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The World Health Organization (WHO) exists to support all countries and peoples to achieve the highest attainable level of health, which is defined in the WHO constitution as, "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity". In support of its main objective, WHO has a wide range of functions, including to act as the directing and coordinating authority on international health, and to promote technical cooperation. Founded in 1948, WHO began work in Viet Nam in 1950, and has maintained a representative office here ever since.

WHO technical and financial support to the Government Viet Nam revolves around outcome-related themes:

• Combating communicable diseases
  
• Building healthy communities and populations
  
• Developing a stronger and more equitable health sector
  
• Health and development

In addition, WHO also supports the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Viet Nam's Development Goals (VDGs).

In 2002, WHO successfully collaborated with the Vietnamese authorities, and other partners, to contain the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).