Vietnam to levy higher fine of up to $570 for revealing fetal sex from May 15

The imposition is in line with the government’s Decree 90/2026, which amends and supplements regulations on administrative violations in the population sector.

The new decree, effective from May 15, replaces several provisions of Decree 117/2020 and sharply increases fines for disclosing fetal sex, intervening to select a child’s gender, and terminating pregnancies for sex-selection purposes.

Under Article 98 of the new decree, fortune-telling or other practices used to predict fetal sex shall carry fines ranging from VND5 million to VND7 million ($190 - $266), up from the previous VND3 million to VND5 million ($114-$266).

Medical practitioners who use pulse diagnosis, ultrasound scans, or laboratory tests to determine and disclose the sex of a fetus, except in cases permitted by law, shall face fines of VND7 million to VND15 million, and have their operating licenses or professional certificates suspended for one to three months.

Tougher sanctions for sex-selective abortion

Article 99 of the decree introduces stricter punishment for coercive acts related to fetal sex selection.

Those who threaten or intimidate another person into choosing a fetus’s sex shall be fined VND7 million to VND15 million, while the use of violence to force such decisions shall be subject to penalties of VND15 million to VND20 million ($570 -$760).

The decree also raises fines for those who prescribe, instruct, or provide drugs and equipment intended for fetal sex selection.

Violators shall face fines of VND20 million to VND25 million ($760-$951), compared with the previous VND15 million to VND20 million.

Penalties related to sex-selective abortion have also been raised considerably.

Individuals who terminate a pregnancy because of fetal sex selection shall be fined between VND5 million and VND7 million ($190 - $266), up from VND3 million to VND5 million ($114-$266).

Those who persuade or pressure pregnant women to undergo abortions for gender preference reasons may face fines of VND7 million to VND10 million ($266-$380).

Using violence to force a pregnant woman to terminate a fetus because of its sex is punishable by fines of VND10 million to VND15 million ($380-$570).

Meanwhile, supplying or instructing the use of chemicals or drugs for sex-selective abortion shall incur fines of up to VND25 million ($951).

The harshest penalty applies to medical professionals who perform abortions while knowingly aware that the pregnancy is being terminated due to fetal sex preference.

The act shall face fines of VND25 million to VND30 million ($951-$1,140), a substantial increase from the previous VND15 million to VND20 million.

In addition to financial penalties, the decree includes revoking professional licenses or operating permits for three to six months for those providing chemicals or drugs used in sex-selective abortion, and for six to 12 months for those conducting abortions linked to gender selection.

Pharmacies and drug providers found violating the regulations may also have their pharmaceutical business eligibility certificates revoked or face suspension for one to three months.

Persistent gender imbalance raises concerns

According to the Vietnam Population Authority under the Ministry of Health, the country began experiencing a gender imbalance at birth in 2006, when the ratio reached 109.8 boys for every 100 girls, exceeding the natural rate of 104 to 106 boys per 100 girls.

Since 2012, the ratio has consistently remained above 112 boys per 100 girls.

The imbalance has been particularly pronounced in several provinces in the Red River Delta.

If the trend continues, Vietnam could face a surplus of some 1.5 million men by 2034 and 2.5 million by 2059.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s investigation conducted in early 2025 found that services offering fertility treatment combined with fetal sex selection were still operating discreetly.

Couples seeking to choose the sex of their child were reportedly offered consultation and support.

For fees ranging from VND200 million to VND250 million ($7,615 - $9,520), some obstetric specialists at private clinics and hospitals were allegedly willing to perform IVF procedures combined with embryo gender screening upon request.