Many couples are opting not to have children
New trend
With women increasingly integrated into the labour market, many have decided that on top of their household chores, family responsibilities and full time jobs that they just haven’t got the time to have children.
Minh and her husband have been married for three years. Both of them have agreed not to have children and are obviously enjoying their life.
They spend their money and time on travelling. They go abroad twice a year and take regular breaks in Vietnam.
When being asked about children, Minh said, “We’ve yet to think about it and don’t care about it at the moment.”
“We don’t want to have a baby. We’ve maintained a good relationship for nearly six years. We’re afraid that quarrels may arise when we have a baby,” Thuy Trang commented in a forum for women.
Thanh Mai has another reason for her choice. “I’m 25 and have been married for a year. We have good jobs but I don’t want to have a baby. I’m afraid that I wouldn’t have time to care for my child and don’t know how to do it either. Both of us are interested in travelling and I’m worried that having a baby may hinder my work.”
While some have delayed having a baby, a woman named Van has made a firm decision on the issue.
“I’ve been married for four years but we’ve decided to have no children. We have a large house and both have health insurance with the Vietnam-France hospital. My husband often shares the housework with me. We have a lot of time together at home, do what we like and have still maintained a good relationship. Someday if my husband is fed with this life and wants to divorce, I’ll be ready for his decision.”
She said that when she becomes old, she would sell her assets and go to a high-end rest-home.
Shared view
Men are also changing their opinions on the issue.
A man named Nghia, who works at FPT Arena said, “I support women who don’t want to have a baby. It’s great to have no children but actively take part in charitable work.”
Some others are waiting for the day their wife would change their mind.
“I love my wife very much. As we’ve just got married for a short time and both of us are still quite young, we prefer travelling so we can actually enjoy life first. However, in the next few years, I hope we’ll have a baby. While my wife said she doesn’t want to have a baby, I think she’ll change her mind in the future,” Phong, a designer at VNG Corporation, said.
Several others violently opposed the idea.
“I won’t get married with a woman who doesn’t want to have a baby. Being a mother is natural function of a woman,” conservative minded freelance reporter Viet said.
Tuan Anh, from MHB Bank, said, “I think people might regret their decision when they’re older. It’s really hard to overcome the pressures from family and relatives as well.”
Concerning the issue, Tran Thi Van, Assistant to Acting Chief of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, said increasing numbers of people have opted not to have a baby due to increasing social and economic pressures that couples have to encounter with in taking care of children.
Many young families in big cities find it difficult to sufficient living conditions for their children, which had discouraged many from having children.
A lot of mothers in urban areas are facing increasing stress from their work, families and child care, she added.
