While the current transitional period has undermined the financial base of PHC in Vietnam and made the delivery and quality of services vulnerable, particularly at the command level, the government of Vietnam is responding in various ways to try and safeguard public health provision. This article looks at some of the measures taken by the government top preserve the delivery of PHC, and indicates some areas that the government’s of Vietnam’s political commitment to public health, and its propensity to adapt to change, may sustain the provision of primary health care during the current period of rapid economic reform.