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The 72-NQ/TW Resolution of the Politburo places people at the center, with health as the foundation of socioeconomic development and a shared responsibility of the entire political system and every individual. It emphasizes physical education and sports as a breakthrough solution, shifting from a mindset of “curing illness” to “actively protecting and improving health.”
Resolution 72 sets targets for 2030, including increasing the average height of children and adolescents aged 1-18 by at least 1.5 cm and raising life expectancy to 75.5 years, with at least 68 healthy life years. It also aims to reduce the disease burden and control health risk factors.
The resolution calls for a 10% increase in the share of people who regularly participate in physical activity. It also highlights stronger control of health risk factors such as alcohol, beer, tobacco, and environmental factors from land, water and air. People are expected to have access to quality health services, moving toward comprehensive health care.
Key health and service targets include:
Looking ahead to 2045, Vietnam aims for a high-quality living environment, with health indicators and coverage of essential health services comparable to developed regional and global peers. The population’s average life expectancy is expected to exceed 80 years, with healthy life years increasing to over 71 years, and youth height and physical stature expected to match similarly developed nations.
According to 2025 statistics from the Vietnam Administration of Physical Education and Sports (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), more than 38% of the population regularly practices sports. Over 28% of households meet the “sporting family” standard, reflecting social consensus and positive public response.
The resolution also supports initiatives such as the nationwide drive to improve physical fitness and Olympic Day for Public Health, which are expected to become more substantive. It further designates April 7 each year as World Health Day and National Health Day, intended as a reminder of the importance of regular exercise and a long-term approach to building a healthy Vietnam and improving human resource quality.
Speaking at the launch of National Health Day 2026, Health Minister Dao Hong Lan said the event marks a shift in thinking and actions toward preventive care in line with Resolution 72-NQ/TW. She noted challenges facing the health sector, including rising non-communicable diseases, an aging population, climate change, emerging health risks and mental health issues, as well as nutrition-related concerns.
The minister emphasized that disease prevention is society’s responsibility, with individuals as active participants. She urged people to protect health through scientific living, proper nutrition, safe food, limiting alcohol and tobacco, regular exercise, and maintaining a green and clean living environment.
Resolution 72 includes practical measures to “popularize” physical education and sports. One focus is planning and improving the efficiency of public cultural and sports facilities. By making training spaces—from parks and cultural houses to local fields—more accessible, the resolution aims to embed exercise into daily life for citizens.
For schools, the resolution sets higher requirements for physical education, including integrating nutrition and exercise into the curriculum so that younger generations can build physical strength and stature from an early age. It also calls for cooperation between education and health sectors, supported by expert sports advice, to create a scientific and safe training process suited to Vietnamese physiological characteristics.
Dr. Nguyen Manh Thang, President of the Vietnam Association of Sports Medicine, said sports medicine helps improve athletes’ performance by optimizing nutrition, recovery and health monitoring, and by preventing injuries through risk assessment, correct technique training and timely recovery. For citizens, he said it supports scientifically guided training, reduces injury risk, improves overall health and encourages daily physical activity. He added that the resolution is expected to raise public awareness of physical fitness and strengthen the combination of nutrition and exercise to protect and improve personal health.
Implementing Resolution 72 is framed as realizing the aspiration that “when the people are strong, the country is strong.” In the near term, the resolution highlights closer integration between preventive medicine and sports. Sports medicine models are expected to play a consultative role by helping people screen injury risks and choose optimal exercise methods, thereby reducing pressure on the health system and helping families save costs and improve living standards.
Mass sports movements are also expected to help discover talent for national sports. Traditional games and local sports are to be revived and developed, with young athletes selected from local competitions to join city, provincial and national teams, contributing to Vietnam’s high-level sports achievements internationally.
Sports journalist Nguyen Viet Anh (VOH2 Channel, Voice of Vietnam) noted that, alongside positive impacts, authorities need to plan, invest and improve the efficient use of public cultural and sports facilities. He said many localities have invested in sports grounds, walking paths and public exercise areas in parks and commune houses.
As a result, mass tournaments—including football, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and newer sports such as pickleball—are expected to provide healthy venues for youth, foster solidarity and reduce stress after work and study.
Overall, Resolution 72 is presented as a push to raise the physical stature of Vietnamese people, supported by proactive involvement from authorities and self-discipline within the community, with the sports movement expected to spread and contribute to national prosperity.
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