The average height of Vietnamese youths has shown remarkable improvements, reaching 168 cm for 18-year-old males in 2020, up 3.7 cm from 2010, and 156 cm for 18-year-old females, up from 154cm, according to the National General Nutrition Survey for 2019-2020.
Malnutrition is still common around the country, particularly in disadvantaged and ethnic group areas. Excess weight and obesity are rising in both urban and rural areas. The prevalence of excess weight and obesity rose from 8.5 % in 2010 to 19 % in 2020, including 26.8% in urban areas, 18.3% in rural areas, and 6.9% in mountainous areas.
Conducted every 10 years, the survey was the largest of its kind on a nationwide scale and involved 22,400 households in 25 cities and provinces.
