Cambodia and Viet Nam are making huge efforts to improve social protection during old age and yet, the majority of elderly people in these two countries cannot expect to receive a retirement pension. Women face more adverse circumstances than men that affect their pension entitlements. They usually have lower participation in the labour market, shorter or interrupted careers due to care responsibilities, higher risk of working in vulnerable employment, and lower incomes than men. More needs to be done to include women and design gender-responsive social protection systems that are fair and sustainable.