This study was inspired by a paradox between policy and reality in Vietnam. Despite decades of celebrated high-speed economic growth, deprivations such as child endangerment, child labor, and child malnutrition persist. The general purpose of this study is to investigate the complex relationship between economic growth and multidimensional poverty, moving beyond traditional monetary poverty. Following the methodology of recent cross-country analyses, this study employs a quantitative approach using regional and provincial-level data from both the National Statistics Office and the Vietnam Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). From the custom multidimensional child poverty index (MCPI) based on a 5-dimensional framework, the findings reveal that while economic growth is associated with reduced poverty, significant geographic disparities remain. The results demonstrate clearly that a child’s province and region of residence are powerful predictors of their poverty status, independent of their family’s wealth or parental education. This research provides critical evidence that national economic progress in Vietnam has not uniformly translated into improved well-being for all children, highlighting the urgent need for geographically targeted policies to address the specific, multidimensional deprivations faced by children in marginalized regions. With the government now actively encouraging population growth, it is crucial to understand whether the growth driven at the national level creates deeper inequalities, leaving the most vulnerable group of the population behind.