Migration dynamics and nutritional outcomes in a lower middle-income country: evidence from Vietnam

Migration is a significant economic phenomenon in developing countries, and remittances from migrant workers have been recognized as a crucial source of income for households. A new study by Dr. Vo Tat Thang, HAPRI's Director, together with Nguyen Thi Bich Hien, Tran My Huyen, and Vu Ngoc Tan, examines the impact of different types of migration on household nutritional consumption in Vietnam.

Vietnam has experienced significant waves of migration, coinciding with periods of economic restructuring. Following the Đổi Mới reforms of the late 1980s, migration rates increased substantially, driven by widening disparities between urban and rural areas. While existing studies have explored migration's nutritional impacts, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding the relationship at the household level — particularly how different migration types (short-term vs. long-term, labor vs. non-labor) differentially shape food consumption patterns.

Framework for the relationship between migration and household nutrition

Using panel data from the Vietnam Household Living Standards Survey (VHLSS) between 2016 and 2018, the analysis focuses on how migration influences household consumption patterns — particularly for purchased food, home-produced food, and gifts. Unlike previous studies, this research addresses the issue of food away from home (FAFH) by using inflation-adjusted monetary values. Both linear and Poisson regressions with household fixed effects are employed to control for time-invariant unobservable factors.

The key findings suggest:

• Short-term migration is associated with a decrease in household food consumption, particularly in home-produced food, as the household loses labor for farming and food preparation

• Long-term migration significantly increases both nutritional intake and household food production, as sustained remittance flows allow families to invest in food purchasing and agricultural productivity

• Households with long-term labor migrants demonstrate a greater ability to diversify food sources and enhance their overall dietary quality through income from remittances

• The results underline the importance of remittances and migration patterns in shaping household consumption behaviors and nutritional welfare in developing economies

These findings carry important policy implications for Vietnam and similar lower middle-income countries. Policies that support long-term labor migration through improved labor market access and safe migration channels can contribute to household food security. Simultaneously, targeted interventions are needed to support short-term migrant households that may face temporary nutritional shortfalls due to reduced home food production.

Keywords:

• Migration

• Household Model

• Nutrition

• Consumption

• Vietnam

Link:

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01154-z

Citation:

Vo, T.T., Nguyen, T.B.H., Tran, M.H., & Vu, N.T. (2025). Migration dynamics and nutritional outcomes in a lower middle-income country: evidence from Vietnam. Globalization and Health, 21, 58. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-025-01154-z