Modern age takes its toll on Vietnam family life: Survey

Hanoi: Modern pressures are changing the Vietnamese family structure, with divorces rising and the very young and old spending more time alone, said a joint UN-government survey released yesterday.

Gender equality is improving, but men still dominate households, and domestic violence occurs in one-fifth of marriages, said the first nationwide survey of the family unit, a joint project with UN children's agency UNICEF.

"After 20 years of doi moi, or renovation (market reforms), Vietnam has changed in nearly all aspects of life, including in family relationships," found the survey of 9,400 households across all 64 cities and provinces.