Ho Chi Minh City is listed among 21 out of all 63 localities in Vietnam with the lowest birth rates, while seeing young people postponing marriages. 

The ages for tying the knot in the southern metropolis are higher than those in other cities and provinces across the country.

The average age of the first marriage in Ho Chi Minh City was 29.8 in 2022, up from 26.9 recorded in Vietnam, according to the General Statistics Office.

Dr. Trinh Nhut Thu Huong, head of the prenatal care department at Tu Du Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the ideal age to get married is from 20 to 25 for women.

Several studies showed that the span is an optimal development stage of ovaries, said Dr. Huong.

However, young people are increasingly delaying marriage to achieve economic stability.

This trend is accompanied by a rise in the ages of first-time mothers.

Statistics from the hospital indicated that some 10 percent of pregnant women were over 30 years old. Some of them also suffered from dangerous diseases.

Dr. Huong underlined that pregnancies among women older than 35 pose a higher risk of birth defects.

Particularly, babies can suffer from Down syndrome caused by chromosome abnormality.

As a woman ages, the risk of delivering a baby with the syndrome soars. 

Meanwhile, older pregnant women can suffer a miscarriage, obesity, or preeclampsia.

Dr. Ho Manh Tuong, general secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Society for Reproductive Medicine, said that the premature birth rates in Vietnam and the world have trended up.

Older age pregnancy is a major reason behind a high risk of premature birth.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Vui, a lecturer in the psychology faculty at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, cited various reasons for the reluctance of young adults to get married.

Delaying marriages is a global trend, not just in Vietnam.

Many young people are scared of falling in love and marrying, Vui said, explaining that they think that they will lose freedom if they start a marriage.

Meanwhile, they are young and desire to improve their economic strength and wealth, as well as stabilize their occupation.

The way of raising and educating a child is different from that in the past, Vui noted.

Furthermore, rising divorce rates are detering young people from wedding.

Vui also predicted that the marriage and fertility rates will continue to surge in the future.

Meanwhile, easy adoption procedures have encouraged women who are scared of giving birth to adopt one.

Besides, people are also gradually accepting same-sex marriage.

Dr. Bui Chi Thuong from Gia Dinh People’s Hospital said that if women aged over 35 start pregnancy, the risk of defects for babies will be high.

Dr. Thuong said that the offspring of men older than 45 might face an elevated risk of birth defects, referring to various global studies.

He underscored that the ideal age to become a mother is 25.

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