Economic pressure, uncertainty drive young Vietnamese to delay marriage, childbearing

Vietnam continues to face falling birth rates, later marriages, and a visibly ageing population, particularly in major cities, prompting concern over the long-term demographic outlook.

As expectations shift and pressures grow, the debate over whether young adults are choosing independence or simply adapting to economic reality is becoming more visible.

N. Ha, 36, said her path to marriage was delayed by a decade after a long-term relationship collapsed just before the wedding, and her father died in an accident soon after.

It took Ha eight years to recover emotionally before she felt ready to meet someone new, adding that late or no marriage often stems from personal setbacks that outsiders rarely see.

For Q. Mai, 34, in Ho Chi Minh City, the reason for remaining single is simply not finding a suitable partner.

After ending a long relationship at 27 and coping with her mother’s illness, Mai said the pressures of paying a mortgage, covering medical costs, and keeping up with work left little room for dating.

Many of her friends married before 30, while others waited until after, and she believes each person must decide when they feel stable enough to build a family.

“Every choice comes with its own cost,” she said.

Economic pressures, from rising housing costs to unstable jobs and modest incomes, are also pushing many young Vietnamese to delay marriage, regardless of whether they have met the right partner.

No pressure to marry at any cost

Some older Vietnamese argue that younger generations avoid marriage out of fear of responsibility, but real-life context suggests many adults are simply unwilling to marry at any cost, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic and amid prolonged economic uncertainty.

Truong, 36, from Dak Lak Province, said he never declared he would stay single or remain childless. 

Yet, parental pressure at times became so strong that he told his family to stop setting him up with potential partners by saying he had 'decided not to marry.'

The real reason is financial strain including rising housing prices, higher living costs, and the expense of raising children, he said.

After losing his job for a long period during the pandemic, Truong said he does not feel stable enough to start a family, fearing it would 'burden' his future wife and children.

Tam, 32, a communications officer earning about VND30 million (US$1,147) a month, said she continues to live alone despite comments that she is being 'too selective.'

Tam refuses to rush into a marriage simply to satisfy family expectations.

“I’ll wait for the right person. If that doesn’t happen, staying single is fine, you can’t marry someone you don’t truly understand,” she said.

Many young adults say they are not choosing singlehood outright but adjusting to the reality that the right partner has not appeared, while economic pressure leads them to postpone marriage with no clear timeline.