Situation of Policies Accessing Basic Social Services in Ethnic Minirity Area in Lai Chau Province

Abstract

Lai Chau is a border province, which is a large beneficiary of social security policies compared to others in Vietnam. There are 20 ethnic groups living together, including four ethnic groups with very few people (Gong, Mang, La Hu, Si La) and ethnic minorities account for over 85% population. Besides that, their life has been facing many difficulties such as harsh natural conditions, rugged terrain, underdeveloped socio-economic conditions. It can be admitted that the poverty rate is high, and the implementation of the ethnic minority policy is limited. Moreover, the situation of free migration and the activities of criminals in ethnic minority areas, especially the Hmong ethnic minority areas are still complicated...For these reasons, the implementation of support policies for accessing basic social services(BSS) on health, education, housing, clean water have received attention, direction, and active implementation from Party committees and local authorities at all levels. Hence, many ethnic minority households can have opportunities to access these BSS, even though the implementation process has certain limitations.