Starting October 1, 2025, single women in Vietnam will be legally entitled to access assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), including in vitro fertilization (IVF), purely based on personal choice, according to a newly issued government decree. This landmark regulation marks a significant advancement in reproductive rights and family autonomy in the country.
The decree, officially promulgated on July 15, 2025, under number 207/2025/ND-CP, affirms that single women no longer require medical justification or a specialist’s recommendation to pursue procedures such as IVF or egg freezing.
This regulatory update replaces the earlier Decree 10/2015/ND-CP, which limited access to ARTs for single women to cases with medical necessity. The new policy aligns Vietnam with evolving societal norms that recognize diverse family models, including single motherhood by choice.
Moreover, the decree extends reproductive options for single women by permitting access to donated embryos when they lack viable oocytes, broadening the scope of ARTs available.
Guiding Principles and Conditions for ARTs and Surrogacy
Article 3 of the decree lays out key principles governing the use of ARTs and humanitarian surrogacy. These include:
- Donations of sperm, oocytes, and embryos must occur through licensed facilities.
- Each donation is restricted to assisting a single recipient woman or couple.
- Donor and recipient identities must remain confidential.
- ARTs are accessible to infertile couples, medically indicated patients, and single women desiring children.
- The privacy of intended parents, surrogate mothers, and children born through surrogacy is protected under the law.
In addition to expanding ART access, the decree also specifies strict criteria for medical centers authorized to conduct humanitarian surrogacy. Facilities must demonstrate a minimum of two years’ IVF experience and have performed at least 500 IVF cycles annually in the two years prior to application.
Required personnel include an obstetrician-gynecologist as a medical consultant, a psychological consultant holding relevant qualifications, and a legal consultant with at least a bachelor’s degree in law. While the medical consultant must be on staff, psychological and legal consultants may be affiliated experts.
Approval procedures for licensing these facilities are governed by existing medical regulations and require documentation confirming compliance with all stipulated conditions. Licensing decisions fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministers of Health, National Defense, and Public Security, depending on the facility’s management.
This comprehensive decree signifies Vietnam’s progressive move toward reproductive autonomy, supporting single women’s rights and recognizing the complexity of modern family structures.
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