"I am not afraid of getting married; I am only afraid of marrying before I am capable of taking care of a family," said Hoang, a software team lead at a mobile app company.

Hoang said he once believed that having a stable job was enough to start a family. But after eight years of working, watching home prices climb month after month and thinking about the costs of a wedding, raising children, and supporting a family, he no longer feels ready.

"If getting married means both of us will just struggle together, I would rather wait a few more years," Hoang shared.

Hoang is not alone. Behind the decision of many young people to delay marriage lies a host of anxieties concerning employment, housing, and their children's future.

Globally, a survey released on July 10 by the UNFPA, covering more than 100,000 young people across 73 countries, found that more than two-thirds still hope to marry in the future.

Matt Jackson, UNFPA Representative in Vietnam, affirmed that young people "are not turning away from marriage or parenthood." Instead, they need the right conditions to make those aspirations a reality.

When financial security becomes a prerequisite for marriage

According to the UNFPA survey, 81 percent of respondents said financial security is the most important factor when considering a long-term relationship, while 57 percent identified finances and housing as the biggest barriers to starting a committed relationship.

Those findings closely mirror the situation in Vietnam.

By the end of the first quarter of 2026, average monthly income had risen to VND9 million nationwide and more than VND10 million in urban areas. Meanwhile, apartment prices in Hanoi and HCMC remain high, with many projects priced at VND60-70 million per sqm and some exceeding VND100 million per sqm.

For a 50sqm apartment costing VND3-5 billion, homeownership before marriage is beyond the reach of many young people.

"I don't have to own a home before getting married, but I at least need to see a realistic chance of buying one within the next few years. Right now, that still feels out of reach," Hoang said.

Financial pressure does not end with the wedding. Marriage is followed by the costs of raising children, education, healthcare, and other living expenses. As those costs continue to rise, many couples choose to extend their relationships rather than rush into marriage.

Pham Vu Hoang, deputy head of the Population Department under the Ministry of Health, said delayed marriage and childbirth are also linked to growing concerns over living expenses, child-rearing costs, housing affordability, and the ongoing pressure to secure better jobs and higher incomes.

Life in major cities and industrial zones, with demanding work schedules and frequent overtime, leaves many young people with little time to date or nurture long-term relationships. Even couples already in stable relationships often postpone marriage until they feel their careers are more secure.

Notably, the UNFPA survey found that young people are waiting not only for financial stability but also for emotional readiness.

Among respondents aged 35-39 who did not yet have children, 88 percent said they wanted financial security before becoming parents, 87 percent cited stable employment, and 85 percent said they needed to feel emotionally prepared.

Matt Jackson of UNFPA stressed that the biggest obstacle delaying marriage and parenthood is not a lack of desire, but the absence of adequate living conditions. Marriage and childbearing decisions today are no longer determined simply by age but are closely tied to a sense of both financial and emotional security.

When women no longer see marriage as the ultimate destination

From another perspective, shifting gender roles are altering how young people view marriage. 

Lan, a 30-year-old marketing manager in HCMC, noted she does not oppose marriage, but refuses to marry simply because she has "reached the age."

"I have a job, an income, and can support myself. If marriage means all childcare and housework responsibilities automatically fall on women, I see no reason to make that trade-off," Lan said.

This perspective is increasingly common among the younger generation. Women are financially independent, well-educated, and possess their own careers. They seek an equal marriage where both partners share responsibilities. Conversely, many men still face societal pressure to serve as the sole breadwinner, feeling obligated to secure housing, assets, and a stable income before marrying. 

Vo Thu