The event, co-organized by the Vietnam Association of the Elderly and the Ministry of Health of Vietnam with the participation of related agencies, took place in a hybrid format linking the Government headquarters with provinces and cities nationwide.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long, Chairman of the National Committee on Ageing, attended along with leaders of central and local agencies and representatives of international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office in Vietnam.

Opening the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh described the theme as strategically important for the country’s sustainable development and significant in shaping public awareness. He said the issue, though relatively new, has become increasingly relevant as populations age rapidly both globally and in Vietnam.

The Government leader noted that the global situation continues to evolve rapidly and remains complex and unpredictable, with issues related to energy security, food security, monetary policy, fiscal policy and macroeconomic stability continuing to emerge.

 In that context, Vietnam needs to identify new drivers and resources for development to help resolve existing challenges and mitigate negative impacts from global developments.

He said these new drivers and resources should stimulate both supply and demand, promote development and ensure social fairness, progress, equality and social security.

Globally, the silver economy has become an inevitable trend. Data from the United Nations Population Fund indicate that around 58 million people worldwide join the elderly population each year, and the number is expected to more than double by 2050. Average global life expectancy continues to rise, reaching 73.5 years in 2025, while people aged 80 and above represent the fastest-growing population group.

Vietnam officially entered the stage of population ageing in 2011, and the number of elderly people has been increasing rapidly. According to relevant agencies, as of March 2025 the country had nearly 17 million elderly people. This trend presents both challenges and opportunities, thus creating pressure on social security systems while also encouraging innovation in growth models and sustainable development.

The documents of the 14th National Party Congress regard elderly people not only as beneficiaries of social welfare but also as an important part of the country’s human resources. They also set targets for Vietnam to achieve a Human Development Index (HDI) of around 0.8, increase average life expectancy to about 75.5 years, including at least 68 years of healthy life, and place the country among the top 40 nations in the global happiness ranking.

These orientations provide a political foundation for developing the silver economy. The Party Central Committee’s Policy and Strategy Commission has been tasked with developing a proposal on the silver economy in Vietnam to improve the welfare and quality of life of older people while mobilizing their contributions to socio-economic development.

The government has issued a National Strategy on the Elderly to 2035. Resolution No. 36 of the government dated March 6, 2026, following the government’s regular meeting for February 2026, also outlines measures to promote high-quality healthcare services, considered a core pillar of the silver economy.

Looking ahead, PM Chinh said Vietnam’s political and legal foundations for the development of the silver economy are taking shape through the Party’s guidelines and the state’s policies and legislation on adapting to population ageing, caring for older people, promoting their role in society and expanding social security for the elderly.

Chinh stressed the importance of building a shared understanding that older people should not be viewed as a burden but as a valuable resource for national development. Quoting President Ho Chi Minh in a letter to elderly citizens nationwide in June 1941, he highlighted the important role older people play in families, communities and society.

The conference, he said, provides a forum to discuss key issues related to the silver economy. He called on participants to focus on international experience and how Vietnam can adapt its policies and strategies; assess the implementation of the national strategy on the elderly in response to population ageing; and propose models for developing the silver economy suited to Vietnam’s conditions, including through digital transformation, green transition, the circular economy and innovation.

He also urged discussion of solutions to transform population ageing from a burden into an opportunity for economic development, ensuring social security while making full use of the potential of older people and promoting social progress, equality and humanitarian values.

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