The study results revealed not only a tendency of rapid poverty alleviations, but also indicated income improvement and better standards of living of rural people. Level of expenditure has increased for all social strata; the amount of expenses has been found greater for many households. | Vietnam Social Sciences, No. 1(159) - 2014 AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT SOCIO-CULTURAL LIFE IN THE RURAL AREA OF VIETNAM BUI QUANG DUNG * DO THIEN KINH** DANG THI VIET PHUONG*** Abstract: Over the 25 years of Doi Moi, despite the significant achievement in economic growth, the material and spiritual life of rural residents in Vietnam remains disproportionately poor. These have resulted in many critical social problems. The paper serves as an assessment of the five-year implementation of the Party’s Resolution to configure the cultural and social portrait of rural Vietnam nowadays. The study results revealed not only a tendency of rapid poverty alleviations, but also indicated income improvement and better standards of living of rural people. Level of expenditure has increased for all social strata; the amount of expenses has been found greater for many households. Social positivity of rural residents has also been observed through their participation in political social organizations and voluntary associations which provided a network of support and protection for the people themselves. This has put forward new policy requirements to develop rural culture towards advancement, modernity and national rich identity. Key words: poverty reduction, expenditure, social networks, social security, culture, education. After more than 20 years of reform, agriculture, peasantry and rural area of Vietnam have witnessed all-round changes and achievements. Agricultural production has been rapidly growing and developing into a commodity sector. Material and spiritual life in most rural areas has been increasingly improved with significant achievements in hunger eradication and poverty reduction. The rural political system has been strengthened while political security and social order and safety have been closely maintained. However, these 18 achievements have not yet to match the potentials and advantages of the country in general and the rural area in .
