Professional caregiving matters to Vietnam’s growing aging population

THE HANOI TIMES — As Vietnam is among the countries with the fastest aging populations, the push to professionalize elder care has become urgent, especially as the nation eyes developed status by 2045.

The rapid growth of the elderly population creates significant healthcare and social challenges, resulting in an urgent need for support, particularly high-quality long-term care. This situation has prompted joint efforts among Vietnamese stakeholders and international partners to address these issues.

Professional caregiving actions shared commitment to a more inclusive, equitable, and compassionate society as it will contribute to caregivers receiving quality training, fairer pay, and meaningful careers, while ensuring quality care for older persons, said Sarah Hooper, Australian Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City.

In this regard, a robust professional care economy reduces women’s unpaid care responsibilities, enabling them to participate in the economy and contribute to Vietnam’s sustainable growth, she told The Hanoi Times.

Latest data by the General Statistics Office showed that the number of Vietnamese citizens aged 60 and above reached 14.2 million in 2024, up 49% from 2014. It is projected that by 2030, this number will rise 27% to approximately 18 million.

Additionally, data show that many elderly Vietnamese persons live with multiple chronic conditions, which require specialized and continuous care.

Meanwhile, challenging traditional family structures together with work-life pressures substantially limit family’s ability to provide comprehensive care at home, driving the need to develop a professional and structured caregiving service sector.

To bring thorough solutions, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) – Ho Chi Minh Regional Branch, with support from Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, last weekend organized the workshop “Professionalizing the Caregiving Sector – A Driving Force for Developing Elderly Care Services in Vietnam Towards Gender Equality and Comprehensive Care.”

Importance of professionalizing caregiving

Addressing the workshop, Tran Ngoc Liem, Director of VCCI Ho Chi Minh Regional Branch, stressed the importance of discussions by experts, policymakers, businesses, and stakeholders on the potential, current challenges, and opportunities to improve care services, especially through professionalizing the caregiving workforce.

“We believe this is a strategic move that not only enhances the quality of life for the elderly but also opens up a promising socio-economic sector,” said Liem.

Sharing the same idea, Sarah Hooper said: “Australia is pleased to support the partnership between Investing in Women and VCCI Ho Chi Minh Regional Branch to professionalize caregiving, in collaboration with Melbourne Polytechnic and Hong Duc Hospital.”

During the workshop, the Autralia-funded GRACE (Gender-Responsive Innovations for Equitable Aged Care) Project was launched to develop a high-quality workforce in aged care, expand career opportunities for middle-aged workers and encourage private sector participation in caregiving services.

The workshop featured experts from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and representatives from businesses and organisations, including the Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly and the Ho Chi Minh City Women’s Union. 

Funded by Investing in Women, an initiative advancing the Australian Government’s commitment to accelerating women’s economic empowerment in Southeast Asia by helping women thrive in the workplace and succeed in business, GRACE aims to build a sustainable support ecosystem for non-medical caregiving.

It will help caregivers, especially middle-aged workers, access structured vocational training, find suitable jobs, and importantly, gain professional and social recognition, shaping a new, deeply humane profession with sustainable growth potential and increasing importance in modern society.

Bui Thi Ninh, Deputy General Director of VCCI Ho Chi Minh Regional Branch, said the demand for elderly care in Vietnam is very high. However, most caregivers today are informal workers relying on experience without formal training, leading to inconsistent service quality and a lack of professionalism.

Moreover, caregiving is not yet officially recognized as a legitimate profession, so caregivers are undervalued and underpaid, leading to a severe shortage of qualified caregivers.

“We believe that by professionalising caregiving, the GRACE project meets the growing societal demand and serves as a significant step in our collective effort to improve the quality of life for Vietnamese older persons,” she stated.

GRACE is committed to enhancing the quality of training programs for caregivers through close collaboration with various government agencies, professional associations, and reputable educational and training institutions.

Notably, for the first time in Vietnam, the micro-credential form of training model is applied in the GRACE project through the partnership with Australia-based Melbourne Polytechnic that quickly responds to the evolving skill requirements of today’s labour market, enhancing caregivers’ status and expertise while ensuring stable and fair income.