Vietnam must focus on rural development among other things if it wants to make the most of its working-age population, said Doctor Giang Thanh Long from the University of National Economy.
As 60 percent of Vietnamese are between 15 to 64 years of age and the country is entering what is called the “Golden Population” period, which only happens once in a country’s demographic history, Doctor Giang Thanh Long, Vice Director of the Institute of Public Policy and Management at the university, said wise policy-making is most essential to make the most of this opportunity.
It means Vietnam should have policies to develop agriculture and rural areas, because 70% of Vietnamese, of working age or otherwise, are still living in the countryside.
Long said if agricultural productivity and non-agricultural and industrial activities in rural areas increase, young people there, offered with more employment opportunities, wouldn’t have to migrate to the cities to find jobs, which would relieve the burdens on the cities as well as retain the best human resources to develop the countryside.
But he said at the same time, as the number of Vietnamese of reproductive age is still increasing and the population overall is fast growing old, the country should also develop a capable reproductive healthcare system as well as geriatric care and retirement policies for the elderly.
For their parts, densely-populated cities like Hanoi and HCMC must improve their infrastructure and social services such as education and healthcare and should learn from cities like Tokyo in building satellite cities to relieve the strains of an increasing population.
Long said with Vietnam’s weak urban planning, this is all very difficult, but not impossible. The Vietnamese, who are always willing to work hard and learn from others, only need “an environment,” particularly good policies, to move forward, he said.
