Social Prescribing and Domestic Violence in Viet Nam: When Might Community Connection Be Appropriate, and Why Must Survivor Safety and Specialist Support Come First?
VIET NAM CONTEXTIMPLEMENTATION & PRACTICE
Social Prescribing and Domestic Violence in Viet Nam: When Might Community Connection Be Appropriate, and Why Must Survivor Safety and Specialist Support Come First?
A woman tells a healthcare worker that she rarely meets her friends anymore. She used to enjoy a local community activity, but her partner now questions where she goes and whom she meets. He regularly checks her phone and becomes angry when she spends time outside the home.
Helping her reconnect with a community group might initially seem like a reasonable form of social prescribing. Yet an invitation, follow-up message or unexpected telephone call could create additional danger if her partner is monitoring her activities.
The problem is not simply that she has become socially isolated. Her circumstances suggest controlling behavior and a possible risk of domestic violence.
Social prescribing aims to connect people with appropriate non-clinical services and community resources. The World Health Organization's 2022 implementation toolkit describes how these connections may support health and well-being when developed around individual needs and local circumstances.[1]
However, an activity that helps someone feel connected in ordinary circumstances may not be safe for a person experiencing intimidation, coercion or abuse.
For Viet Nam, where the legal and institutional framework for domestic violence prevention and survivor support has continued to develop, the question is not whether social prescribing should become another domestic violence intervention.
It is whether ordinary community participation might sometimes complement established protection and specialist services without compromising the person's safety, choices or legal rights.
Domestic Violence Is More Than Social Isolation
Domestic violence can involve physical harm, sexual violence, psychological abuse, economic control and other conduct affecting a person's safety, dignity or independence.
It does not always leave visible injuries. Someone may be prevented from contacting relatives, threatened when making independent decisions, pressured to surrender control over money or subjected to repeated humiliation. Over time, controlling behavior can restrict participation in work, education and community life.
The World Health Organization recognizes violence against women, particularly intimate partner violence, as a major public health and human rights concern. Its June 2026 fact sheet describes the physical, psychological, sexual and reproductive health consequences associated with such violence.[2]
Intimate partner violence and domestic violence are related, but they are not identical concepts.
Intimate partner violence concerns abuse by a current or former intimate partner. Domestic violence under Vietnamese law covers specified conduct and relationships within the scope of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control.
Although women experience a substantial burden of intimate partner violence, domestic violence can also affect children, older adults, men, people with disabilities and others in different family circumstances.
Social disconnection may be a consequence of abuse, but it should not become the main explanation for the person's situation.
Someone who is being deliberately isolated may need confidential professional assistance, protection or access to a safe environment. Encouraging that person to become more socially active without considering their circumstances could overlook the source of the danger.
A community activity cannot resolve the underlying abuse. Responsibility for violent behavior remains with the person committing it, while competent authorities and specialist services retain their respective responsibilities for protection and assistance.
What Does the Vietnamese Evidence Tell Us?
Domestic violence is a documented concern in Viet Nam, although cases reported to authorities cannot fully describe its extent.
The National Study on Violence Against Women in Viet Nam 2019, published in 2020, provides an important national evidence base. The study was managed by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in collaboration with the General Statistics Office, with technical and financial support from UNFPA and the Government of Australia.[3]
It found that 62.9% of ever-married or partnered women surveyed had experienced at least one of the measured forms of violence or controlling behavior by a husband or partner during their lifetime. These included physical, sexual, emotional and economic violence, as well as controlling behaviors.
The study also identified substantial barriers to seeking assistance. Many women experiencing violence did not approach formal support services, while some had never disclosed what had happened to anyone.
These findings require careful interpretation.
They describe the population and experiences examined in the 2019 study. They are not a current prevalence estimate for 2026, nor do they represent every form of domestic violence affecting all genders, age groups and family relationships in Viet Nam.
Nevertheless, the findings help explain why simply making community activities more available cannot adequately address domestic violence.
Some people may fear retaliation, stigma, financial consequences or further restrictions on their independence. Others may have limited access to private communication or confidential assistance.
A person who does not disclose abuse to a community navigator should not be regarded as unwilling to engage. They may have good reasons for keeping their circumstances private.
Respectful support requires recognizing that people may not be ready or able to describe what is happening to them, particularly to someone whose role does not involve specialist protection.
Survivor Safety Must Come Before Community Participation
International guidance places safety, individual concerns and personal choice at the center of responses to violence.
WHO's clinical handbook for women subjected to intimate partner or sexual violence identifies immediate physical and emotional health needs, ongoing safety concerns and access to continuing support as important areas for healthcare professionals to address.[4]
Its first-line support approach, known as LIVES, emphasizes listening without judgment, inquiring about needs and concerns, validating experiences, enhancing safety and supporting access to appropriate resources.
These principles are relevant to respectful care, but their professional context matters.
LIVES was developed to guide healthcare providers responding to disclosures of violence. Familiarity with the framework does not, by itself, authorize a social prescribing navigator, community volunteer or activity organizer to conduct an independent domestic violence risk assessment or provide specialist protection services.
People experiencing violence may require healthcare, specialist protection, legal assistance, authorized social-work services or other professional support.
Where there is an immediate threat to life or safety, appropriate emergency services and competent authorities must take priority. A navigator should not attempt to manage such situations through ordinary community referrals.
At the same time, survivor-centered practice does not mean that everyone experiencing domestic violence must be excluded from ordinary activities until all risks have disappeared.
Someone receiving specialist assistance may also wish to continue studying, working, exercising or participating in a community group.
The important question is whether that participation is genuinely wanted and can take place without creating unacceptable risks.
Where domestic violence is known or reasonably suspected, decisions involving safety should be addressed through appropriate professional and organizational arrangements rather than relying solely on a non-specialist navigator's judgment.
Why an Ordinary Community Referral May Create Harm
In many social prescribing pathways, introducing someone to a community activity is relatively straightforward. A navigator identifies an opportunity, explains what it offers and may help the person contact the organizer.
Domestic violence can make these routine steps unsafe.
Someone may share a phone with a family member who monitors messages or calls. An invitation from an unfamiliar organization could raise questions. A group photograph may reveal where the person has been, while an automated reminder might arrive when they are unable to communicate privately.
Even an activity unrelated to domestic violence could create difficulties.
A community group might include relatives or acquaintances connected to the person causing harm. Information about attendance could spread informally, particularly in a small community where people know one another.
These risks should not lead to automatic exclusion, which could further restrict the person's independence.
Instead, they demonstrate why community participation should not be arranged through a standard referral process without considering the individual's circumstances.
A suitable group is only one part of the decision. The way contact is made, information is shared and participation is organized may be equally important.
When safety concerns are present, these arrangements should be considered within an appropriate specialist-supported framework.
Community Connection Is Not a Domestic Violence Intervention
Ordinary community participation can offer opportunities for friendship, shared interests, learning and personal development.
Someone receiving specialist domestic violence support may also want to join a reading group, attend a cultural activity, learn a new skill or participate in a suitable recreational program.
These activities may be meaningful without being described as treatment for trauma or as formal domestic violence interventions.
The distinction matters because community organizations differ considerably in their purpose, competence and resources.
A local association may be experienced in organizing cultural activities but have no specialist training in domestic violence protection. A peer group may provide encouragement and shared experiences without being qualified to undertake risk assessment or psychological treatment.
Community organizers should not be expected to investigate abuse, manage threats, provide legal advice or mediate between the person experiencing violence and the person causing harm. Such expectations could endanger participants and place inappropriate responsibilities on the organization.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) emphasizes coordinated responses, professional competence and access to specialist services in its guidance on domestic violence and abuse.[5]
Its 2014 guidance, which is undergoing an update, also recognizes that appropriate continuing support, including support groups, may be relevant according to an individual's circumstances.
However, ordinary community activities cannot replace the services responsible for assessing and responding to domestic violence.
Any contribution from social prescribing should therefore be considered supplementary rather than an alternative to protection.
What Does the Social Prescribing Evidence Support?
The international evidence on social prescribing has expanded, but findings from general programs should not automatically be applied to people experiencing domestic violence.
A global scoping review by Kisa and Kisa, published in Frontiers in Public Health in July 2026, identified 115 empirical studies across 16 countries.[6]
The review examined different delivery models, target populations, community activities and reported outcomes. Studies described improvements in areas including mental well-being, loneliness, confidence, social connectedness and everyday functioning, although findings varied across settings and study designs.
Clinical and health-system outcomes were less consistent. Approximately 64% of the included studies came from the United Kingdom, which limits the direct transferability of findings to other healthcare and community systems.
The review mapped reported outcomes and implementation experiences. It did not establish that social prescribing is an effective domestic violence intervention.
Evidence that community participation may improve social connection in some populations cannot demonstrate that the same activity is safe or effective for someone experiencing coercion, intimidation or violence.
The outcomes being considered are also different.
An ordinary social prescribing program may examine participation, satisfaction or subjective well-being. A domestic violence response must also consider safety, legal protection, the risk of further harm and access to appropriate specialist assistance.
An improvement in social participation cannot be regarded as a positive outcome if it also increases the person's exposure to danger.
For Viet Nam, current evidence does not justify presenting social prescribing as a proven means of preventing domestic violence, reducing repeat abuse, treating trauma or replacing specialist services.
A more appropriate research question is whether selected forms of ordinary community participation might complement established survivor-centered support arrangements under carefully defined conditions.
Viet Nam Already Has a Domestic Violence Protection Framework
Viet Nam's Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control No. 13/2022/QH15 took effect on July 1, 2023.[7]
The law establishes provisions concerning domestic violence prevention, reporting, protection, assistance and the responsibilities of relevant authorities, organizations and individuals.
It recognizes important rights of people experiencing domestic violence, including requesting protection, accessing appropriate assistance and receiving safeguards concerning personal information within the applicable legal framework.
The law also addresses protective measures, temporary shelter and other forms of support.
Government Decree No. 76/2023/ND-CP, effective from December 25, 2023, provides further implementing requirements.[8]
These instruments are central to any discussion of domestic violence support in Viet Nam.
They do not establish social prescribing as a separate domestic violence protection service or authorize a care navigator to exercise powers reserved for competent authorities.
A person may require emergency protection, healthcare, safe accommodation, legal aid or another service with defined legal and professional responsibilities.
An ordinary community organization cannot take over these functions simply by joining a social prescribing partnership.
Any proposed collaboration must therefore respect the existing legal framework and the institutions responsible for providing protection and assistance.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline 117 Is an Important Development
On September 8, 2026, Viet Nam officially activated the National Domestic Violence Prevention and Control Hotline, 117.[9]
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the hotline operates nationwide, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It receives reports and information about domestic violence, provides initial advice and connects people with relevant protection and support services. Depending on the circumstances, these may include healthcare facilities, specialist support centers, legal aid providers or competent local authorities.
The hotline was developed under the national domestic violence prevention framework, with the involvement of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Viet Nam Farmers' Union and UNFPA.
Its establishment is particularly relevant to community navigation because it provides an official specialist access point.
A social prescribing organization should not create a parallel service claiming to perform the hotline's protection functions.
Instead, staff providing general community information should understand the existence of official resources and recognize when a concern falls outside their responsibilities.
Where domestic violence requires specialist assessment or intervention, competent services should lead.
For immediate danger requiring police or emergency medical assistance, the appropriate emergency services should be contacted through their official channels.
When children are affected, Viet Nam's National Child Protection Hotline, 111, is another relevant official service within the child-protection system.[10]
However, knowing a hotline number is not sufficient on its own.
Someone whose communications are monitored may be unable to make a call safely. An unexpected return call or visible message could create additional risks.
Information about services should therefore be shared in a manner that respects the person's circumstances and any safety arrangements established by competent professionals.
The National Program for 2026–2030 Reinforces the Specialist Response
On April 6, 2026, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 625/QD-TTg establishing the Program for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence for 2026–2030.[11]
The program reflects continued national attention to prevention, coordinated responses and access to appropriate services.
Gender-based violence and domestic violence are related, but they are not identical categories.
Gender-based violence concerns violence associated with gender-related inequalities, discriminatory norms and power relationships. Domestic violence is determined by the relationships and conduct covered under the applicable domestic violence legislation.
Some incidents fall within both categories.
The national program should therefore be understood alongside the domestic violence protection framework rather than as replacing it.
For community-connected care, these developments reinforce the importance of working within established legal and professional systems.
Social prescribing should not be presented as an alternative mechanism for domestic violence protection. If community participation has a role, it should be clearly supplementary and consistent with the work of competent services.
Survivor-Centered Support Requires Respect for Choice and Safety
People experiencing domestic violence have different circumstances, priorities and views about the assistance they want.
Someone may be seeking immediate protection. Another person may want information about legal rights, medical care or specialist counseling. Some may remain in a relationship while considering their options, while others may be planning separation or changes in living arrangements.
These decisions can be complicated by financial dependence, housing, children, personal safety and other circumstances.
A community navigator should not pressure someone to leave a relationship, disclose private experiences or attend a support group as evidence that they are taking appropriate action.
Nor should reluctance to disclose or participate be interpreted as a failure to cooperate.
Respecting personal choice, however, does not remove legal responsibilities relating to reporting, safeguarding or protection where they apply.
For example, concerns involving children may trigger particular duties under Vietnamese law. Other circumstances may require action by competent professionals or authorities.
A navigator should not assume that confidentiality always prevents necessary disclosure, or that every disclosure authorizes unrestricted information-sharing.
The applicable requirements depend on the person's circumstances, age, the professional role involved and the relevant law.
Survivor-centered practice should respect autonomy while ensuring that statutory safeguarding obligations and safety concerns are appropriately addressed.
Family Reconciliation and Mediation Require Particular Caution
Family disagreements are sometimes addressed through informal discussions, reconciliation or mediation.
These approaches should not automatically be transferred to situations involving domestic violence.
A disagreement between family members is different from a relationship characterized by threats, coercion, intimidation or abuse. Where one person exercises control over another, arranging a discussion between them may expose the person experiencing violence to additional pressure or retaliation.
A general social prescribing program should not attempt to resolve domestic violence through couples activities, informal reconciliation or group discussions.
Nor should a navigator encourage someone to restore family harmony as a condition of receiving support.
Viet Nam's Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control addresses mediation in Article 17.[7]
The law recognizes mediation within its defined framework but requires respect for the voluntary participation of the parties, the safety of the person experiencing violence and the confidentiality of private information.
Importantly, mediation does not replace measures for addressing the conduct of a person who commits domestic violence.
This means mediation should not be presented as automatically prohibited in every circumstance, but neither should it be treated as a routine solution that community organizations may undertake without appropriate safeguards.
The law also addresses who may participate in mediation and the corresponding responsibilities. These provisions do not give social prescribing navigators an independent mandate to arrange or conduct mediation.
Where mediation-related activities are legally permissible, the applicable requirements and safety considerations must be respected. Informal pressure to tolerate abuse or avoid seeking protection should never be presented as appropriate support.
The responsibility for violence remains with the person who commits it.
The objective of survivor-centered support is not to preserve a family relationship at any cost. It is to respect the person's rights, choices and safety while ensuring access to appropriate protection and assistance.
Community Partnerships Need Clearly Defined Responsibilities
A community organization may provide useful educational or recreational activities without having specialist experience in domestic violence.
That does not make the organization unsuitable for ordinary community participation. However, a formal arrangement involving people with known safety concerns requires careful consideration.
Hosting a general activity is different from managing confidential referrals, monitoring protection risks or providing specialist counseling.
An activity provider should not be asked to investigate abuse, communicate with the person causing harm or maintain detailed domestic violence case records.
Where a specialist service considers ordinary community participation appropriate, the external activity provider should receive only the information genuinely necessary for its role, subject to applicable law and safety arrangements.
In many circumstances, the activity provider may not need to know the person's history of abuse.
Someone may be able to participate as an ordinary community member without being identified as a survivor or receiving a special label. This can help preserve privacy and dignity.
Unnecessary disclosure may create stigma and increase risk, even when the receiving organization has good intentions.
Partnerships should therefore distinguish between providing a suitable community opportunity and undertaking specialist protection responsibilities.
Each organization should remain accountable for the functions it is authorized and competent to perform.
Digital Communication Can Create Additional Risks
Digital tools are commonly used to organize community activities. Online registration forms, messaging groups, appointment reminders and electronic referral systems can make communication convenient.
However, these tools may be inappropriate or unsafe when someone is experiencing domestic violence.
A person may use a shared device or account. Another household member may read messages, monitor movements or access online activity.
An automated reminder could reveal contact with an organization. A group chat might expose participants' names. A photograph shared online could identify someone's location.
Even a routine follow-up message may be unsafe.
A navigator should not assume that a contact number previously supplied during a healthcare visit remains a safe way to communicate. People should not be automatically added to messaging groups or have their details forwarded to community organizations.
When domestic violence is known or suspected, communication arrangements should follow applicable legal requirements and any relevant specialist safety procedures.
Digital convenience must not take priority over personal safety.
This distinction is particularly important for organizations developing general social prescribing platforms.
A system designed to record attendance, send reminders or track ordinary community referrals should not automatically be used for sensitive domestic violence cases.
The risks associated with disclosure, data access, storage and unexpected contact require separate consideration.
Personal Data Protection and Confidentiality Are Essential
Information indicating that someone has experienced domestic violence may involve highly sensitive personal circumstances.
It can include identity, location, family relationships, health information, communication records and details concerning another person. Inappropriate disclosure could affect the individual's safety, dignity and access to support.
Viet Nam's Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15 and Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP have both been effective since January 1, 2026.[12,13]
Organizations processing personal information must identify the applicable lawful basis, purpose, responsibilities and safeguards. Consent requirements must be respected where they apply.
However, consent is not the only legal consideration. Statutory reporting, protection and other legal obligations may apply in particular circumstances.
The relevant question is whether the specific collection, use or disclosure is lawful, necessary and appropriately limited.
Domestic violence cases also require attention to the confidentiality and protection provisions established under the specific domestic violence legislation.
Decree No. 110/2025/ND-CP, effective July 10, 2025, regulates the national database on domestic violence prevention and control.[14]
The existence of this database does not authorize social prescribing organizations to access, retain or exchange domestic violence case information outside the applicable legal framework.
An ordinary community activity provider may need basic information relevant to participation. It would not normally need a detailed account of abuse.
Where sensitive information is necessary for a regulated professional service, it must be handled within the relevant legal, professional and organizational arrangements.
For organizations developing digital platforms, this also means considering whether sensitive information should be collected at all through ordinary registration forms or general-purpose referral systems.
Collecting detailed personal histories without a clearly established purpose, legal basis and appropriate safeguards may create risks that outweigh any practical benefit.
Confidentiality should not be promised without explaining relevant legal limitations. Equally, information should not be shared more widely than necessary or permitted.
Both inappropriate secrecy and unnecessary disclosure can undermine safe and accountable support.
Children Require Distinct Protection Arrangements
Domestic violence may affect children directly or indirectly.
A child may experience abuse, witness violence between family members or live in circumstances that create serious safety and developmental concerns.
These situations require appropriate child-protection responses rather than ordinary community participation alone.
Viet Nam's Law on Children No. 102/2016/QH13, as amended where applicable, establishes important rights and responsibilities concerning child protection.[15]
Relevant authorities and services have defined responsibilities when children experience or face risks of violence, abuse or neglect.
Community organizations should not independently investigate allegations, decide protective measures or substitute for authorized child-protection services.
A navigator should also avoid assuming that every parent or family member can safely authorize contact or information-sharing when that person may be involved in the risk.
The applicable legal framework and the child's best interests should guide decisions.
Suitable recreational, educational and community activities may still be valuable for children when they are appropriately organized.
However, participation in such activities should not be presented as a child-protection intervention.
Where protection concerns exist, competent services must lead.
Different Survivors May Face Different Barriers
Domestic violence can affect people in different family and social circumstances.
Older adults may depend on family members for transport, finances or daily assistance. People with disabilities may encounter additional barriers when the person causing harm is also someone on whom they depend for care.
Men experiencing domestic violence may encounter stigma or reluctance to disclose what has happened. People from different linguistic backgrounds may need information and services in an appropriate language.
These circumstances can affect access to both specialist assistance and community activities.
However, they should not be used to make automatic assumptions about a person's vulnerability or decision-making capacity.
An older person should not automatically be directed to family members for help when the family relationship may be part of the concern.
A person with a disability should not be presumed unable to make decisions simply because they need assistance with communication or participation.
Where accessible communication, interpretation, professional support or other assistance is necessary, appropriate arrangements should be considered.
The objective is to enable people to access relevant services without increasing dependence on someone who may be causing harm.
What Could Responsible Care Navigation Look Like?
In an ordinary social prescribing pathway, a navigator may help someone identify interests, understand available community resources and make contact with suitable activities.
Domestic violence introduces additional responsibilities and risks.
A non-specialist navigator should not independently establish a domestic violence safety plan, conduct a detailed investigation or decide which protection measures are required.
If a concern becomes apparent, the navigator should respond respectfully within their training, organizational procedures and legal responsibilities. The person should not be pressured to disclose more information than is necessary for the immediate purpose.
Where specialist assessment or protection is required, appropriate professionals and competent services should take the lead.
If someone already receiving specialist assistance expresses interest in ordinary community participation, a limited connection may be considered where it is consistent with their wishes and the relevant safety arrangements.
Participation should not require unnecessary disclosure of their history to the activity provider.
Some people may prefer to make contact independently. Others may decide that participation is not appropriate.
These choices should be respected, subject to applicable safeguarding obligations.
The central principle is that community navigation should complement appropriate professional support without becoming an unqualified domestic violence intervention.
Professional Responsibilities Cannot Be Transferred to a Navigator
International social prescribing frameworks emphasize person-centered support, suitable community connections and clear professional boundaries.
NHS England's Workforce Development Framework for Social Prescribing Link Workers, updated in July 2026 and published in August, provides guidance on competencies, supervision and safe practice.[16]
The framework also recognizes that link workers may encounter safeguarding concerns, including domestic violence, and need appropriate supervision and access to other professionals.
These principles may inform workforce development, but the framework does not create professional authorization in Viet Nam.
Vietnamese requirements must be determined under applicable national law.
Decree No. 110/2024/ND-CP provides a framework for social work.[17]
Circular No. 29/2026/TT-BYT, effective August 25, 2026, establishes requirements concerning social-work practice and professional knowledge updating within its scope.[18]
Circular No. 51/2024/TT-BYT regulates social-work activities in medical examination and treatment establishments, while the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15 governs regulated medical examination and treatment.[19,20]
Not every person who shares community information is engaged in professional social-work practice.
However, a title such as care navigator does not exempt someone from applicable requirements when their actual activities fall within regulated professional functions.
Where assessment, counseling, case management, clinical care or other regulated professional services are involved, the corresponding legal and competence requirements must be respected.
This distinction becomes especially important when inappropriate intervention could affect a person's safety.
Organizations considering navigation services should define responsibilities according to actual activities rather than assume that general training in social prescribing is sufficient for complex protection cases.
Should Social Prescribing Be Piloted for Domestic Violence in Viet Nam?
Any proposal to test social prescribing among people experiencing domestic violence requires particular caution.
It would not be appropriate to launch an independent pilot that recruits survivors into ordinary community activities without suitable specialist involvement, lawful authorization, safeguarding arrangements and appropriate ethical oversight.
Nor should general social prescribing staff be expected to identify domestic violence through informal questioning or screening outside their defined competence and responsibilities.
A more responsible starting point would be exploratory research involving established specialist services.
For example, researchers might examine whether people already receiving domestic violence support sometimes express a desire to return to ordinary community activities, and whether existing services can safely respond to those preferences.
Such work could involve consultation with competent protection providers, healthcare professionals, social-work practitioners and people with lived experience through appropriately designed and ethical arrangements.
Participation should not require public identification or repeated disclosure of traumatic experiences.
The purpose would be to understand whether there is a genuine need for additional community navigation and what safeguards would be necessary.
It would not be to demonstrate in advance that social prescribing should become a routine domestic violence intervention.
Any later service development would need a clearly defined purpose, appropriate specialist leadership or involvement, lawful information practices and sufficient organizational capacity.
If suitable safeguards cannot be established and maintained, the proposed activity should not proceed.
Evaluation Must Prioritize Safety Over Referral Numbers
Evaluating community connection in circumstances involving domestic violence requires different priorities from evaluating an ordinary social prescribing activity.
A high attendance rate is not necessarily evidence of success.
Someone may attend an activity because they feel pressured. Another may choose not to participate because it would compromise their privacy or safety.
A referral recorded as completed may provide little meaningful benefit. In some circumstances, the referral process itself could increase danger.
Evaluation should therefore consider safety, appropriateness, informed choice and the responsibilities of participating organizations.
Where research or service evaluation is undertaken by a competent organization, it should examine whether people understood their options, whether participation was voluntary and whether any unintended risks arose.
It should also consider whether specialist services remained accessible and whether community organizations were asked to undertake responsibilities outside their competence.
Data collection can itself create risks.
Participants should not be required to repeatedly describe abuse or complete detailed questionnaires merely to demonstrate that a program has value.
Feedback arrangements must also avoid unnecessary contact or disclosure.
Research involving survivors requires careful attention to ethical review, recruitment, informed consent, confidentiality, researcher competence and the potential for harm.
A small feasibility study might provide information about the acceptability and practical operation of a narrowly defined, specialist-supported community connection arrangement.
It would not establish that social prescribing prevents domestic violence, reduces repeat abuse or improves long-term safety.
Those conclusions would require much stronger evidence and appropriate research designs.
A Meaningful Connection Must Never Come at the Expense of Safety
Community relationships can be important parts of everyday life. They may offer friendship, shared interests, learning opportunities and a sense of participation beyond family or work.
People experiencing domestic violence should not automatically lose access to these ordinary opportunities.
However, community participation should not be assumed to be safe simply because the activity itself appears harmless.
Domestic violence involves power, control, legal rights and potential threats to personal safety. These concerns cannot be resolved through social participation alone.
For Viet Nam, the existing domestic violence protection framework, National Domestic Violence Prevention and Control Hotline 117, National Child Protection Hotline 111 and the wider network of competent healthcare, legal, social-work and protection services provide the appropriate foundation for responding to violence.
Social prescribing should not operate as an alternative protection system.
Its possible contribution is limited to helping people access suitable community opportunities where those connections are genuinely wanted, appropriately supported and consistent with their safety needs.
Sometimes the appropriate response may be to help someone reconnect with an ordinary activity. At other times, it may be to avoid making a referral, prioritize specialist assistance or respect the person's decision not to participate.
For Social Prescribing Vietnam, the responsible position is not to promote social prescribing as a new treatment or protection service for domestic violence.
It is to explain where community-connected care may have a limited supporting role, why survivor safety and specialist responsibilities must remain central, and how inappropriate referrals can be avoided.
The success of a community connection should never be judged only by whether someone attends a group.
What matters is whether the opportunity is genuinely wanted, appropriate and safe, without compromising the person's rights or access to the protection and professional assistance they may need.
When safety is uncertain, completing a social prescription should not be the priority.
Avoiding further harm and ensuring that competent services retain responsibility for protection must come first.
References
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. (2022). A Toolkit on How to Implement Social Prescribing. Manila: World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (2026). Violence Against Women. Updated June 18, 2026.
Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, General Statistics Office of Viet Nam, and United Nations Population Fund. (2020). National Study on Violence Against Women in Viet Nam 2019: Journey for Change. Supported by the Government of Australia.
World Health Organization. (2014). Health Care for Women Subjected to Intimate Partner Violence or Sexual Violence: A Clinical Handbook.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. (2014). Domestic Violence and Abuse: Multi-Agency Working. Public Health Guideline PH50.
Kisa, A., & Kisa, S. (2026). Models, implementation, and reported outcomes of social prescribing interventions: A scoping review. Frontiers in Public Health, 14, 1871347. Published July 22, 2026. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1871347.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2022). Law No. 13/2022/QH15 on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control. Effective July 1, 2023.
Government of Viet Nam. (2023). Decree No. 76/2023/ND-CP Detailing Certain Articles of the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control. Effective December 25, 2023.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam. (2026). Official Launch of the National Domestic Violence Prevention and Control Hotline 117. Published September 8, 2026.
National Child Protection Hotline 111. Official Child Protection Support Information.
Prime Minister of Viet Nam. (2026). Decision No. 625/QD-TTg on the Program for Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence, 2026–2030. Issued April 6, 2026.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2025). Law No. 91/2025/QH15 on Personal Data Protection. Effective January 1, 2026.
Government of Viet Nam. (2025). Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP Detailing Certain Articles and Measures for Implementation of the Law on Personal Data Protection. Effective January 1, 2026.
Government of Viet Nam. (2025). Decree No. 110/2025/ND-CP on the Domestic Violence Prevention and Control Database. Effective July 10, 2025.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2016). Law No. 102/2016/QH13 on Children, as amended where applicable.
NHS England. (2026). Workforce Development Framework for Social Prescribing Link Workers. Version 2, updated July 2026 and published August 13, 2026.
Government of Viet Nam. (2024). Decree No. 110/2024/ND-CP on Social Work. Effective October 15, 2024.
Ministry of Health of Viet Nam. (2026). Circular No. 29/2026/TT-BYT on Social-Work Practice and Professional Knowledge Updating. Effective August 25, 2026.
Ministry of Health of Viet Nam. (2024). Circular No. 51/2024/TT-BYT on Social-Work Activities in Medical Examination and Treatment Establishments. Effective March 1, 2025.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. (2023). Law No. 15/2023/QH15 on Medical Examination and Treatment, as amended where applicable.
Article Information
Primary Category: Viet Nam Context
Secondary Category: Implementation & Practice
Evidence and Regulatory Context Reviewed: November 1, 2026
Publisher: Social Prescribing Vietnam (SPVN)
Disclaimer
This article is provided for educational, research and general informational purposes only. It does not constitute individualized medical, mental health, domestic violence risk assessment, safety planning, psychological counseling, professional social-work, child-protection, legal or emergency response advice.
The situations discussed are illustrative and do not represent any particular individual, family, community organization or domestic violence case in Viet Nam.
Social prescribing and community care navigation are not substitutes for domestic violence prevention and protection services, police intervention, emergency medical care, specialist counseling, legal aid, safe accommodation, professional social work, child-protection services or other legally regulated activities.
The international research and guidance discussed in this article are presented for comparative learning. They do not establish that social prescribing is an effective domestic violence prevention or treatment intervention, or that a particular social prescribing model has been implemented or proven safe and effective for people experiencing domestic violence in Viet Nam.
Community participation may be inappropriate or unsafe in certain domestic violence situations. Any proposed connection involving known or suspected safety concerns must be considered within an appropriate legal, professional and organizational framework, with competent specialist services and individual safety taking priority.
Confidentiality, consent, reporting and information-sharing responsibilities depend on the circumstances and applicable law. Organizations should not assume that ordinary community referral procedures are suitable for sensitive domestic violence cases.
The National Domestic Violence Prevention and Control Hotline 117 is an official Vietnamese service independent of SPVN. The National Child Protection Hotline 111 and relevant police, healthcare and emergency services have separate responsibilities within their respective legal frameworks. Their inclusion in this article does not indicate an affiliation, referral agreement or service partnership with SPVN.
Organizations considering research, community navigation or partnership activities involving people affected by domestic violence should independently assess applicable Vietnamese legal and professional requirements, including safeguarding, statutory reporting and protection duties, professional competence, organizational authorization, ethical review, privacy, personal data protection and accountability before undertaking such activities.
Social Prescribing Vietnam (SPVN) is an education, research, development, implementation-support and collaboration platform. Publication of this article does not indicate that SPVN operates a domestic violence hotline, provides survivor case management, conducts individual risk assessments, offers emergency protection, supplies psychological or legal services, directly delivers individualized care navigation or referrals, or operates domestic violence intervention programs.
References to government agencies, international organizations, guidance documents and published research are provided for educational purposes and do not imply endorsement, accreditation, formal authorization, affiliation or an established partnership.