The Institute for Family and Gender Studies, with the first name of the Center for Women’s Studies, was officially established in March 1987 under Decision 95/KHXH-QD of the Chairman of the Vietnam Committee for Social Sciences (now the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences). This first institution in Vietnam to study women’s issues has marked the birth of a new scientific discipline in Vietnam, which is research on women. With the agreement of the President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, in the morning of March 25, 2017, in Hanoi, the Institute for Family and Gender Studies (IFGS) solemnly held the 30th anniversary of its establishment (1987-2017) and the receipt of the Third-Class Labour Medal. Attending the ceremony, on the side of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences are: Prof. Dr. Nguyen Quang Thuan, Party Secretary and President of the Academy; Prof. Academician Nguyen Duy Quy - Former Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Former Director of the National Center for Social Sciences and Humanities (formerly known as the Academy); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Nhat Quang, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Deputy Secretary of the Party, Vice President of the Academy; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Nguyen Anh, Vice President of the Academy; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Duc Cuong, Former Vice-President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; representatives of the advisory bodies for the President of the Academy, leaders of specialized institutes and centers attached to the Academy. On the side of the central agencies and agencies are Mrs. Le Thi Nguyet, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Social Affairs of the National Assembly; Dr. Tran Tuyet Anh, Director of the Family Department, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Pham Ngoc Tien, Director of Gender Equality Department, Ministry of Labour-Invalids and Social Affairs, representative of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women in Vietnam; Dr. Tran Quang Tien, Director of the Vietnam Women’s Academy; Dr. Do Thanh Ha, Director of the Institute for Public Opinion Research, Central Committee for Propaganda and Education; Ms. Lo Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Director, National Committee for Religions, Vietnam Women’s Union; On behalf of the research and training institutions outside the Academy, there are representatives of the Institute of Sociology (Ho Chi Minh National Political Academy); Institute of Labor and Social Science (Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs); The Vietnam Sociology Association; Ethnic Institute (Ethnic Committee); Institute of Social Opinion Research (Central Propaganda Department); Institute for Population and Social Studies (National Economics University); Faculty of Sociology (University of Social Sciences and Humanities); Faculty of Sociology (Academy of Journalism and Communication); Department of Family and Social Work (University of Culture); and representatives of the institutes and centers of Vietnam Union of Science and Technology. On behalf of international delegates, there are representatives of the US Social Science Research Council in Vietnam; UN Women in Viet Nam; Vietnam-Japan University; and other academics, researchers as well as scientists and experts in the field of family and gender research. On the side of the IFGS were the presence of Prof. Le Thi, the IFGS’s founder and the first leader; and leaders and of staffs of various generations who have been working since the establishment of the Institute. Addressing at the anniversary, Prof. Nguyen Huu Minh, Director of the IFGS, has summarized the process of establishment, stages of development and research achievements of the Institute. With the efforts over the past 30 years, the Institute was honored to receive the Third-class Labour Medal (2017), the Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister (2007) and of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (2010, 2011, 2013, 2016). At the ceremony, authorized by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Prof. Nguyen Quang Thuan, Secretary of the Party Committee, President of the Academy awarded the Third-class Labour Medal to the Institute and the Second Class Labor Medal to Prof.Dr. Nguyen Huu Minh for excellent achievements in scientific research and policy consultation to the cause of socialist construction and national defense. Speaking at the ceremony, President Nguyen Quang Thuan warmly congratulated and affirmed that the noble awards given by the Party and State were the appreciation of the results and contributions of the IFGS in scientific research, policy advice, and training of high quality human resources in the field of family and gender during the past 30 years. The president also emphasized that the Second Class Labour Medal is a very noble reward not only for Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Minh but also the joy of all cadres and civil servants of the IFGS. In addition, he raised a number of issues that the Institute should focus on in the coming time to build the Institute to become the leading research institution on family and gender. On this occasion, the Institute also received many bouquets of flowers and congratulatory messages from the Party, State, relevant Ministries and Departments and the Academy. At the end of the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Minh would like to thank the congratulations and appraisals of the delegates and distinguished guests for the achievements the Institute has achieved during 30 years of formation and development. It is an important baseline for the Institute staff to review obstacles and share archievements. These have created a solid foundation for the IFGS to make continuous contributions to family and gender research as well as gender equality in the family and the whole society.

Abstract: This paper examines change in practice for antenatal care and the impact of donor supported maternal and child interventions in the three surveyed provinces in Vietnam. A total of about 2,573 cases of mothers aged 15-49 who gave birth from 2003-2014 were analyzed. Multivariate regressions were done to determine which independent variables are associated with maternal care practices. Findings show that in general percentage of antenatal care behaviors of women in surveyed communes is increased after 5 years. Intervention impacts are clearer for women with higher education. Mother’s education, occupation, living standard and year of birth have significant effect: more antenatal care for recent birth; higher education mother; saler and officers vs. farmers; Kinh women vs. ethnic minority; higher living standard. To improve antenatal care for Vietnamese mothers, especially for vulnerable ones, it is recommended that: provision of intervention medical projects for women in rural areas regarding safe motherhood should be continued; awareness of safe motherhood for women, especially for ethnic minority group, lower education and in poor households should be improved; living standard and education for women should be improved.

Abstract: The article thorouhgly reviews a Marx and Engels’ ground-breaking work on the history of the family, namely “The Origins of the Family, Private Property and the State”. In this important work, and basic reference point in Marxist feminism, Engels and Marx not only showed connections between patriarchy and private property but also held that the key to women’s liberation laid in wage labour, which would in itself bring family equality. In Vietnam, it could be seen that during the socialist era, the Vietnamese government has issued a series of laws and policies in relation to marriage and the family. Although these efforts haven’t been able to bring in a full liberation for Vietnamese women from gender oppression, they have somewhat contributed in promoting gender equality and raising the status of women in the society.