We investigated risk factors associated with stillbirths using personal interviews and medical records abstraction in a hospital-based case-control study in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam. There were 47 stillbirth cases and 365 controls in this study. Maternal education (< or =12 years) (Odds Ratio, OR = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.19-7.96), from rural communities (OR = 2.42; 95% CI = 1.16-5.03), primiparous (OR = 3.83; 95% CI = 1.10-13.40) and lack of prenatal care vitamins (OR = 2.56; 95% CI = 1.25-5.23) were statistically significant risk factors associated with stillbirth in an age-adjusted multivariable model. Our findings suggest that improved maternal health education and care in all communities may reduce the burden of fetal loss in this province.