With 16.5 million older persons, accounting for around 16% of the population, Vietnam has made a strong shift from awareness to action, turning the challenges of population ageing into opportunities to improve its healthcare and comprehensive social security systems. Refining policies, expanding social protectionAccording to the latest statistics, the country’s average life expectancy has reached 74.7 years, with healthy life expectancy standing at 65.4 years. Currently, more than 2.4 million older persons nationwide receive monthly social allowances and social pensions, with total State budget spending nearing 7 trillion VND (266.46 million USD). Older persons are no longer viewed as a “burden”; instead, they are increasingly becoming a new driving force for social development through the “silver economy” and community activities. A comprehensive recognition of both challenges and opportunities in this context will provide an important basis for policymaking, while encouraging economic stakeholders to invest in sectors that better meet the needs of older persons and enhance their role in the country’s next stage of development./.
