Vietnam's population with an annual average growth rate of 2.1% grew from 52.7 million to 64.4 million during the inter censual period 1979–1989 and is expected to exceed 80 million by the next census in 1999. While modest increases in literacy were recorded overall the greatest improvements occurred in the literacy levels of women. Disparities between urban and rural school enrolments for both sexes showed slight reductions but female participation in secondary education still lagged behind male participation rates particularly at the senior levels in the countryside. Extending government family planning programs have played a modest but direct part in reducing crude population growth rates. However, extending schooling for females and a concomitant reduction in illiteracy rates could have an even greater impact on fertility behaviour during the present decade.