In Vietnam, acute respiratory infection (ARI) has high morbidity and mortality rates. In fact, a major research gap still exists regarding mothers' experiences in caring for their children with ARI at home and overcoming barriers to their success. This study explores the barriers that mothers face in caring for children with ARI at home in rural areas. Objectives: The study was conducted to explore the mother’s perceived barriers in caring for children with ARI at home in the rural areas, Vietnam. Subject and method: From December 2020 to September 2021, 34 mothers with children under the age of 5 years were subjected to qualitative research involving in-depth interviews. A semi-structured questionnaire was used in face-to-face interviews to collect the data. The participant was subjected to an audio-recorded individual interview lasting an average of 30 minutes. The interviewer asked guiding questions to help the participants focus on the care for their children with ARI at home. All audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim by a professional transcriptionist. The health promotion model was used as a guiding theory. Results: The findings revealed that caring for children with ARI in the rural home setting posed numerous challenges for mothers. The interviews identified caring practices, psychological factors, and a lack of resources as barriers to care. Mothers reported difficulties in implementing a healthy diet, adhering to medication, and maintaining proper hygiene. They lacked confidence in their ability to restore their children's health, recognize early symptoms of illness, and prevent illness recurrence. They expressed that a lack of finances and education limited their ability to care for their children adequately. Conclusion: This study revealed numerous barriers for mothers caring for children with ARI at home. There is a demand for both community and healthcare support to overcome the disparities of care for this common in the rural home setting