect information as mentioned above and weight of CPI excluding household's expenditure to assess living standard at national level, regional and provincial/city level as well as to compute weight of CPI. This sample uses Interview form 1A PVH/VHLSS08. - Sample for income-expenditure includes 9,189 to collect sufficient information for further assessment and analysis of living standard at national and regional level (no information for computing weight of CPI). This sample uses Interview form 1B-PVH/VHLSS08.

Sample 2: Sample only for computing weight of CPI includes 2 parts: Part I includes 9,189 households which are additionally selected from 3,063 areas of Sample 1, 3 households selected from each area; and Part 2 includes 15,000 households selected from 1,000 areas of the Population and Housing Census 1999 apart from the master frame. This sample uses Interview form 1C-PVH/QS08.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

As surveyed by Infocus Mekong in 2020, around ** percent of households in Vietnam had an income from ********** to ********** Vietnamese dong. Meanwhile, ***** percent of them stated to have an income of under ********* Vietnamese dong.

Abstract

The principal objective of the VNLSS is to collect basic data reflescting the actual living standard of the population. These data then be used for evaluating socio-economic development and formulationg policies to improve living standard. Followings are the main goals by the year of 2000. - Reduce the population growth rate less than 2 % peryear - Reduce the infant mortaility (under 5 years old) 0,81% (1990) to 0,55%; and from 0,46% (1990) to 0,3% (under one year old) - Reduce the mortality rate of women concerning the pregnancy and maternity - Reduce the malnutrition of children under 5years old from 51,5% at present to 40% in 1995 and under 30% by the year of 2000. Heavy malnutrition should not be existed by the year of 2000. - Population can access to safe water resources from 43% (1990) to 82% of which 40% to 80% in rural areas. Population use sanitary latrine from 22% (1990) to 65% of which in rural areas from 15% to 60% - 90 percent of children complete the endeavor universal first level education before the age of 15, and the rest should complete the third grade. By the year of 2000 no children at the age of 15 will be illiterate - Improve the cultural, spiritual life of the children, to ensure that 30% of communes (by the year of 1995) and 50% of communes (by the year of 2000) have entertaining place for children

The main information collected by the survey includes: - Household income and expenditures - Health and education - Employment and other productive and activities - Demographic characteristics and migration - Housing conditions

In addition, the information gatherd is intended to improve planning of economic and social policies in Vietnam and to assist in evaluating the impact of the policies. It should enable decision makers to: - indentify target groups for government assistance - Construct models of socio-economic development policies, both overall and on individuals groups - Analyze the impact of decisions available and of the current economic situation on living condition of household

Geographic coverage

National

Analysis unit

• Households
• Individuals
• Community

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Sample Design The sample covers 4800 households from all areas of Viet Nam. The sample design was self-weighted, which means that each household in Viet Nam had the same probability of being selected. The overall sampling frame was stratified into two groups urban and rural, with sampling was carried out separately in each group (strata). About 20% of Vietnamese households live in urban areas, so the sample stratification ensures that 20% of selected households also come from urban areas. Within urban and rural areas, two lists of all communes was drawn up (one of urban communes and another of rural ones), province by province, in "serpentine" order. 2 The selection of communes within each list was done to ensure that they were spread out evenly among all provinces in Viet Nam.

The VNLSS sample design is the following. Within each province in Viet Nam, rural areas can be broken down into districts, and districts in turn are divided into communes (Xa). Urban areas in all provinces consist of centers/towns, which are divided into quarters (Quai), and then divided further into communes (Phuong). The number of communes in all of Viet Nam, both urban and rural, is about 10,000, and the average population in each is about 6,500. As explained in Section 4, each survey team covers 32 households in 4 weeks, 16 households in one area, and 16 in another area. For convenience all 32 households (i.e. both sets of 16 household) were selected from the same commune. This implied that 150 communes needed to be randomly selected (32x150=4800), 30 in urban areas and 120 in urban areas. Within urban areas communes can be further divided into clusters (Cum), two of which were selected from which to draw two "workloads" of 16 households (16 from each of the two clusters). The same was done in rural areas, where each commune is divided into several villages (Thon). The average size of urban clusters and rural villages is somewhat less than 1000 households.

The VNLSS sample was drawn in three stages. Because the General Statistical Office in Hanoi knows the current population of each commune in Viet Nam (but not of each cluster or village within each commune), 150 communes were selected out of the 10,000 in all of Viet Nam with the probability of selection proportional to their population size. At the second stage, information was gathered from the 150 selected communes on the population of each cluster (in urban areas) or villages (in rural areas), and two clusters or villages were randomly drawn with probability proportional to their population size. Finally, the third stage involved random selection of 20 households (16 for the sample plus four "extras" to serve as replacements if some of the 16 "originals" could not be interviewed) within each cluster or village from a list of all households within each cluster or village. Note that the first stage of the sample is based on information from the 1989 Census, but the second and third stages use updated information available from the communes. The first and second stage samples were drawn in Hanoi, while the third stage was drawn in the field (see Section 4.3 below for more details).

Implementation

The attached map shows the commune number and approximate location of the 150 communes selected in Viet Nam. Of the 150 communes chosen, one was in a very remote and inaccessible area near the Chinese border and was replaced by another not quite as inaccessible. The actual interview schedule went smoothly. In one instance (commune 68) one of the selected villages was replaced because when the survey team arrived in the village it discovered that most of the adults were away from the village and thus could not be interviewed. In each cluster or village interviews were completed for 16 households, thus the 4800 household target sample was fully achieved. About 3% of the households (155) were replaced; the main reason for replacement was that their occupants were not at home. Only four households refused to participate. Community questionnaires were completed for all 120 rural communes. Price questionnaires were completed for 118 of 120 communes (the exceptions were communes 62 and 63), and comparable price data were collected from existing sources for all 30 urban areas.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONNAIRE

The household questionnaire contains modules (sections) to collect data on household demographic structure, education, health, employment, migration, housing conditions, fertility, agricultural activities, household non-agricultural businesses, food expenditures, non-food expenditures, remittances and other income sources, savings and loans, and anthropometric (height and weight) measures.

For some sections (survey information, housing, and respondents for second round) the individual designated by the household members as the household head provided responses. For some others (agro-pastoral activities, non-farm self employment, food expenditures, non-food expenditures) a member identified as most knowledgeable provided responses. Identification codes for respondents of different sections indicate who provided the information. In sections where the information collected pertains to individuals (education, health, employment, migration, and fertility) each member of the household was asked to respond for himself or herself, except that parents were allowed to respond for younger children. In the case of the employment and fertility sections it is possible that the information was not provided by the relevant person; variables in these sections indicate when this is the case. The household questionnaire was completed in two interviews two weeks apart: Sections 0-8, were conducted in the first interview, sections 9-14 were conducted in the second interview, and section 15 was administered in both interviews. The survey was designed so that more sensitive issues such as credit and savings were discussed near the end. The content of each module is briefly described below.

I. FIRST INTERVIEW

Section 0 SURVEY INFORMATION 0A HOUSEHOLD HEAD AND RESPONDENT INFORMATION 0B SUMMARY OF SURVEY RESULTS 0C OBSERVATIONS AND COMMENTS

The date of the interview, the religion, ethnic group of the household head, the language used by the respondent and other technical information related to the interview are noted. Section 0B summarizes the results of the survey visits, i.e. whether a section was completed on the first visit or the second visit. Section 0C, not entered into the computer, contains remarks of the interviewer and the supervisor. Since the data in Section 0C are retained only on the questionnaires, researchers cannot gain access to them without checking the original questionnaires at the General Statistical Office in Hanoi.

Section 1 HOUSEHOLD MEMBERSHIP 1A HOUSEHOLD ROSTER 1B INFORMATION ON PARENTS OF HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS 1C CHILDREN RESIDING ELSEWHERE

The roster in Section 1A lists the age, sex, marital status and relation to household head of all people who spent the previous night in that household and for household members who are temporarily away from home. The household head is listed first and receives the personal id code 1. Household members were defined to include "all the people who normally live and eat their meals together in this dwelling. Those who were absent more than nine of the last twelve months were excluded, except for the head of the household and infants less than three months old. A lunar calendar is provided in the