In a classroom in Lao Cai province, eight-year-old Mai carefully logs her daily food intake in a small notebook, just like her classmates. This simple act is part of a quiet revolution unfolding across 10 provinces in Vietnam, where schools are reimagining what it means to feed a child. For too long, school meals were judged by how clean the kitchen was or how low the cost — not whether the food truly nourished growing bodies and minds. Now, with a pilot program backed by TH Group, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the National Institute of Nutrition, balanced meals are no longer a privilege but a priority.
The stakes are high. A child’s diet shapes their height, their concentration, their future. Yet in many schools, meals were hygienic but nutritionally unbalanced — missing key nutrients like calcium and protein. The new model flips this script. Instead of one-size-fits-all menus, experts created 400 region-specific meal plans, tailored to local tastes, ingredients, and cultures. From the rice fields of the Mekong Delta to the mountainous north, each menu meets strict nutritional standards while using fresh, traceable ingredients. A key part of the plan? A daily serving of fresh milk, carefully sourced and monitored for quality.
The program didn’t just change what’s on the plate — it changed how schools think about food. Nutritionists worked with teachers, parents, and cooks to train staff, test recipes, and gather feedback. Students learned not just to eat, but to understand why vegetables matter and why milk builds strong bones. Physical activity was woven into the day, turning health into a habit. After one school year, the results spoke for themselves: 95.8% of schools said the program worked well or very well, and nearly 93% of parents found the nutrition education useful. Most strikingly, children’s awareness of balanced meals jumped by 23.6% — a sign that healthy habits are taking root.
Ms. Ha Thi Phuong from the National Institute of Nutrition puts it plainly: school nutrition should be a right, not a lottery. The pilot has shown that with clear standards, local flexibility, and strong partnerships, change is possible. Now, the goal is to turn this success into national policy — so every child, no matter where they live or how much their family earns, can count on a meal that fuels their future. As Vietnam looks ahead, this program isn’t just about food. It’s about building a healthier, stronger generation — one balanced meal at a time.