RIGHTS OF CHILDREN
1. Right to life
Children have the right to be protected with respect to their life, and to be ensured the best conditions for living and development.
2. Right to birth registration and nationality
Children have the right to birth and death registration, to have a surname and given name, a nationality; the right to determination of their parents, ethnicity, and gender in accordance with the law.
3. Right to health care
Children have the right to the best attainable health care, and to priority access to, and use of, preventive and curative health services.
4. Right to care and nurture
Children have the right to care and nurture for their holistic development.
5. Right to education, study and talent development
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Children have the right to education and study for their comprehensive development and for maximizing their own potential.
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Children have equal opportunities in education and study; the right to develop their talents, aptitudes, creativity, and inventions.
6. Right to recreation and entertainment
Children have the right to recreation and entertainment; and equal opportunities to participate in cultural, artistic, physical training, sports and tourism activities suitable to their age.
7. Right to preservation and promotion of identity
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Children have the right to have their personal characteristics and values respected in accordance with their age and cultural identity, and to recognition of family relations.
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Children have the right to use their spoken and written language, to preserve identity, and to promote cultural traditions, customs and practices of their own nation.
8. Right to freedom of belief and religion
Children have the right to freedom of belief and religion, to follow or not follow any religion, and to be guaranteed safety for the best interests of the child.
9. Right to property
Children have the right to ownership, inheritance and other rights over property in accordance with the law.
10. Right to privacy
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Children have the right to inviolability of their privacy, personal secrets and family secrets, for their best interests.
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Children are protected by law with respect to honor, dignity, reputation, and the confidentiality of correspondence, telephone conversations, telegrams, and other forms of private communication; and are protected against unlawful interference with private information.
11. Right to live with parents
Children have the right to live with their parents; to be cared for, nurtured and educated by both parents, unless separated in accordance with the law or for the best interests of the child.
Where separation from parents is necessary, children are entitled to assistance in maintaining relations and contact with their parents and family, unless contrary to the child’s best interests.
12. Right to reunion, contact and communication with parents
Children have the right to know their biological parents, unless it is contrary to their best interests; to maintain relations and communication with both parents when the child and parents reside in different countries, or when detained, deported; to be facilitated in exit and entry for reunion with parents; to be protected from unlawful transfer abroad; and to receive information when parents go missing.
13. Right to alternative care and adoption
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Children are entitled to alternative care when they no longer have parents; are not permitted or unable to live with biological parents; or are affected by natural disasters, calamities or armed conflicts, for their safety and best interests.
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Children are entitled to adoption in accordance with the law on adoption.
14. Right to protection from sexual abuse
Children have the right to be protected against all forms of sexual abuse.
15. Right to protection from labor exploitation
Children have the right to be protected against all forms of labor exploitation; not to work before the lawful age, overtime, or in heavy, hazardous, or dangerous jobs; not to be assigned work or workplaces detrimental to their personality and holistic development.
16. Right to protection from violence, abandonment, neglect
Children have the right to be protected against all forms of violence, abandonment and neglect detrimental to their holistic development.
17. Right to protection from trafficking, abduction, substitution and appropriation
Children have the right to be protected against all forms of trafficking, abduction, substitution and appropriation.
18. Right to protection from narcotic substances
Children have the right to be protected from all forms of illicit use, production, transportation, trading or possession of narcotic substances.
19. Right to protection in legal proceedings and administrative handling
Children have the right to protection in legal proceedings and administrative handling; guaranteed the right to defense and self-defense; protection of their lawful rights and interests; entitlement to legal aid; to express opinions; not to be unlawfully deprived of liberty; not to be subjected to torture, coercion, corporal punishment, humiliation, bodily harm, psychological pressure or other forms of abuse.
20. Right to protection in disasters, calamities, environmental pollution, armed conflicts
Children have the right to priority protection and assistance by all means to escape the impacts of disasters, calamities, environmental pollution, and armed conflicts.
21. Right to social security
Vietnamese child citizens have the right to social security in accordance with the law, suitable to the socio-economic conditions of their residence and of their parents or caregivers.
22. Right to access information and participate in social activities
Children have the right to timely and adequate access to information suitable for them; the right to seek and receive information in all lawful forms; and to participate in social activities appropriate to their age, maturity, needs and capacity.
23. Right to express opinions and to assembly
Children have the right to express opinions and aspirations on matters related to them; to freely assemble in accordance with the law, suitable to their age, maturity and development; and to have their legitimate opinions and aspirations listened to, considered and responded to by competent agencies, organizations, educational establishments, families and individuals.
24. Rights of children with disabilities
Children with disabilities are entitled to all the rights of children and the rights of persons with disabilities in accordance with the law; to special support, care and education for functional rehabilitation, self-reliance and social integration.
25. Rights of stateless children, asylum-seeking and refugee children
Stateless children residing in Viet Nam, and asylum-seeking and refugee children, are entitled to protection and humanitarian assistance, and to tracing of parents and family in accordance with Vietnamese law and treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam is a party.
DUTIES OF CHILDREN
1. Duties towards family
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To respect, show filial piety and courtesy to grandparents and parents; to love, care for and share feelings and aspirations with parents and family members.
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To study, train, preserve family traditions, and assist parents and family members with age-appropriate tasks.
2. Duties towards schools, social relief establishments and other educational institutions
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To respect teachers, officials, and staff of schools, social relief establishments and other educational institutions.
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To show love, solidarity, share difficulties, respect and assist peers.
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To practice morality, self-study, and fulfill study and training obligations under the programs and plans of schools and other educational institutions.
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To preserve and protect property and comply fully with rules and regulations of schools, social relief establishments and other educational institutions.
3. Duties towards community and society
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To show respect and courtesy to the elderly; to care for and assist the elderly, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, young children and those in difficult circumstances within their ability, health and age.
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To respect the rights, honor and dignity of others; comply with traffic safety regulations and social order and safety; protect, preserve and use property, resources, and protect the environment in accordance with their ability and age.
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To detect, inform, notify, and denounce violations of law.
4. Duties towards homeland and country
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To love their homeland and country, fellow citizens, and to be conscious of national construction and defense; to respect national history and traditions; to preserve national identity and promote fine customs, practices, traditions and culture of the homeland and country.
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To comply with and observe the law; to unite, cooperate and exchange with international friends and children appropriate to their age and developmental stage.
5. Duties towards themselves
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To be responsible for themselves; not to harm their body, honor, dignity, or property.
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To live honestly and modestly; to maintain hygiene and practice physical training.
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To study diligently, not to drop out of school, not to abandon family to live a wandering life.
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Not to gamble; not to buy, sell, use alcohol, beer, tobacco and addictive or stimulant substances.
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Not to use or disseminate products with violent or pornographic content; not to use toys or play games harmful to their sound development.
Legal Basis: Chapter II – Law on Children (2016).
