Healthy aging in Vietnam: A review of health burden, functional decline, and nursing care implications in older adults

Background: Population aging has become one of the most significant demographic transitions worldwide, with major implications for health systems, long-term care, and nursing practice. Vietnam is among the fastest-aging countries in Asia, with rapid increases in life expectancy and the proportion of adults aged 60 years and older. This demographic transition has been accompanied by a growing burden of chronic diseases, functional decline, frailty, and dependence in activities of daily living. Understanding the multidimensional health burden of older adults is essential for designing age-friendly health systems and strengthening geriatric nursing care. This review aimed to synthesize current evidence on healthy aging in Vietnam, focusing on disease burden, functional decline, healthcare utilization, and implications for nursing practice.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using peer-reviewed literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, World Health Organization, Global Burden of Disease databases, and official Vietnamese health statistics. Studies published between 2000 and 2025 were searched using keywords including “older adults”, “healthy aging”, “frailty”, “functional decline”, “geriatric nursing”, and “Vietnam”. Eligible studies included epidemiological studies, systematic reviews, national surveys, and international reports focusing on health conditions and aging-related outcomes in Vietnam.
Results: Evidence indicates that Vietnam’s aging population is increasing rapidly, with older adults experiencing high prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, stroke, frailty, depression, cognitive decline, and mobility limitations. Functional impairment, polypharmacy, and increasing dependence on family caregivers represent major healthcare challenges. Rural–urban disparities and limitations in long-term care systems further complicate healthy aging. Nursing care plays a critical role in chronic disease management, functional assessment, fall prevention, caregiver education, and community-based elderly care.
Conclusions: Healthy aging in Vietnam requires integrated healthcare strategies that combine disease prevention, functional preservation, and long-term supportive care. Strengthening geriatric nursing capacity and expanding community-based elderly care services are essential for improving health outcomes and quality of life among older adults.