Vietnamese people grow taller after decades of strategic efforts

The average height of Vietnamese men has increased by almost 10 cm, while women have grown 6 cm taller over more than half a century. The growth rate in the past 10 years is almost double that of the previous decade.

Early in August, while cheering on her 11th-grade son at a soccer match in Hanoi, 44-year-old Ngoc was struck by the height of the children. All 11 members of her son's team were between 1.7 and 1.8 meters tall, with her son standing at 1.75 meters. Many parents like Ngoc only reached the children's shoulders, even compared to the girls in the class.

Ngoc is 1.52 meters tall and her husband is 1.6 meters, below the current average height for Vietnamese people. Her son's height, like that of many other children his age, has surpassed their parents'. This reflects the significant change in the stature of Vietnamese people over the past decades.

"Short parents don't necessarily mean short children. My family focused on my son's height development from a young age through nutrition and exercise," Ngoc said, adding that most families now prioritize their children's height. This focus has contributed to the younger generation's significant height advantage over the previous one.

Genetics contributes about 23% to a child's height. Nutrition, living environment, and physical activity account for the remaining 77%. Today's youth benefit from the increased awareness of nutritional intervention and improved living environments, both at home and in society. This growth trend among young people is raising the average height of Vietnamese people, allowing them to "escape shortness" compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

Professor Le Danh Tuyen, former director of the National Institute of Nutrition, explained that when discussing a country's height, scientists rely on the height achieved by young adults, based on data from national nutrition surveys. This data reflects height growth over time.

Data from Modiere (1875), Bigot and Huard (1938), compared with 1975 data, show that the height of young Vietnamese men and women remained unchanged for 100 years, at 1.6 meters for men and 1.51 meters for women. Scientists have generally observed that height increases by 1.5 to 2 cm every 10 years in the absence of war and prolonged economic crises.

"Clearly, with 100 years of war to defend the Fatherland, we suffered consequences in terms of public health in general, and especially in height growth," Professor Tuyen said.

The first National Nutrition Survey in 1985 showed no change in height compared to 10 years prior. However, by 2010, the average height had increased to 164.4 cm for men and 153.4 cm for women. Between 2010 and 2020, men grew by 3.7 cm and women by 2.8 cm.

"This is a very impressive acceleration in height growth – on par with Japan during the period from 1960 to 1980," Professor Tuyen said, explaining that scientists consider this a catch-up growth phase, often occurring with economic development, a focus on healthcare during the first 1,000 days of life, and addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

Doctor Truong Hong Son, director of the Vietnam Institute of Applied Medicine and deputy general secretary of the Vietnam Medical Association, also considers this a significant increase, the fastest ever recorded, helping Vietnam no longer be among the "shortest in Southeast Asia". Vietnam currently ranks 4th in average height in the region, following Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.

Globally, according to research by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, Vietnam ranks 153rd out of 201 countries and territories in terms of height. This is still low compared to the global average (approximately 171 cm for men) but represents progress from the 181st position out of 200 countries in 2017.

A national strategy to improve stature

Experts believe the increase in Vietnamese people's height is not accidental but the result of a comprehensive, systematic, and persistent strategy implemented over decades, particularly regarding nutrition. A key starting point was the Child Malnutrition Prevention and Control Program launched in 1998. This nationwide program focused on improving nutrition for children from their early years, especially the first 1,000 days of life, a "golden period" that determines 60% of a person's height potential.

Another milestone was the government's Decree 09/2016 on fortifying food with micronutrients (as mandated in 126 countries) to protect public health. This coincided with a period of strong economic development in Vietnam, significantly improving people's daily diets. Average calorie, vegetable, and meat consumption increased, contributing to improved overall health.

The process of improving Vietnamese stature has been maintained and promoted through other interventions, especially in schools, including school milk programs and physical activities. Public awareness has also shifted, with greater emphasis on children's physical and intellectual development, including height growth.

"The current average height of young Vietnamese people reflects those born around 2000. This is the generation that directly benefited from these intervention programs," Son said, adding that no short-term, superficial intervention can bring about height improvements for a nation.

The main goal of the Master Plan for Physical Development and Stature of Vietnamese People (2011-2030) and the National Nutrition Strategy (2021-2030, with a vision to 2045) is to continue increasing the average height of Vietnamese youth. The target for 2030 is 168.5 cm for 18-year-old men and 157.5 cm for women.

Professor Tuyen cited research by Dr. Nguyen Viet on "about 60 Dong Son adult skeletons excavated at Dong Xa, showing the average height of women to be 1.4 to 1.5 meters and men 1.45 to 1.65 meters." Marlene Oostryck's research on ancient skeletons (from a similar period) displayed at the London Maritime Museum showed similar heights for men and women.

"Clearly, according to our genes, Vietnamese people are not inherently short compared to other countries," Professor Tuyen said. Vietnamese soccer and volleyball teams, both men's and women's, are no longer at a height disadvantage compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Vietnam aims higher, seeking to approach the stature of people in Japan, South Korea, and other countries in the future.

Dr. Son views height development as a combination of many factors, emphasizing a holistic approach. Genes are important but not the sole determinant of height. Japan's accelerated height growth is a prime example. Before 1945, Japan was a country with modest height, but now their height has greatly improved, ranking among the tallest in Asia.

Lifelong care, exclusive breastfeeding, and fortifying food with micronutrients are core elements to pursue. Nutritional interventions need continuous, nationwide implementation, with targeted goals for each region and various groups, prioritizing pregnant women and children.

Nearly 2 million children are born in Vietnam each year. Nutrition education for mothers and interventions to prevent malnutrition in newborns must be strengthened and maintained to prevent child malnutrition and improve the nation's stature.

"The country will take off if its human resources develop comprehensively, both physically and mentally," Professor Tuyen said, referring to children born and raised in today's environment with ample resources, like Ngoc's 11th-grade son.