In the context of rapid population aging, nearly 17 million older persons (OPs) in Vietnam represent a significant resource for development. While the “silver economy” in Vietnam is still taking shape, a Vietnamese enterprise has taken the lead in leveraging the role of older persons in developing the “silver economy” in connection with the green economy and the carbon market.
For many years, population aging has often been viewed from a social welfare perspective. However, in many countries, the “silver economy” has been repositioned as a component of growth, where older persons are not only consumers but also direct contributors to value creation. In Vietnam, this shift in perception has been slow, leaving an important social resource underutilized.
In this context, Carbon Credit Trading Platform Asean (CCTPA – a member of CT Group) has proactively collaborated with the Vietnam Association of the Elderly to implement the “16 Million Trees” project, introducing a new approach: integrating older persons into the green economic value chain. Instead of playing a supportive role, they directly participate in planting, caring for, protecting, and monitoring resources—key stages that determine the long-term effectiveness of ecosystem restoration programs. This approach is particularly notable as Vietnam accelerates its roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Senior leaders of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and Bac Ninh Province, together with older persons, participated in the festival.
At the launching ceremony of the “Elderly Festival in Response to Tree Planting in Eternal Gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh” in 2026 at the Ly Thai Tong Temple Historical Site (Bac Ninh), this model was concretized through coordination among the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, and CCTPA.
The project is set to scale strongly from Q2/2026 in Bac Ninh and expand nationwide. Rather than relying on centralized afforestation models, it focuses on developing carbon credits from distributed tree systems, which better suit local conditions. With their experience and strong community ties, older persons become a force capable of sustainably maintaining, monitoring, and protecting resources.
Mr. Tran Kim Chung, Chairman of CT Group, emphasized the long-term approach: participation in tree-planting programs is not merely a corporate social responsibility activity but part of the company’s development strategy. According to him, the company aims to build an ecosystem connecting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and carbon credits with foundational sectors. Within this structure, community activities are not standalone but serve as the foundation for forming a carbon economy ecosystem, where environmental value is quantified and integrated into growth.
The Elderly Associations of eight provinces under Emulation Cluster No. I committed to planting trees according to the plan.
The core of the model lies in the fact that every tree-planting activity can be measured, verified, and converted into carbon credits—tradable assets. As a result, the contributions of older persons go beyond environmental significance to directly generate economic value. “If organized systematically, tree-planting activities can be fully integrated with models such as circular agriculture, carbon credit development, or ecotourism” Mr. Tran Kim Chung noted, highlighting opportunities to expand local livelihoods.
A breakthrough aspect of the project is the application of CCTPA’s proprietary CarbonFly technology. This dMRV (digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) system integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), LiDAR, and sensors to collect data. The technology enables precise measurement of carbon sequestration, supporting reporting and verification in line with international standards. As a result, tree-planting activities are directly linked to the carbon market, rather than being limited to environmental improvement goals.
CCTPA presented trees to Bac Ninh Province at the “Elderly Festival in Response to Tree Planting in Eternal Gratitude to President Ho Chi Minh.”
Mr. Nguyen Vo Truong An, Deputy CEO of CCTPA, stated: “The project aims to build a community-based carbon economy model, in which older persons play a central role. The application of technology helps standardize processes while opening up opportunities for sustainable income generation from environmental protection activities.”
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of the Elderly, assessed that this model delivers clear practical value. According to him, it is not only an environmental program but also a basis for refining the policy framework for the “silver economy”, gradually positioning older persons as a direct force in economic development. At the macro level, this approach demonstrates a new way of organizing social resources: instead of separating economic, environmental, and social welfare objectives, these elements are integrated within a single operational model. The State provides direction and mechanisms, enterprises supply technology and resources, and the community-especially older persons-directly implements and sustains value.
In practice, when placed in the right role, this group can undertake tasks that require persistence, experience, and a strong sense of responsibility-key factors in sustainable development programs. This is also why the “silver economy” is increasingly viewed in many countries as a new pillar of long-term growth strategies. In Vietnam, this process is still at an early stage, but models like the “16 Million Trees” project are helping shape a clearer direction: linking the “silver economy” with the green economy and the carbon market. In this way, population aging is no longer a burden but becomes an opportunity to restructure the growth model toward greater sustainability.
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