The paper analyses some demographic and socio-economic characteristics associated with the current population ageing process in Vietnam and the needs for care for the elderly. Improved education and living standards allow families to take better care of the elderly. However, for many elderly people, accumulated assets are still not enough to take care of their lives. The proportion of elderly people increases coupled with a decreased rate of fertility, smaller household sizes, and limited level of financial accumulation, etc., has increased the demand for care for the elderly, while social services on this issue are limited with the family continuing to be the main institution of providing care for the elderly. From the analysis results, the article proposes several policy aspects that need to be considered regarding the care for the elderly, from the perspective of the role of the state, the community, the family, relatives, and the market.