The first national strategy for Viet Nam's response to HIV/AIDS, the National Strategy on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control in Viet Nam up to 2010 with a Vision to 2020, sets clear strategies and ambitious goals to control the spread of HIV.

It uses a comprehensive set of prevention, care and treatment interventions, harm reduction programmes, and provisions for access to ARV treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). High risk groups, such as injecting drug users and sex workers are the National Strategy's main targets.

The National Strategy's goals include: integrating HIV/AIDS prevention and control into local social economic development plans across the country; reaching out to people with HIV prevention activities in rural, urban and mountainous areas; implementing a comprehensive intervention programme to control HIV transmission from high-risk groups to the general population. It also ensures care and appropriate treatment for PLWHA so that 90% of HIV/AIDS adults, 100% HIV infected mothers, and 100% of HIV/AIDS infected or affected children receive appropriate care, treatment and counselling services.

The strategy also aims to provide 70% of AIDS patients with ARV treatment and to improve the surveillance, monitoring and evaluation systems for HIV/AIDS prevention and control.

In addition, the condom promotion programme has been implemented.

However, major challenges remain in the national response to the epidemic. Legal regulations on HIV prevention need to be harmonized and implemented by key sectors at all levels.

On HIV and mobility, the National Strategy aims to collaborate with neighbouring countries on HIV prevention and control and to expand intervention measures to mobile populations.

In 2007, the Government Decision on Cross-Border HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control was approved and, like the other nine ASEAN Member Countries, Viet Nam signed the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.

Viet Nam's Labor Law stipulates that Vietnamese employment agents should provide migrant workers with orientation prior to their departure. Mandatory tests including HIV testing are required as requested by receiving countries. No pre- or post-test counseling is ensured and breach of confidentiality of results remains an issue.

Vietnamese migrant workers have almost no access to health information in destination countries, mainly due to language barriers and lack of information. Migrants returning with HIV or TB face discrimination. No medical, social and financial services are in place to help them reintegrate. The issue of referral services for migrants who test HIV positive abroad still remains to be addressed.