HANOI, Sept 10 (AFP) - Vietnam has unveiled a plan to boost condom usage among its sexually active younger population to stem escalating HIV infection rates, an official said Tuesday.

The campaign, which will commence in October, aims to sell 170 million condoms each year until 2005, Phan Song, director of Vietnam's Family Planning Association told AFP.

Many Vietnamese men do not use condoms, primarily because of ignorance about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

Embarrassment about buying contraceptives in Vietnam's deeply traditional society also remains a factor, sociologists say.

"Heavily affected by traditional culture and social prejudices, Vietnamese men still find it deeply uncomfortable to ask for condoms. But it's time to change this point of view," Song said.

The Family Planning Association estimates that only one in 2,000 men use condoms when having sex with prostitutes. Prostitution is rife in Vietnam.

"This campaign not only aims to serve family planning issues but more importantly is to protect people against HIV/AIDS given that 58.7 percent of HIV carriers in Vietnam are aged between 13 and 29," Song said.

The government says more than 51,500 people are HIV positive but the real figure is thought to be at least 200,000 because of the limited scope of testing and a reluctance to admit the full extent of the impact of the global pandemic.

Song said the Family Planning Association had been allocated a target of selling 60 million condoms over the three year period.

"Our marketing campaign will start in October in the three biggest universities in Hanoi. This will be the first time condoms will be actively sold on the campuses."

Of the official tally of 51,571 HIV carriers, 7,586 have developed full blown AIDS, according to health ministry figures released last month. In all, 4,121 people have died.

The World Health Organization warned last month the virus could spread rapidly among Vietnam's younger generations as a result of widespread ignorance over sexual health matters and condom use.

The United States on Monday pledged 15-20 million dollars in assistance over the next five years to to reduce infection rates among high risk groups, particularly sex workers and intravenous drug users.

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