Abstract

With the current rapid population aging, Vietnam is facing many challenges in securing social security, especially for older persons. In this context, the presence of a private nursing home system, in addition to the state and the family the traditional pillars of social security for older persons, is considered an essential support to move toward active aging. The survey results of 100 older persons in Hoàng Mai district, Hanoi, indicate a positive shift in attitudes toward private nursing homes, with them viewing this as one of the ways for children to show filial piety to their parents in modern families. However, economic factors have become a barrier for older persons and families with modest or below-average incomes who wish to live in private nursing homes. Therefore, public-private partnership mechanisms in the development of Vietnam’s private nursing home models are essential to aim for equity in access to elderly care and to ensure an active and sustainable adaptation to population ageing.