Vietnam is experiencing an aging population more rapidly than its country's overall pace, yet it maintains robust family ties and a deep sense of community, as noted by gerontologist Christopher Gnadt from Germany's Vechta University.
While it took Japan 24 years and Germany almost half a century for their elderly population to increase from 7% to 14%, Vietnam is expected to achieve this in approximately 13 years.
In 2024, the nation was home to 14.2 million individuals aged 60 or older, making up 14% of the total population, and is projected to transition into an "aged" society by 2036.
Declining birth rates are intensifying this pattern. The nation's fertility rate stands at 1.67 children per woman, yet it falls to 1.39 in Ho Chi Minh City, comparable to Germany's 1.35 and Japan's 1.2.
"Vietnam risks aging before becoming wealthy, leading to extraordinary strain on its social welfare, medical care, and labor systems," says Gnadt, who conducted extensive research in Vietnam.
He claims that Vietnamese families are undergoing significant changes because of modernization. The family structure is shrinking, and generational ties are growing weaker, which has diminished the traditional practice of children taking care of their parents, he states.
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| Senior citizens at a nursing home in Hanoi, on September 23, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/ Phan Duong |
Numerous individuals feel caught between looking after aging parents and bringing up their own kids, prompting them to look for options like employing caretakers and placing parents in senior living facilities, he mentions.
A trend referred to as "vertical urbanization," where older individuals reside in small high-rise apartments, disconnected from their neighborhoods, is causing many to experience loneliness and neglect, he notes.The shortage of caregivers is becoming more noticeable."
While working on a technology transfer and workforce development initiative for retirement homes in Hanoi, Takanori Hisaoka, the executive director of the Kiramekikai Social Welfare Organization (Japan), also highlighted the two main issues confronting Vietnam: an aging population before achieving economic prosperity and the erosion of the family care network between generations.
"Vietnam is following the same route that Japan took, but at a quicker speed and with limited resources," said Hisaoka, who has over 20 years of experience in elderly care. Consequently, Vietnam's elderly care system is still insufficient.
Healthcare and long-term care services are not well-coordinated, with specialized services like those for dementia being nearly absent.
The issue becomes more complex due to differences in access between city and countryside, as well as between affluent and disadvantaged groups, he added. Meanwhile, the caregiving staff is both inadequate and poorly prepared.
However, both experts recognize a positive aspect in Vietnam's cultural values. "Vietnam still possesses what many developed countries have lost: community unity, neighborhood assistance, and natural intergenerational care," Gnadt points out. "If used properly, these can serve as the basis for an efficient, inexpensive, and profoundly compassionate care system."
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| Christopher Gnadt (wearing glasses) on a trip to a nursing home in Hanoi in 2018. Photo provided by Gnadt |
Motivated by this sense of community, Germany has introduced the "aging in place" approach, enabling older individuals to remain in their own homes for as long as feasible. Approximately 80% of elderly Germans receive care at home from trained professionals.
As per Gnadt, Vietnam needs to focus on two areas: preserving family-centered care and enhancing the professionalism of home assistance, community nursing, and insurance frameworks.
Cities must also enhance their infrastructure to better accommodate older individuals, he states. Drawing from Germany's present dependence on foreign caregivers, he suggests that Vietnam should begin investing in caregiver education at an early stage.
If Vietnam promptly invests in training and improved working environments for caregivers, it will effectively manage the challenges of an aging population.
Hisaoka also held the view that Vietnam's tradition of respect for elders and family bonds is crucial, and proposed three models from Japan that could be applicable in Vietnam.
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| An elderly care facility in Xuan Mai, Hanoi, is guided by expert Takanori Hisaoka regarding the implementation of technology for senior care and the training of caregivers. In the image, senior residents are having lunch in August 2024. Photo by VnExpress/ Phan Duong |
The initial model consists of small-sized, multi-purpose community care centers that integrate daytime services, temporary stays, and home-based care within local areas. This method enables older adults to preserve their usual routines and lowers operational expenses while maintaining high standards of care.
Rather than constructing major facilities, this approach reduces costs while maintaining the standard of living and enabling family members to keep their jobs.
In Japan, it is commonly found in residential areas, and in Vietnam, where community ties are still robust, it could be readily implemented, Hisaoka noted. "Families continue to be the primary caregivers; they just utilize daytime or short-term services as required."
The second model is referred to as a "group home," which is a shared living environment accommodating between six and ten individuals, structured to resemble a family atmosphere, and proves particularly effective for people suffering from dementia.
The third model is referred to as "assisted independent living," designed for wealthier elderly individuals residing in private apartments that feature medical, dietary, and round-the-clock care monitoring services.
Gnadt stated that Vietnam needs to adopt a dual approach, focusing on diversifying care facilities in the short term while enhancing family support networks and promoting couples to have two children in the long run. "Elderly care is a test of social governance."
If Vietnam begins investing in infrastructure, education, and family assistance at an early stage, the process of aging could turn into a chance to enhance the standard of living and promote economic development instead of turning into a challenge.