Vietnam’s population is in the process of rapid aging, with people aged 65 and above estimated to account for 13 percent of the total number by 2020, according to a report.

Vietnam now has about 11.3 million elderly people, including about 350,000 aged 90 upwards, and 1.8 million aged 80 and above. Vietnamese people have an average longevity of 74 years and up to 70 percent of its elderly people live in rural areas. About 96 percent of the elderly people have public health insurance cards. Nearly 100 central- and provincial-level hospitals have geriatric departments accommodating over 8,000 elderly-prioritised beds.    Experts suggested that Vietnam should complete policies to create favourable conditions for old people to work and encourage enterprises, families and communities to take care for the elderly. They also recommended reducing the eligible age for social welfare benefits to 75, with priority given to old people living in remote, mountainous, and island areas as well as those with difficult backgrounds.-VNA