Around 12,000 participants turned out in Hanoi alongside about 100,000 total participants across 33 additional provinces and cities to launch Vietnam’s 2026 National Physical Training Movement, according to figures released by the event’s organizing committee. The comprehensive push aims to establish daily physical activity as a cultural standard for communities and families nationwide.
Organized on October 10 and 11 around the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, the two-day opening series drew approximately 12,000 attendees in the capital alone, while regional events accounted for roughly 100,000 additional participants. The campaign answers a directive issued under Conclusion No. 70-KL/TW by the Politburo and follows instructions outlined by General Secretary To Lam during the 80th anniversary celebration of Vietnam’s Traditional Physical Education and Sports Day.
Capital Citizens and Athletes Fill Hanoi Streets for Launch
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated the opening ceremonies alongside Vietnamese Television, the Hanoi People’s Committee, and the Vietnam Youth Federation. Party and state leaders joined ministry officials and city representatives on stage to officially activate the campaign, pressing a ceremonial button to inaugurate the nationwide fitness drive under the banner “A Nation in Motion, a Healthy Vietnam.”
Participants spanning military officers, youth organization members, students, athletes, coaches, and local seniors took part in synchronized running and walking routes through central Hanoi. Activity zones set up around Hoan Kiem Lake offered the public direct instruction and equipment interaction across a broad spectrum of disciplines. Visitors tried out pickleball, badminton, table tennis, sepak takraw, chess, tug-of-war, 3×3 basketball, roller skating, and walking.
Traditional Martial Arts and ASIAD 20 Medalists Inspire Youth
Martial arts demonstrations drew heavy crowds as practitioners showcased disciplines including Vovinam, Judo, Wushu, Taekwondo, and traditional Vietnamese martial arts. The exhibitions were paired with direct interaction programs featuring elite national competitors fresh off their performances at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20).
Among the high-profile competitors engaging with the public were members of the Vietnamese women’s sepak takraw team alongside Wushu artists Duong Thuy Vi and Dinh Van Tam. The athletes shared personal accounts of international competition, training hardships, and national pride with younger attendees, encouraging youth demographics to build sustainable athletic habits.
Simultaneous Statewide Rollout Across 33 Provinces
While the capital served as the focal point, local authorities in 33 provinces and cities staged simultaneous community sports programs. The decentralized events brought together municipal workers, factory laborers, students, and trade union members to cement the slogan: “Every citizen chooses at least one suitable sport to practice regularly.”
The organizing committee noted that state agencies intend to expand local sports infrastructure and mobilize societal resources to ensure citizens across all demographics have adequate facilities to maintain active routines. The initiative aligns further with Plan No. 27-KH/BTGDVTW issued by the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department to advance public health standards through structured physical education.
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