A mid-term census of population and housing will be conducted on April 1, 2014.

TAccording to the General Statistics Office, in implementing the National Statistical Survey Program, following the Prime Minister's directive on integrating housing surveys into the mid-term population census, and in coordination with the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management (Ministry of Construction), the unit will conduct the mid-term population and housing census on April 1, 2014.

According to the National Statistical Survey Program (issued with Decision No. 803/QD-TTg dated June 28, 2012, of the Prime Minister), Vietnam conducts a nationwide population and housing census every 10 years to collect complete data on households, population, and housing. To obtain annual population data between censuses, the General Statistics Office conducts annual surveys on population changes and family planning with small sample sizes, sufficient to estimate the national and provincial populations. For years ending in 4, the General Statistics Office organizes a larger-scale mid-term population census to obtain detailed data down to the district level.

Housing was also included in this statistical survey. (Photo: HNV)

According to the implementation plan, the investigation aims at three main objectives, including:

Firstly, collecting nationwide population and housing data will serve as a basis for evaluating national population and housing programs, thereby assessing the implementation of the socio-economic development plan for the period 2011-2015; developing policies and plans for population and housing to support the socio-economic development plan for the period 2016-2020; and monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals that the Vietnamese Government has committed to.

Secondly, it provides population size data at the district level for the five years following the 2009 Population Census; serves as a basis for reviewing and adjusting annual population data for the period 2010-2014; and supplements the population and housing data warehouse of the General Statistics Office to support research, analysis, and forecasting of population and housing development between two censuses nationwide and in each locality, serving international comparison requirements.

Third, provide a sampling framework for statistical surveys of households.

Based on that, the subjects of the investigation include: the actual resident population of the household; cases of death within the household; and the housing of the household in the selected investigation areas.

The survey unit is the household. Surveyors must visit the household to conduct direct interviews with the head of the household (or the person providing the information) and female members of the household aged 15-49 to record all answers on the survey form.

This is a large-scale sample survey, with 20% of the country's total area (equivalent to 37,395 areas) selected to survey 30 households per area. Thus, approximately 1,121,850 households nationwide will be surveyed. The sampling frame is a composite frame from the results of the 2009 Population and Housing Census. Samples are selected by district. There are a total of 699 district-level sampling frames nationwide (excluding 4 small island districts which were not included in the survey sample).

The investigation began at 0:00 on April 1, 2014. The investigation period in the area lasted approximately 20 days, starting at 7:00 AM on April 1, 2014, and ending no later than April 20, 2014.

To ensure the survey is conducted smoothly and efficiently, the plan for the remaining tasks has been completed. Accordingly, from January to the end of February 2014, the following will be carried out: drawing diagrams and compiling lists; recruiting surveyors, team leaders, and supervisors at all levels; finalizing survey guidance documents and survey forms. In March 2014, the General Statistics Office will provide training on survey procedures for surveyors, team leaders, and supervisors; printing and distributing survey forms; and publicizing the survey through mass media. From April 1 to 20, 2014, data collection will take place in the field; from May to July 2014, verification of forms at all levels will be conducted; from August to November 2014, data processing will be carried out; in October 2014, preliminary summary results will be published; and in December 2014, the official results will be published.

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam