Over the years, the city’s distinctive, socially focused policies have created leverage for sustainable poverty reduction. However, challenges posed by climate change now place increasing demands on these efforts.
Currently, Da Nang has over 4,000 low-income households with working-age members. By 2025, the city aims to eliminate all working-age poor households according to its multidimensional poverty standards.
Ensuring no one is left behind
Although it is difficult to quantify, many poverty reduction workers emphasise that compassion is an essential catalyst for poverty alleviation and a unique characteristic of Da Nang. Standing in the multi-story home of Nguyen Hong Lu (Group 70, Khue Trung Ward, Cam Le District), one cannot help but feel moved to learn that this homeowner, once a low-income individual, lived with his wife and four young children in a home that "welcomed every drop of rain." "As a war veteran, I was fortunate to receive help from my relatives, neighbours, and local authorities to escape poverty," Lu shared happily.
His family is a prime example of the "Each Party Cell Supports One Household for Sustainable Poverty Escape" model in Khue Trung Ward. According to Truong Thi Kep, Secretary of Party Cell 24, since 2019, the model has helped six households escape poverty sustainably through various fundraising initiatives. These efforts have attracted significant contributions from the local community.
To make poverty alleviation more practical and in-depth, alongside implementing the national target programme for sustainable poverty reduction in phases, the city has also introduced numerous social welfare programmes. According to Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Deputy Director of Da Nang’s Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the goals of "No households in extreme poverty," "Employment for all," "Adequate housing," and "Social welfare" reflect inclusive objectives. Recent annual themes tied to social welfare have significantly improved the lives of residents, particularly low-income and disadvantaged groups.
In addition, the city has revised and expanded specific social policies to cover more beneficiaries with increased support levels. For example, under the goal of "No households in extreme poverty," the city selects 1,000–2,000 of the poorest households every five years to introduce specialised assistance programmes, such as monthly allowances of 300,000 VND per person for those already receiving social protection, 100% interest subsidies, a 4 million VND grant per household after repaying poverty loans, and priority allocation or rental reduction for public housing.
With synchronised efforts toward "Employment for all" and "Adequate housing," many low-income families in the city have achieved stable living and working conditions. "These programs and policies have created a marked improvement in living standards, especially for social policy beneficiaries and low-income households," noted Nguyen Thi Thu Huong.
Together with the national poverty reduction programme, Da Nang’s specialised policies form a social safety net for the poor as motivation and a goal for ensuring political stability and sustainable development.
Adjusting social policies to address new contexts
Despite significant progress, poverty reduction efforts in Da Nang still face challenges. Encouraging low-income individuals to participate in vocational training and secure stable employment remains difficult. Sustainable poverty reduction policies are sometimes insufficiently emphasised, and limited awareness of these policies has left some households unaware of available city support.
Moreover, staff reductions and the multitasking responsibilities of officials have affected the pace of implementing poverty reduction solutions. Yet, the most profound challenges for low-income residents stem from public health crises, climate change, and natural disasters.
In recent years, the intensifying impacts of climate change have resulted in more frequent and extreme rainfall events. According to the People’s Committee of Hoa Vang District, from 2022 to Q3 2024, 106 new low-income households emerged due to severe illnesses among primary breadwinners, prolonged treatment costs, and natural disasters disrupting agricultural income. Hoa Vang, a predominantly agricultural district, is particularly vulnerable to such issues.
Even in urban areas, neighbourhoods with a high concentration of migrant workers often experience frequent flooding, exacerbating difficulties for low-income households. "Many families here, especially young migrant couples, face three to four floods annually. It damages property, disrupts work for cleanup, and increases the risk of diseases, compounding their struggles," lamented Nguyen Be, head of Group 37 in Da Son, Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, Lien Chieu District.
To address these realities, Da Nang has integrated climate adaptation measures into its social policies. Efforts include mobilising diverse resources for emergency social support, particularly in response to disasters, and enhancing community resilience to climate challenges.
Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Thu Huong stated that for the 2024–2025 period, the national sustainable poverty reduction programme will implement comprehensive measures to address multidimensional poverty and ensure access to basic social services. By 2025, the city will focus on household surveys, refining indices to identify deprivation areas, and tailoring support to align with Da Nang’s living standards.
