Silver Economy in Vietnam: Structural Transformation and New Models in Elderly Care

In Vietnam, official data indicates that the elderly population, which reached 14.2 million in 2024, is projected to rise to 28 million by 2050.
The Growing Need for Professional Care The weakening of traditional multi-generational family structures, coupled with rapid urbanization and industrialization, is increasingly limiting the capacity for home-based elderly care.
This situation has made the development of professional care facilities an urgent social necessity.
Experts point out that Vietnam possesses a significant young workforce potential that can be trained in elderly care to meet this demand.
With the right training and incentive mechanisms, this workforce could become the cornerstone of a sustainable nursing home system.
State Policies and Strategic Goals Elderly care is among the strategic priorities of the Vietnamese government.
Resolution No.
72-NQ/TW, adopted by the Politburo, aims to modernize elderly care facilities and integrate these centers with medical rehabilitation services.
Action programs currently in effect support the participation of the elderly in social life while preparing the legal infrastructure for the creation of new care models.
Sectoral Challenges and Current Status The development of the silver economy faces several key obstacles, including high investment costs, operating expenses, and a shortage of qualified personnel.
While the construction and technological equipping of modern facilities require significant capital, a large portion of the elderly population has limited access to these services.
Additionally, cultural biases against professional care continue to impact the sector's growth rate.
With more than 400 existing nursing homes concentrated primarily in major cities, there is a clear need to expand private sector investment and service quality across the entire country.