And about 200,000 babies are born underweight each year, a Unicef official said. Damien Personnaz said rice was not enough for a balanced diet, and high malnutrition levels derived in part from a lack of dietary education.
Malnutrition is more pronounced in rural areas.
In cities, the figure drops to about 30 per cent. The agency released the figures before a new campaign to promote better child nutrition. The UN programme will provide child-care information and distribute vitamin A to seven million children. Mr Personnaz said increased demands on rural women to work outside the home meant they had less time to care for their children. And more women were working away from home under the benefits of Vietnam's economic reforms.