Vietnam's LGBTQ+ community is gaining public support, but legal recognition is moving far more slowly. Pride events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City offer a telling measure of that gap, as public marches have been absent for a second year and same-sex couples still lack the legal protections marriage brings.
Pride is visible, but the march is missing
Vietnam's Pride celebrations have grown since VietPride began in 2012, spreading at one point to more than 30 cities and provinces. Yet this year's events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, held from 26 September to 4 October, were largely based indoors. The familiar spectacle of a giant rainbow flag moving through downtown Ho Chi Minh City was missing again. [3], [4]
That absence matters. A public march is more than a colourful photo opportunity: it gives LGBTQ+ people and supporters a chance to be seen together. Organisers cited unprecedented pressure on people involved in Pride activities, though the precise reason for the parade's cancellation remains unclear. [3], [4]
A decade after the marriage law changed, couples remain in limbo
In 2015, Vietnam removed its formal ban on same-sex marriage, a change that drew international attention. But it stopped short of recognising same-sex marriages in law, leaving couples able to hold ceremonies without receiving a legal marriage certificate. [7]
The result is a long-running halfway point: same-sex relationships aren't prohibited, but couples don't receive the legal status and protections that come with marriage. Earlier UN communications on sexual orientation and gender identity also underline why protection from discrimination remains an important part of the wider equality debate. [5], [6]
Public attitudes are moving faster than policy
There are signs that Vietnamese society is becoming more accepting. A 2025 UN Development Programme survey found that 65 per cent of respondents supported same-sex marriage, up from 37 per cent in 2013. That shift suggests public opinion is not standing still, even as legal change remains slow. [4]
Pride gatherings and community campaigns have also helped make LGBTQ+ lives more visible in public discussion. UNDP's account of Pride and progress in Vietnam points to the role of community activity in advancing inclusion, while UN statements have repeatedly highlighted the need to prevent violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. [4], [5], [6]
Why gradual change can still leave people behind
Vietnam's cautious approach may reflect a desire to avoid provoking social backlash, but it has a cost. When the law leaves couples in limbo, people can mistake the absence of a ban for equality, even though same-sex couples still lack legal recognition. [3], [6]
Economic progress alone won't resolve that gap. If Vietnam wants its promise of leaving no one behind to mean something in daily life, legal protections and public education need to advance alongside growth. Consultation with LGBTQ+ organisations could help turn broad support into practical changes, rather than leaving equality as an aspiration. [4], [6]
The road to marriage equality in Vietnam remains long, but growing public support makes it harder to argue that the issue can simply wait. [3], [4]
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