Trends and Characteristics of Clinical Research in Vietnam from 2010 to 2024: A Descriptive Analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov Data

Background: Over the past decade, Vietnam has witnessed substantial growth in clinical research.Despite this progress, there is a paucity of comprehensive overviews of trial characteristics and trends.This study aimed to describe the status and trends of clinical trials conducted in Vietnam between 2010 and 2024, using publicly available data from ClinicalTrials.gov. Methods:This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted employing data retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov on clinical trials conducted in Vietnam between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2024.Each trial record was manually coded based on sponsor origin, study type and phase, population, intervention, therapeutic area, and result availability.Descriptive statistics were applied, and trends were analyzed across three 5-year periods (2010-2014, 2015-2019, and 2020-2024).Results: This study included 721 clinical trials.Interventional trials constituted 82.8% of the included trials, with Phase III trials being the most frequently reported.The number of trials increased consistently over time, rising from 141 (2010-2014) to 352 (2020-2024).Domestic sponsorship increased significantly, exceeding international sponsors in the most recent period (198 vs. 154 trials).Originally the most researched treatment area, infectious diseases gradually lost ground to oncology, cardiovascular disease, and endocrine disorders.The proportion of drug trials decreased from 53.5% to 26.7% of all interventions, while procedural and behavioral studies exhibited an upward trend.However, early-phase trials were still few, and results from only 17.9% of research were made publicly available. Conclusion:Vietnam's clinical research landscape has expanded substantially in volume and scope, characterized by greater local engagement and a broader diversification of study focus.Nonetheless, transparency, early-phase research, and inclusion of underrepresented populations remain key areas requiring further improvement.Ongoing investment in research infrastructure and policy alignment with global standards will be crucial for sustaining progress and optimizing the impact of clinical trials in Vietnam.