The majority of the population of Vietnam lives in rural areas and depends on agriculture for their livelihood. Consistent growth of the agriculture sector over the past two decades has contributed to a remarkable reduction in the poverty rate and the virtual elimination of hunger in the rural areas of Vietnam. In order to continue the growth rates of the past and contribute to further poverty reduction into the future, Agriculture Science and Technology will need to play a greater part in the development of the agriculture sector. This paper outlines the importance of Agriculture Science and Technology in rural development, discusses the performance of the agriculture research and extension systems and outlines recent developments designed to improve the performance of Agriculture Science and Technology and increase the level of linkages between farmers, policymakers, researchers and the extension system. (Contains 4 tables and 13 notes.)