This report presents an assessment of the economic impact of the pandemic on vulnerable groups, households and enterprises based on information produced by the Government of Viet Nam, other international development partners and the United Nations agencies in Viet Nam. It  is aimed at helping to inform the Government of Viet Nam’s response and recovery to COVID-19.

The studies cited in the report include an assessment conducted by UNDP-UNWOMEN of the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable households and enterprises; a UNICEF rapid assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on children and their families; a survey by IFAD-ADB-IPSARD on the Impact of the pandemic on the incomes of rural households; and a UNIDO survey of firms in a number of countries, including Viet Nam, to gather information on the impact of COVID-19 and the responses of enterprises.

The report provides (i) an update on the epidemiological situation and Viet Nam’s COVID-19 response; (ii) a review of the global and regional economic context including the role of economic imbalances that predated the pandemic on the impact on the recovery; (iii) a summary of the economic impact of COVID-19 in Viet Nam; (iv) estimations of the loss of income and employment, focusing on micro and small businesses and vulnerable workers and their families, while exploring the impact on specific vulnerable groups, including migrants, people living in remote and underserved areas, ethnic minorities, people with underlying health conditions, people with disabilities and others.