LSAHV_Infographics_EN

Edited by
Published by Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia
Reference: N.C. Vu, M.T. Tran, L.T. Dang, C.L. Chei and Y. Saito (eds.) (2020), Ageing and Health in Viet Nam. Jakarta:
ERIA and PHAD.
Report may be accessed at https://www.eria.org/publications/ageing-and-health-in-viet-nam/ for more information.
Nguyen Cong Vu
Mai Thi Tran
Linh Thuy Dang
Choy-Lye Chei
Yasuhiko Saito
AGING AND HEALTH
IN VIET NAM

2018
LONGITUDINAL
STUDY OF
AGEING AND
HEALTH IN
VIET NAM
The Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in Viet Nam
(LSAHV) is the first longitudinal, nationally representative
study on ageing in Viet Nam, implemented by the Institute
of Population, Health and Development (PHAD).
The study aims to:
(1) investigate the health status and well-being of the
Vietnamese older people,
(2) assess the determinants of health status and
transitions in health status and overall well-being.
The LSAHV is part of a comparative study of ageing and
health in Viet Nam and the Philippines, and is funded by the
Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA).
This study provides information on the various aspects
coming from 6,050 people aged 60 and above, their
caregivers and adult children. The deeper understanding of
ageing and health in the country which be useful for future
plans and policies on the older population.
ERIA and PHAD.

WHO ARE THE
VIETNAMESE OLDER?
SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE
Non-religion
68%
Average number of children ever born 4.1
Mean age
Currently married/
Living-in
With at least
high school education
Currently working
Mean age at first child
70
82%
27
38%
27%
Mean age
Currently married/
Living-in
With at least
high school education
Currently working
Mean age at first child
71
47%
25
31%
17%
Mean age 71
Currently married/Living-in
62%
are living in rural area
67%
ERIA and PHAD.
57% Female
43% Male

HEALTH STATUS
BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)
SELF-RATED HEALTH
UNDERWEIGHT
(< 18.50)
NORMAL
(18.5–24.99)
OVERWEIGHT
(25–29.99)
OBESE
(≥ 30)
1%
69%
18%
12%
2%
65%
14%
19%
More older men are underweight, while more
older women are overweight or obese.
3 in 10 Vietnamese older
adults consider themselves as
“somewhat or very unhealthy”
8%
Nearly 1 in 10 Vietnamese older adults
had a fall in the past 12 months.
Of whose who fell, 38% injured
themselves serious enough to need
medical treatment.
71% Are currently taking
medication among
those with heart
condition.
MEAN NUMBER OF ORIGINAL TEETH
12% people aged 80+ no longer have any of
original teeth.
Male Female Both sexes
46%
MOST COMMON DIAGNOSED ILLNESSES
ARTHRITIS
CHRONIC
BACK PAIN
HIGHT BLOOD
PRESSURE
41% 30%
23 22 22
In general, Vietnamese older adults still have
22 original teeth. And 5% have no remaining
original teeth.
Have ever had
heart attack.
10
ERIA and PHAD.

4%
8%
25%
8%
FUNCTIONAL HEALTH
FUNCTIONAL DIFICULTIES
5%
12%
33%
12%
3%
6%
26%
8%
MOST COMMON ADL DIFFICULTIES
Vietnamese older adults find it most
difficult to go outside (leave the
house), take a bath/shower, and
stand up from a bed/chair, sit down
on a chair; and increase with
advanced age.
1Activities of Daily Living (ADL) are disability measures which cover
basic tasks of every life without assistance from a person or
assistive device.
2Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) are disability
measures which include more complex skills in order to live
independently.
3Bedridden in the past two weeks is used to assess short-term immobility that
was proximately capturing acute functional decline
4Nagi’s functional measures include 10 question to assess functional loss or
limitation.
FUNCTIONAL LOSS
% who experienced difficulty in
performing any of the 10 Nagi4 activities
64%
54%
87%
70%
60 - 69 70 - 79 80+
ACTIVITIES OF
DAILY LIVING (ADL)1
INSTRUMENTAL
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
LIVING (IADL)2
BEDRIDDEN
DURING THE PAST
TWO WEEK3
7%
16%
41%
18%
34%
62%
1%
3%
7%
Go outside
(leave the house)
Take a
bath/shower
Stand up from a
bed/chair, sit
down on a chair
More older men
reported functional
difficulties than women.
There is increasing
functional difficulties
with advanced age.
60 - 69 70 - 79 80+ Total
ERIA and PHAD.
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY
LIVING (ADL)
NAGI ACTIVTIES
54%
24%
13%
71%
34%
17%
INSTRUMENTAL ACTIVITIES
OF DAILY LIVING (IADL)

ECONOMIC WELL-BEING
SELF-RATED ADEQUACY OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME
SOURCES OF INCOME OF VIETNAMESE OLDER ADUTLS
Money from children in the
country and work are the
most common sources of
income of Vietnamese older
adults.
39%
Money from children in the country
37%
Earning form work
24%
Pension
16%
Income from family business 11%
Government subsidy
MOST IMPORTANT SOURCES OF INCOME
CHILDREN IN THE
COUNTRY
FROM WORK
PENSION
FAMILY
BUSINESS
GOVERNMENT
SUBSIDY
8%
34%
16%
25%
9%
8%
29%
24%
21%
7%
More older women than
men have income from
children while more older
men than women have
income from work.
4 in 10 older adults
receive money from
children in the country
but only a half
considers this source
as the most important
income sources.
15% older adults
have difficulty in
meeting household
expenses, increasing
with advanced age.
$
32% older adults
have enough household
income with some
money leftover.
Reference: N.C. Vu, M.T. Tran, L.T. Dang, C.L. Chei and Y. Saito (eds.) (2020), Ageing and Health in Viet Nam. Jakarta: ERIA
and PHAD.

HEALTHCARE &
HEALTHCARE UTILIZATION
INPATIENT & OUTPATIENT CARE UTILIZATION
More Vietnamese older
women than men use
healthcare utilization.
OUTPATIENT
CARE
INPATIENT
CARE
Male
27%
Female
30%
Male
24%
Female
26%
An average of times stayed
overnight in health facility in the
past year is 2 times
60 - 69 70 - 79 80+ Total
INPATIENT CARE (%)
20
23
26
22
26
31
33
28
OUTPATIENT CARE (%)
Vietnamese
older adults
91%
have Health Insurance.
LONG TERM CARE
2 in 10 Vietnamese older adults are currently
receiving long term care (LTC) because of
continuing condition of ill health or disability.
UNMET NEED FOR HEALTHCARE
13% Vietnam older adults felt ill and
thought about seeing a doctor but did not
in the past 12 months.
The most important reason for not seeing
a doctor is not having enough money
60 - 69
70 - 79
80+
Total
37%
32%
38%
16%
24%
34%
36%
LTC
ERIA and PHAD.

FAMILY SUPPORT &
INTERGENERATIONAL EXCHANGES
SUPPORT EXCHANGES
IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS
Vietnamese Older parents
receive supports from both
their co-resident and non-
co-resident children, and
increases with age.
WITH CO-RESIDENT CHILDREN
WITH NON-CO-RESIDENT CHILDREN
FINANCIAL
SUPPORT
29%
60%
26%
70%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
MATERIAL
SUPPORT
30%
75%
33%
67%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
INSTRUMENTAL
SUPPORT
28%
50%
25%
62%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT
77%
84%
78%
85%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
FINANCIAL
SUPPORT
20%
59%
18%
64%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
MATERIAL
SUPPORT
19%
63%
21%
58%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
INSTRUMENTAL
SUPPORT
10%
28%
11%
32%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT
78%
85%
77%
85%
Provider
Recipient
Provider
Recipient
receive monthly
36%
financial support from any
of their children.
Provide a large
6%
amount of money to any
child in the past 12
months.
Older parents also
provide supports to their
children.
the level of assistance they
received from children.
are satisfied with
93%
children for financial support.
25% plan to rely on
Emotional support is the
most common exchange
between older parents
and their children.
ERIA and PHAD.

LIVING ARRANGEMENT
& RESIDENTIAL HISTORY
14%
23%
50%
10%
2
13%
27%
48%
8%
2
14%
25%
49%
9%
2
IDEAL LIVING
ARRANGEMENT
Total
Male
Female
Living alone
11%
9%
61%
19%
Male
4%
Female
12%
With children
living in the
same village
Male
47%
Female
60%
61%
57%
Male
60%
Female
63%
Living with spouse
Male
27%
Female
14%
Living with at least one child
Others
CURRENT
LIVING
ARRANGEMENT
Live by themselves
Live by themselves
but near one or more
children
Live with a son
Rotate residence
among children
Live with a daughter
RESIDENTIAL HISTORY
41% have never moved out
of their place of birth.
Vietnamese older adults have been living
in their current residence for 47 years
61% want to live in rural areas.
Only 1% with intention to migrate
within the next 2 years.
6 in 10 Vietnamese older adults are
currently living with at least one child.
And a half prefer to live among their
children in rotation.
ERIA and PHAD.

ATTITUDES TOWARDS
HOMES FOR THE AGED
50%
38%
12%
OLDER ADULTS
THINK IT IS A
GOOD IDEA TO
HAVE HOMES
FOR AGED IN
VIET NAM
NO
YES
IT DEPENDS
70%
24%
13%
8%
Will miss family
Do not want to live with strangers
Expensive
Shameful for the family
46%
The family should take care of
Why Not?
52%
54%
58%
67%
Better chance to socialize
with people of same age
Health will be better
taken care of
Spare the family from burden
of caring for the OP
Beneficial for those who have
no one to care for them
Why?
More than a half of older adults think it depends if children
do not treat their older parents well or the conditions and
treatment in the home for the aged are good.
A half of Vietnamese older adults think it
is good idea to have homes for aged but
only 18% want to live there if it is near
their current residence.
18%
70%
13%
NO
YES
IT DEPENDS
WANT TO LIVE IN
HOMES FOR AGED
IF IT IS NEAR YOUR
CURRENT
RESIDENCE
35%
41%
43%
58%
If children do not treat parent swell
If condition and treatment are good
If older adults are abandoned
If children do not want to take
care of their older parents
40%
If older adults has no child
On What?
Among those
answered yes or it
depends, 44% want
to live in homes for
the aged now.
More older men want to live in homes
for aged than older women.
ERIA and PHAD.

GRANDPARENTING
REASONS FOR BEING SOLDELY IN CHARGE OF
TAKING CARE OF GRANDCHILDREN
Vietnamese older adults have any
grandchildren from own, step, and
adopted children.
60 - 69
80+
23%
8%
19%
70 - 79
18%
Nearly 1 in every 5 older adults partially or fully
involved in the care of any of their grandchildren.
On average, they became grandparents at about
51 years old.
91%
The involvement in taking care of any of the
grandchildren is similar between older men and
women and it decreases with age.
48%
56%
42%
Parents of grandchild is
working outside the town
but within the country
13%
5%
18%
Grandchildren prefer to
live with older people
11%
10%
12%
Grandchild is orphaned
8%
2%
12%
Grandchild’s parents are
separated
6%
10%
3%
Grandchild’s parents are
not married
4%
8%
2%
Grandchild’s parent is
working abroad
Among those take care of
grandchildren, 71% are living
with and 22% are solely in
charge of taking care of any
grandchild.
Total
Male
Female
% who take care of any
grandchildren
ERIA and PHAD.

ACTIVITIES AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
DAILY ACTIVITIES
60 - 69
70 - 79
80+
Total
80%
86%
78%
59%
WATCH TV
35%
41%
34%
16%
GARDENING
32%
34%
33%
27%
LISTENS TO RADIO
PHYSICAL EXCERCISES
26%
30%
25%
15%
31%
35%
30%
20%
HANGOUT WITH FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
14%
16%
13%
6%
READ NEWSPAPERS, BOOKS
10%
12%
8%
6%
ATTEND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
Only 1% older adults watch
movies outside the house.
WATCH MOVIES IN CINEMAS
Only 2% older adults
gamble for leisure.
GAMBLING FOR LEISURE
35% among those with internet
access have social network account.
58%
CELLPHONE
2%
TABLE
2%
LAPTOP
13%
WITH ACCESS TO INTERNET
% Older adults own any of following
90% older adults use IT for calling friends and family.
A half do not need any assistance in using IT gadgets.
RELIGIOUSE ACTIVITIES
About one third of older adults attend
religious activities at home with other
family members.
1 in 10 older adults
consider religion is
very important in
their lives.
More older women than men
participate in religious activities.
3% older adults is
currently members of
religious groups.
Vietnamese older adults have a combination of a
sedentary and physical lifestyle. In general, older
men are more actively participated in daily activities
than women. Their participation decreases with
advanced age.
24% are members of any type of non-religious
organizations.
10% are engaged in any volunteer work in pagoda,
church or community.
ERIA and PHAD.

It is better for the elderly parent to live
with a daughter than with a son. 46%
GENERATIVITY,
ATTITUTES, AND BELIEFS
GENERATIVITY
Vietnamese older men outscore in all of
six generative concerns.
HAVE IMPORTANT SKILLS TO
PASS ALONG TO OTHERS
19%
FEEL NEEDED BY OTHER PEOPLE
18%
HAVE A GOOD INFLUENCE ON
THE LIVES OF OTHER PEOPLE
18%
LIKE TO TEACH THINGS TO
OTHER PEOPLE
15%
MANY PEOPLE GO TO THEM FOR
ADVICE
11%
HAVE MADE UNIQUE
CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY
9%
% say the following generative concerns happen
FAIRLY/VERY OFTEN OR NEARLY ALWAYS
ATTITUTES AND BELIEFS
It is the child's duty to support and take
care of older/aged parents. 98%
It is acceptable for someone in their
60's or older to fall in love. 57%
It is acceptable for someone in their
60's or older to (re)marry if they find a
suitable partner.
53%
It is acceptable for children who looked
after parents to inherit larger portions of
their estate when they pass away.
79%
Men should work for the family, and
women should stay home and take care
of the household.
59%
It is the parents' duty to do their best
for their children even at the expense
of their own wellbeing.
76%
% agree with the following statements
Most of Vietnamese older adults have traditional
beliefs pertaining to family, gender roles, and age-
appropriate behavior.
Younger older adults have higher level of
generative concerns.
ERIA and PHAD.

SOCIAL ISOLATION
AND LONELINESS
SOCIAL ISOLATION and
LONELINESS among
Vietnamese older adults is
LOW
from RELATIVES from FRIEND
12%
12%
13%
11%
10%
12%
% who do not see or hear
from any relatives / friends
at least once a month
17%
16%
18%
16%
14%
17%
% who do not feel at ease
with any relatives / friends to
talk about private matters
17%
18%
16%
15%
14%
15%
% who do not feel close to any
relatives / friends such that
they could call on for help
More older women than men have experienced the
feeling of loneliness and this emotion increases with age.
Feeling of social isolation from any friends increases with age
while this feeling from any relatives decrease when aging.
Are satisfied or very satisfied
with their level of contact
with friends.
91%
Are satisfied or very satisfied with
their level of contact with non-co-
resident relatives.
92%
4%
5%
Female
3%
Male
LACK COMPANIONSHIP
2%
2%
Female
1%
Male
LEFT OUT
2%
1%
Female
2%
Male
ISOLATED FROM OTHERS
% who said they felt the following ALWAYS OR FAIRLY OFTEN
Total
Female
Male
ERIA and PHAD.

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