At the Da Nang Global Summit 2026, Dr. Dilshaad Ali shared valuable insights on how Da Nang is gradually emerging as a promising destination within the global “silver economy” a rapidly growing sector centered around aging populations, longevity, wellness, and retirement healthcare.

His presentation highlighted not only the city’s healthcare potential, but also the importance of building an integrated ecosystem that supports healthy, active, and meaningful aging for both local and international communities.

The Global Race to Attract the Silver Generation

Around the world, countries such as Costa Rica, Mexico, Greece, France, and Italy have become attractive retirement destinations by combining three essential factors: accessible visa policies, strong healthcare systems, and a recognizable lifestyle brand.

Across Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines have built similar appeal. Malaysia’s “Malaysia My Second Home” program, for example, has successfully attracted retirees through long-term visa accessibility, affordable living costs, and healthcare convenience. Thailand continues to attract international retirees through its lifestyle diversity, natural environment, and established wellness tourism ecosystem, while the Philippines benefits from strong English language proficiency and broad access to caregivers and community-based support services.

These examples show that retirement destinations today are no longer defined only by affordability. They are increasingly evaluated based on healthcare quality, accessibility, social connectivity, and overall quality of life. This creates a major opportunity for Da Nang.

What Makes a City Truly Age-Friendly?

A city designed for the silver generation requires much more than hospitals. According to Dr. Dilshaad, successful retirement and healthy aging destinations must integrate:

• Accessible transportation

• Easy access to healthcare services

• Age-friendly infrastructure and buildings

• Walkable environments and natural spaces

• Strong social and community engagement

• Urban planning that prioritizes comfort and mobility

In this context, Da Nang holds several natural advantages. Its coastline, walkability, growing infrastructure, and balanced urban pace position the city well for long-term healthy living.

More importantly, the city’s development vision toward 2030–2045 already aligns with many of these priorities, including smart urban development, digital health, sustainability, tourism, and innovation.

Understanding Vietnam’s Emerging Senior Lifestyle

Vietnam’s aging population presents a unique social dynamic.

Unlike traditional perceptions of retirement, many Vietnamese seniors maintain highly active and socially connected lifestyles. Community engagement, travel, music, social gatherings, and meaningful daily interaction remain deeply important.

This means future healthcare ecosystems must support not only longevity, but also quality of life and emotional wellbeing.

Another important insight shared during the summit is that medical travel in Vietnam is increasingly domestic, not only international. While Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City continue to attract patients for general healthcare, Da Nang is already developing recognition in aesthetics, wellness, and lifestyle-oriented healthcare services.

Many Vietnamese seniors are also beginning to view Da Nang as an attractive future retirement destination.

Da Nang’s Opportunity: From Good to Great

Da Nang already demonstrates strong readiness compared to many regional cities:

• Higher doctor-to-population ratios than the national average

• Better healthcare supply-demand balance

• Strong transportation and logistics potential

• Growing international accessibility

• Government support for innovation and digital transformation

However, several key areas still require development for Da Nang to become a leading hub for healthy aging and medical tourism:

• Long-term visa policies for retirees

• Expansion of geriatric and rehabilitation specialists

• Stronger multilingual healthcare services

• International healthcare branding

• Climate resilience and infrastructure confidence

The discussion also highlighted major investment opportunities in:

• Smart healthcare and digital health

• Rehabilitation services

• Wellness-focused real estate

• Medical tourism

• Senior living ecosystems

Rehabilitation represents a major unmet need in Vietnam, especially for stroke, orthopedic, and cardiac recovery patients.

A Defining Moment for Vietnam’s Healthcare Future

The silver economy is no longer a future concept. It is becoming one of the defining forces shaping healthcare, urban planning, and investment across Asia.

For Da Nang, the opportunity goes beyond becoming a medical tourism destination. The larger vision is to build a city where people can age healthily, remain socially connected, and access continuous care within an integrated ecosystem.

As highlighted during the Da Nang Global Summit 2026, Vietnam is increasingly being recognized not only as an emerging healthcare market, but also as a destination for wellness, longevity, and healthy aging.

And Da Nang may become one of the cities leading that transformation.