169 exemplary older people honoured in patriotic emulation movements

The event honoured 169 exemplary older people for their achievements in patriotic emulation movements during 2016-2026 and marked the 85th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Older Persons.

Opening the conference, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, said June 6, 1941 marked a historic milestone when leader Nguyen Ai Quoc called on patriotic elders to unite and contribute to the struggle for national liberation. He said the appeal helped foster patriotism, self-reliance and a sense of responsibility among generations of older Vietnamese.

According to Binh, the “Older Persons - Bright Examples” movement launched by the association has developed into a broad campaign, encouraging older people to contribute to economic development, maintain social order, help build grassroots political systems, support new-style rural development and preserve traditional cultural values.

The association has also taken part in proposing and developing policies related to older people as Vietnam enters a period of rapid population ageing. These include the National Strategy on Older Persons through 2035 with a vision to 2045, a project encouraging older people to participate in digital transformation, green transition, entrepreneurship and job creation, and a programme to expand the intergenerational self-help club model during 2025-2035, Binh said.

Binh noted that more than 9,000 intergenerational self-help clubs are now operating nationwide, while support programmes for older people have continued to expand in recent years.

At the conference, he called on the Government to introduce mechanisms and policies to unlock resources and promote the development of Vietnam’s “silver economy”. He also suggested that the National Committee on Vietnamese Older Persons convene a meeting in July 2026 to review results achieved in the first half of the year and discuss priorities for the period ahead.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra said the Party and State have consistently attached importance to caring for, protecting and promoting the role of older people through policies aimed at improving their quality of life, healthcare and social participation.

To sustain the effectiveness of patriotic emulation movements among older people, she called for greater efforts to research and develop Vietnam’s silver economy and expand products and services suited to an ageing society.

She underscored the need to offer favourable conditions for older people to continue contributing their experience, knowledge and expertise through production and business activities, vocational mentoring, consultancy and other contributions.

She also highlighted the importance of developing long-term care, rehabilitation and community-based care services, while expanding cultural, sports and lifelong learning opportunities for older people.

At the conference, Deputy PM Tra presented a third-class Labour Order to the Central Office of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly. The event also helps spread the spirit of the “Older Persons - Bright Examples” movement and uphold Vietnam’s tradition of respecting and caring for the elderly.

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