Gen Z, having grown up during the technology boom, lives intertwined with the internet. Yet, their real-world connections with parents and family remain rich and diverse. According to a survey by Viser, a US-based workforce analytics software company, family, health, and travel are three factors Gen Z prioritizes over work. The same survey also found that 67% of Gen Z prioritize spending time with family and friends.
In Vietnam, compared to previous generations, Gen Z is more comfortable expressing affection for their parents through words of love and daily acts of care.
Having lived away from her family for 8 years, Huynh Anh, 27, from Ho Chi Minh City, always sends flowers and gifts to her mother on special occasions. She also takes advantage of long holidays to take her mother traveling or to return home to share meals with her.
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Huynh Anh on a trip with her mother. Photo: NVCC |
Huynh Anh on a trip with her mother. Photo: NVCC
For Phan Anh, 17, from Ho Chi Minh City, showing love for his parents means readily sharing life's events, spending time with his mother grocery shopping, and jogging with his father. Cooking dishes he learns online or doing housework to give his parents a break are also ways this Gen Z member expresses his affection.
Beyond emotional well-being, for young people, love is also shown through caring for their parents' health.
Noticing her parents, both over 50, experiencing declining health with coughs and colds whenever the weather changes, Nguyen Ngan, 25, from Hanoi, prioritizes their health. She chooses to exercise with them daily and ensures they get proper nutrition. "In addition to daily meals, I often remind my parents to take nutritional supplements. I carefully select brands with clinically proven effectiveness for my parents' peace of mind," Ngan said.
A 2022 report by McKinsey & Company showed that 70% of Gen Z consumers prioritize healthier foods than previous generations. Mintel's 2023 research indicated that Gen Z is particularly concerned with their diet, prioritizing foods that boost immunity and improve both physical and mental health.
Pham Hung, 24, from Ho Chi Minh City, also regularly suggests healthy meals and cooking methods to his parents. He carefully researches the ingredients in each food item they consume to ensure they receive adequate and balanced nutrition, thereby improving their health.
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Many young people choose nutritional products to care for their parents' health. Photo: Minh Anh |
Many young people choose nutritional products to care for their parents' health. Photo: Minh Anh
When choosing nutritional products for their parents, both Ngan and Hung selected Ensure Gold, a nutritional brand from Abbott with over 50 years of global history and more than 30 studies proving its effectiveness. Ensure Gold contains HMB to support muscle health, YBG to strengthen immunity, and 39 essential nutrients to enhance overall health.
These four young people believe that Vu Lan (Wandering Souls Day) is not only a time for gratitude but also a reminder for every child to care for their parents through practical actions, from a simple meal or a trip to daily health concerns. "Great love is expressed through small but consistent acts, helping parents live healthily and happily with their children," Ngan shared.
Kim Anh
