Program 1719 is a cornerstone in Vietnam’s national strategy to improve the lives of ethnic minorities and mountain communities - long considered the core of the country’s poverty challenge.

“If implemented effectively, Program 1719 can solve poverty at its root,” emphasized Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.

Call for a new resolution on ethnic and religious affairs

At a recent working session with Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung stated that ethnic minorities currently make up 14% of Vietnam’s population. Central Resolution 24 (9th term) and Politburo Conclusion 65 (13th term) both reaffirm the nation’s commitment to ensuring equality among ethnic groups, mutual assistance, and overall social progress - while consistently aiming to raise both the material and spiritual well-being of ethnic communities.

Vietnam is also a multi-faith nation, with five major religions and around 27% of its population following a religion. Religious leaders and communities have largely abided by the Party and Government’s policies, while the Law on Belief and Religion has provided a clear legal framework for religious activity. The ultimate goal, according to Minister Dung, is to harness the power of national unity.

Minister Dung further noted that the establishment of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs reflects a major policy shift by the Party and State, aiming to accelerate sustainable national development - by balancing social equity and economic growth.

With Central Resolution 24 having been in effect since the 9th Party Congress, Minister Dung proposed the issuance of a new, dedicated resolution on ethnic and religious affairs to align with modern challenges in the upcoming 14th Congress term.

Program 1719 targets Vietnam’s most impoverished areas

Among key tasks for the ministry moving forward, Minister Dung emphasized prioritizing the implementation of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas (Program 1719).

With a total budget exceeding 100 trillion VND (over $4 billion), Program 1719 is significantly larger than the sustainable poverty reduction program (41 trillion VND), underscoring its strategic and humanitarian importance.

“If we implement this program well, it will tackle the root causes of poverty,” he stated.

So far, Program 1719 - alongside national efforts in rural development and poverty reduction - has helped Vietnam achieve impressive milestones. The poverty rate has dropped from 56% to 1.93%, while in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, it stands at around 4% (with an average annual reduction of over 3%). Unemployment is down to 2.34%.

At several international conferences, Vietnam has been invited to share its success stories in poverty reduction.

To adapt to administrative restructuring, including the planned elimination of district-level administration, the Ministry has submitted a revised version of Program 1719 after consulting with ministries, sectors, and the National Council. Minister Dung called on the Government to promptly approve the revised proposal to sustain the program’s momentum and impact.

Vietnam poised to eliminate substandard housing ahead of schedule

Currently, three programs are being implemented nationwide to eliminate temporary and dilapidated housing:

Housing for people with meritorious service to the revolution: Around 100,000 homes need replacement or repair, with a budget of over 2 trillion VND. Localities have begun disbursing funds, with the Ministry of Finance tasked to accelerate distribution. “Policies for people with meritorious service must be prioritized,” said Minister Dung.

Housing under national target programs: Under the sustainable poverty reduction and Program 1719 initiatives, housing support has been increased from 40 million VND (new builds) and 20 million VND (repairs) to 60 and 30 million VND, respectively.

For provinces lacking sufficient funds, they may use 5% of their 2024 recurrent savings; any shortfall will be reviewed by the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs for reallocation from underutilized provincial or central sources.

Housing for those outside the two major programs: Covering about 153,000 households, this campaign raised 6.5 trillion VND in donations upon launch.

To date, 78% of that funding has been disbursed, and more than 50% of homes are completed or under construction. The goal is to finish by October 30 - three months ahead of the original schedule.

“If these three programs, totaling 400,000 homes, are completed by December 31, 2025, it will be a historic achievement,” said Minister Dung. “We’ll have met the target five years ahead of schedule set by Resolution 42/NQ-TW.”

Binh Minh