From July 22–25, 2025, Ms. DY Suharya – Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) – paid an official visit to Vietnam, supported by Vioba Social Enterprise, a member of ADI since early 2025.
During her visit, Ms. Suharya met with Vietnam’s Vice Minister of Health, Mr. Le Duc Luan, along with representatives from the Ministry’s departments and agencies. She also held working sessions with the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, the National Geriatric Hospital, and Vioba Social Enterprise. The visit aimed to:
- Learn about existing services for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in Vietnam.
- Exchange views on the progress and challenges in implementing Vietnam’s National Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Action Plan, and explore how ADI can provide technical support – particularly to help develop a national action plan on Alzheimer’s and dementia.
- Prepare for the global World Alzheimer’s Month campaign in September 2025.
Positive support from the MOH and the VAE
The visit was a great success, as Ms. DY Suharya received strong support from the leadership of the Ministry of Health, the National Geriatric Hospital, and the Vietnam Association of the Elderly for the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign — particularly in integrating it with public awareness programs and advancing the development of a national action plan.
Vice Minister Le Duc Luan emphasised the importance and necessity of raising public awareness and knowledge about dementia. He noted that this aligns well with the Party and State’s policy direction of shifting from a treatment-based approach in the past to a prevention-based approach in the current and future stages. He also expressed particular interest in advancing the development of a national action plan on Alzheimer’s and dementia. The Vice Minister committed to advising the Minister of Health and the Government on the formulation of this plan, in line with the commitments made by member states at the 2017 World Health Assembly.
Dr. Tran Viet Luc, Deputy Director, along with staff of the National Geriatric Hospital, expressed strong support for the World Alzheimer’s Month campaign in September 2025 and for advancing the development of a National Dementia Action Plan in Vietnam, contributing to WHO’s Global Action Plan on Dementia through 2031. The hospital also looks forward to collaborating with both domestic and international organisations to implement community-based care initiatives, such as the Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHCs), as a practical approach to delivering dementia care at the community level.
Mr. Doan Huu Bay – Chief of Office – together with staff from various departments of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly (VAE), expressed their interest and strong support for implementing the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Action Month, in alignment with the annual Action Month for Older Persons (September–October 2025). In addition, VAE emphasised the importance of strengthening public awareness and education on dementia through the Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHCs), which the Association oversees in 34 provinces and cities, with over 9,000 clubs nationwide. With technical support from ADI, this presents a valuable opportunity for VAE to access additional resources and materials to enhance local-level efforts in raising awareness about dementia among older persons.
Capacity-building workshop – A highlight of the visit
As part of the visit, on July 25, Ms. DY Suharya conducted a capacity-building workshop in Hanoi for staff of Vioba Social Enterprise, the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, core group members, and volunteer caregivers from several Intergenerational Self-Help Clubs (ISHCs). The training focused on recognising the signs of Alzheimer’s disease, brain-stimulating exercises to help reduce the risk of dementia, communication skills, and key principles in caring for people living with dementia.
Core group members and home-based volunteer caregivers from the ISHCs enthusiastically participated in the workshop. After the training, many shared that older people in their communities often exhibited one or more of the 10 warning signs of dementia. However, most residents, as well as the caregivers themselves, had previously believed that these symptoms were simply a natural part of ageing and did not require medical attention. The workshop helped change this perception. Participants now understand that dementia is a medical condition, much like other non-communicable diseases, and should be diagnosed and treated appropriately and on time. They expressed a strong commitment to using the knowledge and materials gained from the training to raise awareness, not only among their own families and close contacts, but also within their neighbourhoods and communities.
“The communication skills for interacting with people living with dementia were beneficial for me, as I am a home-based caregiver with an ISHC. These skills will help me provide better care for the older person I support,” shared a home-based volunteer caregiver who attended the training.
Looking ahead, Vioba will continue working alongside ADI to explore and expand opportunities for collaboration in the field of dementia care in Vietnam. By connecting with healthcare institutions, government agencies, and community networks, Vioba aims to deepen its understanding of practical needs and support the development of context-specific initiatives to improve public awareness and the quality of care for older people. This marks an important first step toward a long-term partnership between Vioba and ADI in advancing inclusive and sustainable responses to population ageing.
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