Elderly Dependence and Intergenerational Support in Vietnam: A Descriptive Perspective

Vietnam is experiencing rapid population aging, placing increasing pressure on families in a context of limited formal social protection. Adult children remain the primary source of financial and non-financial support for elderly parents, including co-residence, caregiving, and monetary transfers. This study examines how intergenerational support is influenced by parental needs, children's gender, and residential arrangements. Building on altruism and filial obligation frameworks, we hypothesize that children adjust their support when parents' needs are partially met, and that the amount and type of support vary by gender and co-residence status. Empirical findings suggest that shifts in gender roles have increasingly placed physical caregiving responsibilities on daughters, while sons continue to provide financial support. Rural households with limited pension coverage maintain strong cultural expectations for support, while urban households with pensions exhibit partial crowding-out of private transfers. Broader demographic and economic factors including declining fertility, high household savings, and a shrinking labor force further shape the sustainability and structure of intergenerational support. These results highlight the centrality of family-based care in Vietnam and provide a foundation for future research on elderly vulnerability, children's economic constraints, and the macroeconomic implications of population aging.