From 24 to 26 August 2026 in Hanoi, the National Institute of Nutrition hosted a joint delegation comprising global partners supporting the Bloomberg Philanthropies Food Policy Program, including the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids/Global Health Advocacy Incubator (CTFK/GHAI), Vital Strategies and the University of North Carolina (UNC).

The visit aimed to explore research priorities relating to food and nutrition policies, particularly Nutrient Profile Models (NPMs), pre-packaged foods and food composition data. The participants also discussed research plans and strategies for effectively translating and integrating scientific evidence into food policymaking in Viet Nam.

Participants included representatives of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Nutrition; Assoc. PhD. Truong Tuyet Mai - Deputy Director of the Institute; PhD. Hoang Thi Duc Ngan - Head of the Department of Community Nutrition; Prof. Lindsey Smith Taillie from the University of North Carolina; representatives of Vital Strategies, CTFK/GHAI and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI); as well as technical staff from the Institute and other relevant partner organisations.

The discussions focused on activities implemented or currently underway in Viet Nam, including front-of-pack nutrition labelling, Nutrient Profile Models, food systems data, and research on pre-packaged foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. These issues are receiving increasing attention as clear and easy-to-understand nutrition information on food packaging becomes ever more important to public health.

Front-of-pack nutrition labelling can help consumers make healthier food choices and reduce their intake of salt, sugar, fat and ultra-processed foods. Such measures can contribute to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer, as well as other health risks.

On behalf of the technical team, PhD. Hoang Thi Duc Ngan presented an overview of the National Institute of Nutrition’s ongoing activities in these areas. She also discussed with the delegation the principal directions for future cooperation, particularly in nutrition research, food policy and public health communication.

Participants noted that Viet Nam’s policies and mechanisms for developing a healthier food system require further improvement. Research on front-of-pack nutrition labelling will provide additional scientific evidence for policymaking while helping consumers understand nutrition information and make more appropriate food choices.

In a spirit of open and constructive dialogue, the participants reviewed priority technical areas and identified activities that could be jointly implemented in the coming period. They also began drafting a joint agreement to provide a foundation for cooperation among the participating institutions under a shared overarching plan.

In her concluding remarks, Assoc. PhD. Truong Tuyet Mai, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Nutrition, highly appreciated the collaborative engagement of the University of North Carolina delegation. She affirmed that the issues discussed during the programme would provide an important foundation for advancing research cooperation during the 2026–2028 period.

The visit took place in a serious, open and productive atmosphere. It contributed to strengthening international cooperation in nutrition, food and public health, with the shared objectives of improving research quality and supporting the development of nutrition policies in Viet Nam.

Selected photographs from the delegation’s working sessions at the National Institute of Nutrition: