Elderly people continue to shine as role models

Dong Nai City is home to nearly 570,000 elderly people, out of a total population of nearly 5 million. They actively participate in Party building, government affairs, and the activities of associations and organizations at all levels and in 595 villages, hamlets and residential areas, serving as a core force in movements and campaigns in local communities.

Through these activities, elderly people continue to uphold the spirit of “Old Age - Bright Example,” serving as a source of support for their families and society.

Vong Nhi Sap (far left), a respected person among ethnic minority communities in Binh Loc Ward, voices local residents’ concerns and aspirations to representatives of the local authorities.

The older they are, the greater their contributions

More than 7,100 elderly people are currently involved in Party building, government and mass-organization activities; 4,700 participate in maintaining security and public order at the grassroots level; and 11,500 are engaged in promoting learning and talent development. Elderly people also serve as a core force and driving force within their families and residential communities in preserving and promoting cultural values and building model families.

According to the Chairman of the Dong Nai City Elderly People’s Association, Nguyen Van Long, these figures demonstrate the significant contributions elderly people are making to the city’s development. Assessments by Party committees and local authorities show that elderly people entrusted with responsibilities consistently make every effort to fulfill their duties.

Most of the 579 respected persons and village elders in ethnic minority communities are elderly people. They play an important role in helping bring the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws to more than 421,000 ethnic minority people across the city.

Cham Sa, a respected person among ethnic minority communities in Thuan Loi Commune, said that in carrying out his role, he tries to convey residents’ concerns and aspirations regarding social and livelihood issues to local authorities and relay the authorities’ responses back to the people. He also works with local authorities and hamlet-level officials to encourage residents to actively participate in campaigns and movements aimed at maintaining public order and security and contributing to local development.

In addition, elderly people account for the majority of the more than 10,000 members of the member friendship associations under the Dong Nai City Union of Friendship Organizations. In particular, most leaders of the union’s 10-member friendship associations are retirees who continue to actively contribute to people-to-people diplomacy.

This year, Nguyen Xuan Tan, Vice Chairman in charge of the Dong Nai City Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association, turned 77. A former soldier with many years of experience in people-to-people diplomacy, he has made active contributions to strengthening the association, organizing activities and expanding its membership.

Nguyen Xuan Tan said that in carrying out his assigned responsibilities, he always makes every effort and devotes himself fully to his work. His hope is to work with the association’s executive committee to bring people-to-people diplomacy to a wider public and contribute to fostering good relations between the Vietnamese people, Dong Nai residents and people in other countries.

Creating opportunities for elderly people to contribute

To further promote the role of elderly people in the development of Dong Nai City, Party committees, local authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and its member organizations at all levels have been creating favorable conditions for elderly people to continue contributing.

As the city accelerates digital transformation and applies information technology to its operations, elderly people holding positions in associations, mass organizations and at the grassroots level are also embracing new technologies rather than allowing age to keep them on the sidelines.

Caring for elderly people’s well-being

Alongside promoting their role in society, Dong Nai pays particular attention to ensuring the well-being of elderly people. Currently, about 118,000 elderly people receive social protection benefits under the Law on Elderly People, while more than 300 are being cared for at 21 licensed public and non-public social protection facilities. In addition, during holidays and the Lunar New Year, elderly people from policy beneficiary families and families of people with meritorious services, as well as those facing difficult circumstances, are always prioritized for support by the VFF and associations and mass organizations.

Notably, most of the more than 4,400 people serving as heads of savings and loan groups under the Dong Nai City branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies are members of elderly people’s associations at various levels. In recent years, through training programs and direct assistance in information technology skills provided by the city’s Vietnam Bank for Social Policies system and commune- and ward-level authorities, these group leaders have become proficient in using banking applications on their mobile phones.

Group leaders are now proficient in tasks such as introducing policy credit programs to members, collecting borrowers’ monthly repayments directly through banking apps without having to visit their homes as in the past, and keeping up to date with new regulations on policy credit activities. These digital tools help save time and effort, thereby improving the work efficiency of elderly people involved in this work.

In April 2026, the Standing Board of the Dong Nai City VFF Committee also issued a decision on the establishment of the Advisory Council of the Dong Nai City VFF Committee, 1st tenure, 2025-2030. Of the council's 19 members, 10 are elderly people. These “experts” have expertise across various fields and have been brought together by the VFF to offer opinions and provide social criticism on draft documents and public-concern social issues.

Meanwhile, the 10-member friendship associations under the Dong Nai City Union of Friendship Organizations are carrying out organizational consolidation and selecting personnel for their upcoming congresses for the new term. In this process, the city’s friendship organizations are proactively developing personnel plans that include both young, dynamic faces and individuals with extensive experience in association work.

According to Chairman of the Dong Nai City Elderly People’s Association Nguyen Van Long, in the coming period, elderly people’s associations at all levels will continue to inspire enthusiasm and encourage respected elderly people who enjoy public trust and have experience in various fields to take on positions at the grassroots level, thereby promoting the spirit of “Elderly People as Role Models.”

By Van Truyen – Translated by Mai Nga, Minho