Vietnam faces ' rapidly aging population'

	Vietnamese community in Ukraine - Fulcrum in the raging pandemic
	Many elderly people participate in phase two human trials of Made-in-Vietnam Covid-19 vaccine
	First-ever mobile app to provide health care information and services to the elderly in Vietnam

According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam has entered the aging stage since 2019. The country now has 10.4 million people over 65 years old, accounting for 7.7% of the total 92.6 million people. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

On the morning of April 15, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University in Hanoi) and the Hanns Seidel Foundation held a seminar to announce the national report "Vietnam as an aging society".

According to Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, United Nations Population Fund, since 2011, Vietnam has become aware of its aging population. According to forecasts, by 2036 Vietnam will enter an aging population stage and 2047 will enter a super-aging population stage - similar to what Japan is currently experiencing.

The report assesses that Vietnam's population is still in the golden period, (from 2005 to 2035), yet will soon face the aging stage.

However, it is worth mentioning that, the rate of aging in Vietnam's population is rapidly increasing. If in Sweden and Australia, a new generation takes 85 years and 73 years respectively to age, Vietnam's young generation has started aging after only 25 years.

The above report also generalizes the current aging situation in Vietnam as "getting old though not yet got rich", reflecting the risk that Vietnamese may have too few resources to prepare for their future when they get old. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh, the editor of the above report, said: "Since 2015, Vietnam's aging rate has quickly increased, which is especially concerned for a country in the process of economic transition and development as Vietnam, requiring changes in policy to adapt".

The above report also generalizes the current aging situation in Vietnam as "getting old though not yet got rich", reflecting the risk that Vietnamese may have too few resources to prepare for their future when they get old.

The "Vietnam as an aging society" report shows that from87 to 89% of deaths due to non-communicable diseases are found in the elderly, while 16% of people over 60 years old have experienced physical and emotional violence in Vietnam. There are 36.5% of people in the 60 to 64-year-old group suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes; while 70% of the ethnic minorities living in poverty are locals in the North and Central Highlands.

Meanwhile, the fund for salary, social insurance, and social allowance provided for the elderly in Vietnam are still limited.

The reporting team and experts both agreed on the "give them the fishing rod instead of the fish" view, which means, in addition to change specific policies to better care for the elderly, there is a need to change social awareness about the role of the elderly, support the elderly to participate in and contribute to social activities.

Non-communicable disease prevention and control improved in Vietnam The HelpAge International in Vietnam (HAIV) recently has successfully organized the first training course on Non-communicable Disease Management and Prevention in the northern province of ...

UNFPA supports Vietnam protect older people from COVID-19 While the coronavirus spreads amongst persons of all ages, older persons and those with underlying medical conditions are at an increasing risk of developing severe ...

First group of elderly volunteers injected with Sputnik V vaccine The first group of volunteers aged 60 and older has been vaccinated against the novel coronavirus with Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, said Chief Researcher of ...