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Nearly 9,000 women have received rewards of 3 to 5 million dong for bearing two children before the age of 35. The policy is being applied more widely across Ho Chi Minh City. According to the Government portal citing the City Population Department, the city has transferred 5 million dong per recipient to 1,310 mothers who gave birth to two children between September 1, 2025 and April 15, 2026. Additionally, 7,650 other women received a 3 million dong reward for having a second child during the period from late 2024 to the end of August 2025. City authorities are funding these incentives to encourage higher fertility because the birth rate (the average number of children per woman of reproductive age) is currently 1.51. Although this figure rose modestly from 1.43 in 2024, it remains at a concerning level. Beyond the cash rewards, from April 15, 2026 to May 30, 2026, residents will also have access to health services at their place of residence instead of having to go to higher-level hospitals. The program aims to help couples prepare the best possible health and financial footing when deciding to have children, in anticipation of the Population Law taking effect from July 1, 2026.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…
