Despite falling seven spots from last year, the country still is ahead of other countries in the region such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.  

The index is a part of Save the Children's annual State of the World’s Mothers report, now in its fifteenth year, comparing 178 countries around the globe, showing which are succeeding – and which are failing – in saving and improving the lives of mothers and children. Overall, Finland was ranked the best place to be a mother for the second straight year in a row, while Somalia came in last.

The report shows that maternal and child mortality rates in the most challenged countries of the world can be dramatically cut when efforts are made to improve services for mothers and children. Over the past 15 years, Vietnam has seen its maternal mortality rate cut in half, child mortality decreased by a quarter, expected years of schooling increased by 1.5 years and gross national income per capita increased almost four-fold.

“Vietnam has made tremendous progress in maternal and child health over the past 15 years. This is a result of strong political will and willingness to invest in healthcare, amongst other essential services for children,” said Gunnar Andersen, Country Director for Save the Children in Vietnam. “But we should also be concerned about the dip in its rankings.”

This year’s State of the World’s Mothers report focuses on mothers in humanitarian crises in order to better understand and respond to their needs in such difficult circumstances. Mothers in humanitarian crises are often faced with a multitude of obstacles to keeping their children healthy – such as physical and economic access to essential services – while their own vulnerability to poverty, malnutrition, sexual violence, unplanned pregnancy and unassisted childbirth are greatly increased.

“Vietnam is vulnerable to destructive typhoons and seasonal floods, which have become more severe in recent years with climate change. It has caused widespread destruction of homes, losses in crops, livestock and damages to other assets such as tractors in the worst-affected areas, which in turn can cause a spike in malnutrition, school dropouts, and a decrease in usage of paid health services,” said Gunnar Andersen.