Deafness in Vietnam

Deafness in Vietnam refers to the conditions, rights, and support systems for individuals who are Deaf or hard of hearing in the country. An estimated 2.5 million people in Vietnam experience hearing and/or speech disabilities. However, only about 70% of hearing-impaired individuals have full access to medical services, in part due to a shortage of sign language interpreters and broader systemic gaps. The Deaf community in Vietnam uses several regional sign languages, including Saigon, Hanoi, and Haiphong Sign Languages, with ongoing efforts to establish a standardized Vietnamese Sign Language (VSL).

The Vietnamese government has taken steps to increase accessibility in education, healthcare, and employment by ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and implementing national action plans. Despite these efforts, many Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals still face substantial barriers to equitable employment, early education, and public services.

Language emergence

Language variations

There are three Vietnamese sign languages. Vietnam's sign languages are known as Saigon Sign Language, Hanoi Sign Language, and Haiphong Sign Language which are used within different parts of the country such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Haiphong. All three have been strongly influenced by French Sign Language (LSF) which was once taught in Vietnamese deaf schools. The country is currently attempting to implement a national sign language within Vietnam called Vietnamese Sign Language (VSL).

Saigon Sign Language (Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language/HCMCSL)

This language is commonly used in southern Vietnam and was studied extensively by linguist James Woodward in 1997.

Hanoi Sign Language

Native to the capital city, this language is spoken within the northern Deaf community.

Haiphong Sign Language

Used in the costal city of Haiphong, this language is less influenced by French Sign Language (LSF) and shares common words to Old Chiangmai-Bangkok Sign Language Family of Thailand and similarities to Laotian Sign Language (LSL).

Human and civil rights

Vietnamese Federation of the Deaf

The Vietnamese Federation of the Deaf (VFD) is not currently listed as a member organization of the World Federation Of The Deaf (WFD)

Status of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)

Vietnam is a State Party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), having signed the Convention on October 22, 2007, and ratified it on February 5, 2015. However, Vietnam has not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention which allows individuals to bring complaints to the CRPD Committee.

• Most recent Country Report submitted: September 16, 2022
• Most recent List of Issues filed by the CRPD Committee: April 4, 2018
• UN Treaty Body Database - Vietnam CRPD Reports

Articles of the CRPD

CRPD Areas Relevant to the Deaf Community in Vietnam:

• Sign language rights: Recognized under Articles 2, 21(b), 21(3), 23(3), and 24(3)(b), ensuring the right to use sign language in education, public services, and family life.
• Deaf culture and linguistic identity: Protected under Article 30(4), promoting respoect for the cultural linguistic identity of the Deaf community.
• Bilingual education: Mandated by Articles 24(1), 24(3)(b), and 24(4), supporting instruction in both spoken/written and sign languages.
• Lifelong learning: Affirmed in Articles 5, 24(5), and 27, which guarantee continued access to education and employment throughout life.
• Accessibility: Articles 9 and 21 underscore access to public infrastructure, ICT, and communication platforms, and information.
• Equal employment opportunities: Article 27 mandates equal rights in work and vocational training.

Vietnam's initial country report, submitted in 2018, documents its commitments to these principles and outlines national policies such as the Law on Persons with Disabilities (2010) and the National Plan for CRPD Implementation (2016).

Implementation Status

Articles 1-4: General Principles

Vietnam ratified the CRPD without reservations, and the 2010 Law on Persons with Disabilities affirms equal rights and social inclusion. Disability is legally defined and classified by type and severity, including hearing/speaking disabilities. The Vietnam National Committee on Disability oversees implementation, with support from provincial committees and national action plans.

Article 9: Accessibility

Vietnamese law guarantees accessibility i public infrastructure, ICT, education, and cultural spaces. However, as of 2015, accessibility in public spaces remains limited. Sign language interpretation and DHH-specific access (e.g., sign videos on websites) are not widely implemented. National standards exist, but enforcement is inconsistent.

Article 21: Freedom of Expression and Information

The right to learn Vietnamese Sign Language (VSL) is legally recognized. Some national TV channels include sign language and subtitles, and sign language training is broadcast. However, sign language is not officially recognized as a national language, and access to interpreters in public services is unclear. Web and media accessibility for DHH persons remains limited.

Article 24: Education

DHH students may study in sign language at specialized schools. Policies support inclusive education, but variations of VSL are not widely used in mainstream settings. There is limited information on interpreter availability, Bilingual-Bicultural education models, or Deaf-led training. Rural access and teacher training have gaps.

Article 30: Cultural Participation

Vietnam promotes cultural and recreational activities for persons with disabilities. For DHH people, Deaf culture is supported through school arts programs and university centers. However, broader inclusion in mainstream cultural institutions and tourism is still developing.

Early childhood intervention

UNHS

As of 2013, Vietnam does not mandate universal neonatal (newborn) hearing screening (UNHS) at the national level. Screening efforts remain limited in scope and are primarily carried out through pilot projects or local health initiatives.

According to Neumann et al. (2020):

• Only 1-3% of newborns receive UNHS, with an additional 5% receiving targeted screening.
• Screening is conducted using 100% otoacoustic emmissions (OAE) and 100% behavioral testing.
• Approximately 4 out of every 1,000 babies are confirmed to have permanent childhood hearing loss (PCHL).
• The average age of diagnosis for screened babies is 24 months, with a range of 3 to 15 months. For non-screened babies, diagnosis occurs between 3 and 40 months.
• Screening is conducted in 10% of birth facilities, with screeners consisting of 25% physicians and 75% nurses.
• There is currently no national mandate for screening.

These figures indicate barriers to early hearing detection and intervention in Vietnam, with many infants not receiving timely screening or diagnosis. Expansion of hearing screening coverage and stronger government involvement could greatly improve early outcomes for children with hearing loss.

Because hearing testing at birth is not mandated and audiology technology in Vietnam is limited early intervention (EI) is difficult to implement. Services for Deaf and DHH children in Vietnam are primarily provided by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international partners, because the government does not mandate or fund a comprehensive national EI policy or program. These NGO provided services focus on auditory-verbal therapy, sign language education, and family support.

From 2011 to 2015, the Intergenerational Deaf Education Outreach (IDEO) project, provided home-based sign language education to 255 Deaf children under six years of age in four Vietnamese cities. Funded by the World Bank, the program trained Deaf mentors, hearing teachers, and interpreters to support early language and cognitive development. Parents also received training to communicate with their children, though it is unclear the specifics. Access to early education and sign language support for young Deaf children appears limited.

Education

Education access for Deaf and DHH children in Vietnam is limited and often segregated. Most Deaf children attend specialized schools that emphasize oralism, with limited use of any Vietnamese Sign Languages (VSL). Inclusive education remains rare and mainstream schools often lack the necessary resources, trained staff, or accommodations like sign language interpreters to support DHH students effectively.

Although some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and international development projects have launched inclusive education models and VSL instruction, these efforts are not yet widespread or government-mandated. The lack of early exposure to VSL and insufficient teacher training contribute to lower literacy and academic performance among Deaf students compared to their hearing peers.

Barriers persist in higher education as well, where few universities offer sign language interpretation or other support services for DHH students. These challenges reinforce educational inequities and restrict long-term academic opportunities for Deaf youth in Vietnam.

However, recent developments signal a shift toward more inclusive practices. In June 2024, the United Nations reviewed the Joint Programme Working Together for an Inclusive Future, which highlighted national commitments to inclusive education. The amended Intellectual Property Law of June 2022 includes provisions to make books abailable in accessible formats for individuals with print disabilities, while Vietnam's accession to the Marrakesh Treaty in December 20222 facilitated broader access to educational materials for students with visual and print disabilities. In February 2024, the Ministry of Education and Training collaborated with stakeholders to integrate disability-inclusive education on sexuality and to develop guidelines for Inclusive Education Resource Centers, aiming to strengthen inclusive and early childhood education services.

Employment

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals continue to face major obstacles when it comes to employment. These gaps include limited access to vocational training, workplace accommodations, and job placement support. These issues directly relate to Article 27 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which recognizes the right of persons with disabilities to work freely in a labor market that is open, inclusive, and accessible. Some studies and reports suggest that misconceptions about deaf individuals' capabilities may influence employer attitudes.

According to the 2022 Vietnam Labor Force Survey (VLFS), only 7.8% of people with severe disabilities are employed, compared to 78.2% of persons without disabilities. For people with moderate disabilities, the employment rate is still just 31.7%. This disparity is at odds with the principles outlined in Article 27, which calls for equal opportunity and treatment in employment, including in hiring, career advancement, and safe and healthy working conditions.

Many DHH individuals turn to self-employment, often due to limited access to wage jobs, interpreters, and workplace accommodations. The survey also found that family support low with 87% of women with severe disabilities saying their families were unsupportive of their work. Article 27 emphasizes that persons with disabilities should be supported in gaining and maintaining employment, including through access to training and reasonable accommodation.

Common needs include job search help, flexible schedules, and modified tasks. Yet, only 36% of men and 24% of women with disabilities said their accommodation needs were fully met.

While some NGOs offer job training and inclusive workplaces, these efforts remain small-scale. Expanding them through national policy could improve employment outcomes for the DHH community.

International Support and Employment Centers

In 2021, the Rochester Institute of Technology National Technical Institute for the Deaf (RIT/NTID), in partnership with institutions in the Philippines and Vietnam, received a $500,000 grant from the Nippon Foundation to create employment centers for DHH individuals. The center in Vietnam, located at Dong Nai University, provides career counseling, job placement, and support for employers. These centers aim to reduce unemployment and help companies create inclusive environments.

As Tomastine Sarchet of NTID noted, "There are still a lot of social attitudes that deaf people cannot be employed because of their disability. Instead, these deaf graduates are positive contributors to the gross national income of the country."

University Access: The Dong Nai Project

The Dong Nai project, launched in 2000 and funded by The Nippon Foundation, aimed to increase university access for Deaf individuals. The curriculum, taught in Ho Chi Minh City Sign Language and written Vietnamese, included interpreter support for non-signing instructors. Deaf students could pursue degrees in elementary education, with many becoming teachers. program graduates can complete a 1.5-year Bachelor of Arts program and become eligible for teaching positions nationwide.

Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment

Entrepreneurship offers an alternative path to employment for DHH individuals. Some successful businesses, such as the Reaching Out Teahouse in Hoi An, Vietnam, employ DHH individuals and create accessible work environments. However, barriers to entrepreneurship remain, including:

• Limited access to financial resources and loans.
• A lack of business training programs tailored to DHH individuals.
• Social stigmas and communication barriers with clients and suppliers.

Despite these challenges, recent initiatives have highlighted emerging progress. The Deafinitely Doing It blog series, launched by Nguyen Tran Thuy Tien of PARAD Vietnam with support of a Giving Joy grant, features Deaf women entrepreneurs in Vietnam and promotes awareness of Deaf-led businesses. The project aims to challenge commonly held assumptions in Vietnamese society, as noted by advocacy groups such as PARAD Vietnam.

Some global surveys have indicated a slightly higher rate of entrepreneurship among Deaf women compared to their hearing peers (3.2% vs 2.8%) in Vietnam.

Economic Impact of Exclusion

A 2006 study by Sebastian Buckup estimated that excluding people with disabilities from Vietnam's labor force cost the country roughly $1.82 billion. A 2010 report by the Institute of Labor Science, with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), echoed this finding and advocated for greater investment in social protections and inclusive employment policies.

Transportation

DHH individuals are legally permitted to obtain driver's licenses in Vietnam. However, private transportation costs and limited access to accessible public transportation can restrict job opportunities.