Vietnam’s southernmost province approves $11.7mn elderly care center

The project will cover 21,400 square meters in An Xuyen Ward, on land currently managed by Ca Mau College.

The center will have a total construction area of approximately 7,820 square meters and a total floor area of nearly 24,980 square meters.

The five-story facility is designed to accommodate 200 residents.

Major components of the project include residential buildings, a main building, a dining hall, a club, medical and administrative facilities, a funeral home, parking areas and other supporting structures.

Construction is expected to be completed within 48 months from the date investment approval is granted or a project contract is signed.

Provincial authorities said the project aims to provide healthcare, accommodation and support services for elderly people, war veterans and disabled individuals who are unable to care for themselves.

The center is also expected to strengthen Ca Mau's social welfare system and support the province's long-term response to Vietnam's aging population.

To accelerate implementation, the provincial administration assigned the Department of Health to organize investor selection procedures and monitor project progress.

The Department of Construction will incorporate the project into relevant planning documents, while local authorities will assist investors in completing administrative procedures.

Dedicated support for senior citizens

Ca Mau currently has 64 commune-level elderly associations, 1,395 local chapters and 241,536 senior residents.

Local officials said that senior citizens continue to make significant contributions to society through farming, business activities, cooperatives, community projects and environmental initiatives.

According to the provincial elderly association, seniors have helped plant more than 500,000 trees, build 250 household waste-treatment pits, and establish flower-lined rural roads stretching over 13 kilometers.

The southernmost province also has more than 1,000 clubs for elderly residents, covering activities such as culture, music, exercise, cycling, chess, vocational interests, gardening and health promotion.

Ca Mau has increased efforts to improve healthcare services for elderly citizens in recent years.

Programs include health insurance outreach, free medical examinations, acupuncture services, disease screening and regular health monitoring.

By the end of October this year, the province had conducted health screenings for more than 2.1 million people, equivalent to over 99 percent of its population.

Authorities have also created and updated nearly 1.5 million electronic health records.

In 2027, Ca Mau plans to place greater emphasis on quality healthcare management for elderly residents and vulnerable groups, while allocating resources earlier in the year to improve service delivery.