Promoting Healthy Ageing and Digital Inclusion in Vietnam: Exemplars of Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs and Evidence from the National Survey on Ageing in Vietnam (VNAS)

Thet Htoo Pan, Quyen Ngoc Tran, Giang Thanh Long, Myo Nyein Aung and Nico De Witte

Report in Japanese  Report in Thai  Report in Spanish  Report in Vietnamese 

Digitally Inclusive Healthy Ageing Communities (DIHAC) is a cross-cultural study primarily based on Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand, further expanding to India, Malaysia and other countries through collaboration. We organize bi-monthly cross-cultural exchange meetings to create trans-disciplinary learning opportunities. The DIHAC meeting marks its 28th time on April 23, 2025. We have privileged to learn from Vietnam’s initiatives on healthy ageing and digital inclusion since Vietnam is one of the fastest-ageing countries in the world (1).

Principle investigator of the DIHAC study, Associate Professor Myo Nyein Aung, Department of Global Health Research, Juntendo University, Japan welcomed the participants. More than 40 participants engaged in the 28th DIHAC meeting, including researchers in global health and public health, faculties from universities, clinicians, government officials, community stakeholders, CEO and professional representatives from INGOs and graduate students from Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, India, Kenya, Belgium, Switzerland, Ukraine and the UK. 

We are honored to have Professor Nico De Witte, Ph.D., Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), co-founder of the Belgian Ageing Studies, Belgium as the chairperson of the 28th DIHAC meeting. In his address, Professor De Witte emphasized that ageing in today’s capitalist society comes with uncertainties, as older adults face financial instability and societal neglect despite their invaluable contributions. Reflecting global trends, the DIHAC meetings introduce digital inclusions and community innovative healthy ageing projects. Recognizing digital access as a fundamental right and a key aspect of social participation, the chairperson called for a reimagining of healthy ageing—advocating for societies that embrace and support every generation.

Figure: Chairperson Professor Nico De Witte, speakers, international audience and DIHAC study team at the 28th DIHAC meeting

Presentation 1: Community Based Care and Digital Inclusion for Older Persons in Vietnam

The first specker was Mr. Quyen Ngoc Tran, Global Older People Association Development Advisor, HelpAge International. He shared Vietnam’s unique community-based care model and digital inclusion projects through Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHC). ISHC provides social care, personal care, living support and healthcare services (2). These services are managed by the care managers, supported by care volunteers and local health professionals. By 2024, over 8,400 clubs with more than 484,000 members and 60,000 care volunteers operate across Vietnam. Support from the government policies expands the clubs further.

The ISHCs also empower older adults through digital literacy programs by teaching basic and advanced digital skills. Contents include how to operate smartphones and computers, creating videos, and sharing online communication tools such as YouTube, Facebook, and ZALO websites. The digital training extends to family members, and local partners such as The Vietnam Association for the Older People. The programs also connect home-bound and bed-bound older adults, as well as uses data dashboards for monitoring and evaluation. While challenges like ageism exist, these programs improve well-being, with 95-98% reported being happier and healthier.

• The Intergenerational Self-help Club models showed how community-driven approaches can promote healthy ageing.
• ISHCs serve as a replicable model in resource-limited countries through collaboration with local older people organizations.
  

Presentation 2: Measuring Healthy Ageing in Vietnam applying the National Survey on Ageing in Vietnam (VNAS)

The second speaker was Dr. Giang Thanh Long, Professor of National Economics University in Hanoi, Vietnam. Professor Long presented findings from two waves of National Survey on Ageing in Vietnam (VNAS) in 2019 and 2022, measuring healthy ageing using healthy ageing index (HAI). The national representative survey included 6,232 older people aged 60 and over. The HAI consists of 22 items across six domains such as physical health, mental well-being, and community engagement. He highlighted key factors determining health ageing, including age, education, wealth, social contributions, and healthcare utilization. Lower HAI scores were associated with older age, living with children, and reliance on social allowances. In contrast, higher scores were likely to be those who completed primary education and active participation in wealthier groups.

The findings highlight the importance of life-long learning, which fosters social connections and educational infrastructure, as higher education levels contribute to healthy ageing outcomes. The speaker emphasized enhancing healthcare access to vulnerable groups and establishing long-term care services to address functional decline and improve the quality of life for older adults. Discussions also delved on Vietnam’s transforming pension system, which currently covers only 40% of older adults, as well as increasing retirement ages and the role of age-friendly workplaces. Partnerships with enterprises such as Japan, Korea, and Thailand will help to create employment system that keeps older adults socially active and financially stable. 

• Social support from families and communities are important for healthy ageing, whilst community-based clubs like ISHCs playing a vital role (3). Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, these clubs ensured older adults received prioritized care.
• The National Survey on Ageing in Vietnam (VNAS) is a novel study on healthy ageing in Vietnam.

In conclusion, the 28th DIHAC cross-cultural exchange meeting shared exemplars to promote healthy ageing and digital inclusion of older adults in Vietnam through community-based models and evidence-based national data. PI Dr. Myo announced the upcoming 29th DIHAC meeting in June 2025.

References

1. Glinskaya EE, De Kleine Feige AI, Thi V, Hoang L, Long GT, Hoang T, et al. Vietnam-adapting to an aging society. 2021.
2. HelpAge International. Vietnam’s Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs 2025 [Available from: https://www.helpage.org/helpage-at-40/vietnams-intergenerational-self-help-clubs/.
3. Giang LT, Nguyen NT, Nguyen TT, Le HQ, Tran NTT. Social Support Effect on Health of Older People in Vietnam: Evidence from a National Aging Survey. Ageing International. 2020;45(4):344-60.

Authors

Thet Htoo Pan, M.D., is Ph.D. student at the Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

Quyen Ngoc Tran, Global Older People Association Development Advisor, HelpAge International

Giang Thanh Long , PhD, Professor of National Economics University in Hanoi, Vietnam

Myo Nyein Aung, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Department of Global Health Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan

Nico De Witte, Ph.D., Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Belgium, co-founder of the Belgian Ageing Studies