More than 80% of Vietnamese adolescents still do not meet recommended physical activity levels. Academic pressure, growing time on electronic devices and the pace of urbanisation are narrowing children's opportunities to move.
Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for overweight, obesity and many non-communicable diseases.
A living environment that encourages young children to stay active (Photo: Phong Anh).
Children Lack Places to Play and Have Too Much Screen Time
According to "Vietnam Moves: Building Healthier and More Active Communities Through Sport", published in 2024 on the website of the International Olympic Committee with data from a 2023 report by the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 80% of adolescents (more than 82% of males aged 11 to 17 and 91% of females) did not meet the physical activity recommendation.
This rate shows that a sedentary lifestyle is becoming a matter of concern among children and adolescents.
Physical activity does not only mean playing sport. Walking, cycling, climbing stairs, playing, chores, moving around or taking part in physical activities at school and in the community all count towards total activity time.
According to the Handbook on Physical Activity for Health Improvement issued by the Ministry of Health, those aged 5–17 should average at least 60 minutes a day across the whole week (seven days a week) at moderate to vigorous intensity. Currently, however, most pupils only have two PE sessions a week — roughly 70 minutes — which covers only part of the need; children need further opportunities to move during breaks, on foot, in play and in everyday activities.
After-school sports help children grow taller and stronger (Photo: Phong Anh).
Children's physical and height development is a combined result of genetics, nutrition, exercise, sleep, health status and living environment. However, opportunities for pupils to exercise, especially in urban areas, are increasingly narrowing. Many study all day at school and then keep studying or using phones and computers after coming home. In modern life today, many city pupils do not have many chances to exercise outside school.
Academic pressure is one of the causes. Children spend many hours sitting and studying, while physical education in some schools remains limited in hours and not engaging enough as a regular activity. Smart devices and social networks continue to change daily habits. Rather than playing outdoors, children can spend hours in front of phones, computers or televisions.
Green space that encourages adults and children to go outdoors and cuts time spent on electronic devices (Photo: Phong Anh).
According to Dr Thi Thi Duyen, Department of Internal Respiratory Medicine, 108 Central Military Hospital, urbanisation also means there is less and less space for movement. Playgrounds and green space have shrunk, while traffic, congestion and air pollution make parents reluctant to let children go outside.
"Children lack space and time to play outdoors; adults have nowhere to relax and elderly people retreat into the house with nowhere to socialise and exercise," Dr Duyen said.
Too Little Physical Activity, Higher Health Risks
WHO regards lack of physical activity as one of the risk factors for non-communicable diseases. In children and adolescents, regular physical activity helps muscular and skeletal development, improves cardiovascular and metabolic health, helps with weight control, sleep and concentration, and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Parks and green spaces where children learn, explore and grow every day (Photo: Phong Anh).
With young children, limiting screen time is also a way to create more opportunities for movement. The Ministry of Health recommends that children aged 2–5 should not be exposed to screens for more than one hour a day — the less the better. Families need to create conditions for children to move through reading, talking, playing with their children and outdoor activities.
In the longer term, according to medical experts, solving the lack of exercise is not just a matter for each family. Parks, playgrounds, walking trails and safe green space need to be seen as part of preventive healthcare infrastructure. When there is somewhere to play, when adults have space to walk and elderly people have somewhere to socialise, exercise becomes a natural part of life.
Living Spaces and Physical Activity Opportunities for Children
Fostering a living environment that encourages activity, bringing nature into every beat of life, the Ecopark founder develops many eco urban areas.
In the western gateway of Ho Chi Minh City, Ecopark is developing the Eco Retreat eco-city, 220 ha in scale and about 30 minutes from Bạch Đằng Wharf via the Vo Van Kiet Boulevard and the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Lương Expressway.
A corner of Swan Lake Park at Eco Retreat (Photo: Phong Anh).
Eco Retreat sets aside a 50 ha core to develop 20 differently themed gardens interwoven for every age, plus an 8 km forest-bathing route along the water based on the Japanese longevity formula. The project is strongly marked by the forest retreat (healing, recovery, regeneration) design where 80% of the health benefit comes from nature and 20% is active therapies added in, such as: mineral bathing, meditation, yoga, therapy spa and nutrition counselling that help residents enjoy daily wellness at home.
In the eco-city of Eco Retreat, Ecopark has unveiled the Phuong Forest zone. At the heart of Phuong Forest are two schools: the Edison K–12 school of 22.000 m² teaching pupils from Grade 1 to 12 and a 7.000 m² plot for early childhood education, all within walking distance for young children.
The new Phuong Forest zone, newly launched by Ecopark, with education amenities at its centre (Perspective: Ecopark).
Children can study amid an ecosystem of greenery, water, parks and generous community spaces — where lessons happen not only in the classroom but also out in nature and in real-life surroundings.
In Phuong Forest in particular and Eco Retreat generally, after school the journey of growing up continues for children. The community gardens and orchards become places where children learn to observe nature and connect with friends. Walking routes and playgrounds help children build physical fitness every day in a natural way, rather than depending on skill classes or indoor activities.
At Rung Phuong, children can walk or cycle to school (Artist's impression: Ecopark).
Ms Le Tue Minh – Director General of Innochain Education Investment Group and Chairwoman of Edison Schools – says that at Edison Schools pupils do not have to spend hours on school buses, falling asleep from tiredness or coming home to face four concrete walls in the evening. The school sits right in the living environment, so children have more time to exercise, explore nature, join community activities and stay close to their family. That is the foundation for children to develop self-motivation rather than studying only because of pressure or results.
Modern homes in a range of layouts at Rung Phuong (Artist's impression: Ecopark).
Besides a landscape designed to be child-friendly and supportive of children's development, Phuong Forest also carries a modern architectural style with a diverse product mix such as avenue shophouses, garden shophouses, semi-detached villas and standalone villas, ranging from 80 m² to 370 m² in size, meeting the needs of many families.