Sport

Shifting Mindsets to Public Health: The Evolution of Physical Education and Sports in Vietnam

Vietnam's push to integrate physical education and community sports into daily life is driving a fundamental shift in public health policy, moving away from elite athletic training toward preventative healthcare. According to government strategies, including the Strategy for…

By Javier Moreno - Sports Editor Updated July 31, 2026

Shifting Mindsets to Public Health: The Evolution of Physical Education and Sports in Vietnam

Vietnam’s push to integrate physical education and community sports into daily life is driving a fundamental shift in public health policy, moving away from elite athletic training toward preventative healthcare. According to government strategies, including the Strategy for the Development of Vietnamese Sports to 2030 with a Vision to 2045 and Resolution 72-NQ/TW on public health care, sports are increasingly viewed as a core pillar of human development and chronic disease prevention.

The Evolution of Sports Policy and Public Perception

State policies have transitioned from focusing narrowly on competitive performance and athletic medals to emphasizing grassroots movement and lifelong fitness. According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Hung, head of the Department of Sports Science at the Bac Ninh University of Sport and Physical Education, this represents a fundamental cognitive shift. Rather than treating physical education as a minor subject or reserving activity solely for professional athletes, current frameworks integrate movement directly into the healthcare system to improve fitness and prevent non-communicable diseases. This policy evolution intersects with educational reforms. Schools are gradually updating evaluation methods, moving away from rigid grading systems based purely on standardized physical benchmarks like running or jumping toward tracking individual student progress over time. By incorporating electronic health records, educators can better monitor physical development and tailor training loads to individual student needs.

Addressing Infrastructure and Academic Pressure Barriers

Despite strategic shifts, bridging the gap between national policy and local reality remains challenging. According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Hung, three primary hurdles continue to impact the physical development of the younger generation:

Infrastructure Deficits: Rapid urbanization in cities has reduced open spaces, leaving many schools with cramped concrete yards lacking green spaces, multi-purpose halls, or swimming pools, while residential areas often lack safe children’s playgrounds.
Academic Pressure: Heavy study loads and rising demand for after-school tutoring mean physical activity is frequently sidelined, contributing to sedentary lifestyles and chronic stress among students.
Outdated Assessment Methods: Traditional grading relies heavily on rigid performance metrics rather than individual health improvements, which can discourage less athletic students.

To overcome these bottlenecks, sports medicine and public health experts emphasize that solutions must focus on daily habit formation rather than just constructing large-scale arenas.

Preventative Healthcare Integration

Public health experts stress that long-term health outcomes depend heavily on making routine physical activity accessible. Dr. Nguyen Manh Thang, president of the Vietnam Sports Medicine Association, notes that the primary objective is supporting individuals to maintain regular physical habits as part of preventative medicine. Integrating movement into daily routines reduces the incidence of non-communicable diseases and relieves pressure on the national healthcare system. To achieve these benchmarks, experts recommend expanding community access to local cultural centers, public spaces, and private training facilities, alongside accelerating digital transformation in schools by linking student health tracking directly with physical education curricula.

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About the author: Javier Moreno - Sports Editor

Former sideline reporter and FIFA‑accredited correspondent. Javier covers football, boxing, and Olympic sports, blending analytics with athlete‑focused storytelling. Javier Moreno offers in‑depth sports coverage, live analysis, and exclusive interviews from global arenas.