Vietnam infant nutrition market

Trang Phan
Oct 17, 2025

Vietnam infant nutrition market: Vietnamese mothers know that the first 1,000 days, from conception to a child’s second birthday, are critical for long-term health. This window is where nutrition, protection, and parental choices leave lifelong imprints.

  • Across this journey, mothers must make hundreds of decisions:
  • Feeding: balancing breastfeeding, formula, and eventually solids.
  • Nutrition: choosing between local and international brands, clean labels, or fortified options.
  • Protection: deciding when, where, and how to vaccinate.

How Vietnamese mothers shape nutrition and protection in early childhood

Cimigo’s report on Vietnam mother care and baby care, is based on 1,500 mothers in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and Can Tho, reveals how cultural traditions, modern science, and maternal aspirations shape these choices. For brands, success depends on aligning with mothers’ demand for trust, safety, and proof in every stage of this journey.

Vietnam infant formula and the Vietnam growing-up milk market

In Vietnam, infant formula is central, not secondary. Even in a breastfeeding-first culture, formula is central to daily routines. By age two, 87% of infants have used formula milk. Powdered formats dominate, but liquid and fresh milk gain importance as children grow.

  • Infants: digestion and brain development (DHA, probiotics).
  • Toddlers: immunity and physical growth (calcium, vitamins).
  • Preschoolers: convenience and emotional well-being (ready-to-drink, fortified milk).

Vietnam infant formula and Vietnam growing-up milk: Fragmented brand loyalties

No single brand dominates the Vietnam infant nutrition market. Instead:

  • Meiji and NAN Supreme win trust with infants.
  • Abbott Grow and PediaSure gain traction with toddlers.
  • TH True Milk and Vinamilk lead in fresh milk for older children.
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This fragmented Vietnam infant nutrition market landscape reflects mothers’ reliance on peer reviews, ingredient trust, and regional preferences. Ingredient trust as a loyalty driver, Vietnamese mothers want:

  • Additive-free, chemical-free products for infants.
  • Clinically proven nutrients like DHA, calcium, and probiotics for older kids.
  • With regional priorities varying, Hanoi emphasises low sugar, Danang leans on probiotics, and HCMC mothers look for certifications.

For brands in Vietnam infant formula and Vietnam growing-up milk, ingredient trust is the true currency of loyalty.

Cultural preferences shape weaning habits. When it comes to introducing solids, mothers follow culturally rooted but modernising practices:

  • Traditional spoon-fed weaning dominates in Hanoi.
  • Japanese-style weaning, slow, step-based, natural taste, is gaining traction in HCMC.
  • Flexible feeding is growing across cities, adapting to children’s pace.

 51% of weaning-stage babies consume powdered food. Yoghurt and cheese become more common as children grow into toddlerhood. Ridielac leads in HCMC (57% share), while HiPP and Happy Baby each capture 24% in Hanoi.

Vietnam weaning habits are not just about nutrition. They are about confidence, reassurance, and alignment with cultural feeding practices.

  • Under 6 months: purity and immunity.
  • Older toddlers: variety, taste, fortified nutrition.
  • Regional cues, certification matters more in HCMC, natural origin resonates in Hanoi.

Vietnam infant vaccinations: Protecting with trust

Vietnam infant vaccination choices reveal both economic reality and cultural trust. In HCMC and Hanoi, private centres dominate, valued for service and comfort. In Danang and Can Tho, public centres remain strong and trusted for affordability and state backing.

Younger children are often vaccinated in public centres. By preschool, many mothers shift to private providers seeking shorter waits and added services. Vaccine priorities differ by region.

  • Hanoi and Danang: high uptake of 5-in-1 vaccines.
  • HCMC: polio and tuberculosis dominate.
  • Tiger mums: lean heavily toward combination vaccines (5-in-1, 6-in-1).
  • Practical mums: spread across individual vaccines like pneumococcus.

This shows the need for understanding and messaging by city, child’s age, and parenting mindset for vaccine brands and providers.

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Vietnam infant nutrition market: The first 1,000 days of an infant in Vietnam define a lifetime

A Vietnamese infant’s journey through milk, solids, and vaccinations reveals a unifying truth: mothers do not see these as isolated categories. They see them as connected steps toward raising capable, resilient children.

  • Breastfeeding and formula: foundational nutrition and immunity.
  • Weaning and solids: confidence in variety, taste, and physical growth.
  • Vaccinations: peace of mind and long-term protection.

Each stage builds on the last, making trust, consistency, and reassurance the glue that binds a mother’s loyalty.

Top insights for Vietnam infant nutrition market

Infant formula is central, not secondary: 87% of infants use formula by age two. Segment nutrition offers by age: digestion support for infants, immunity for toddlers, and convenience formats for preschoolers.

Purity vs. variety: Mums of infants under 6 months focus on purity and immunity; toddler mums seek variety and fortified taste.

No single brand dominates: Meiji and NAN Supreme win in infancy, Abbott Grow and PediaSure in toddlerhood, Vinamilk and TH True Milk later. Target fragmented loyalty with infant development stages and region-specific campaigns.

Ingredient trust is non-negotiable: Clean-label, chemical-free for infants; DHA, calcium, and probiotics for older children. Tailor claims by region: low sugar in Hanoi, probiotics in Danang, certifications in HCMC.

Vietnam weaning habits reflect Vietnamese culture: Traditional weaning dominates in Hanoi, Japanese-style in HCMC. Local brands like Ridielac thrive on familiarity, while HiPP and Happy Baby win Hanoi’s premium space. There is a constant balancing of the friction between tradition and modernity.

Vietnam infant vaccination choices: Private centres dominate HCMC and Hanoi for convenience; public centres dominate Danang and Can Tho for affordability. Messaging must align with local drivers.

Parenting styles shape uptake: Tiger mums embrace combination vaccines and structured feeding routines; Caring mums prioritise safety and reassurance; Discovery mums lean into variety. Tailor brand stories to different parental mindsets.

Omnichannel presence and trust are key: Con Cung, Kids Plaza, and official e-commerce stores remain must-have channels. Peer reviews, KOL endorsements, and certifications weigh more than ads.

Education choices: Mothers want to feel supported, not judged. Invest in science-backed storytelling plus peer validation to drive adoption.

The first 1,000 days are the trust window: Formula, solids, and vaccinations are connected. Brands that show consistency across these stages can win not just sales but also enduring loyalty.

Earning Vietnamese mothers’ trust in the first 1,000 days

Vietnamese mothers’ decisions on nutrition and protection are deeply interconnected. The first 1,000 days are not about survival; they are about setting children up for growth, immunity, intelligence, and confidence.

For brands, this is both a responsibility and an opportunity. Success comes from superior products plus cultural empathy, showing mothers that you understand how formula, Vietnam weaning habits, baby foods and vaccinations fit into their broader parenting journey.

This is how brands do not just win purchases but earn trust for life.

Unlock deeper insights now

For more insights on infant formula and other mother-care and baby-care categories, such as diapers and education, visit AskCimigo and interrogate the report with our AI assistant.

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If you have any questions or specific needs, please get in touch with us at ask@cimigo.com.

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