Vietnam Health Experts Reassess 10,000‑Step Daily Goal

The long‑standing recommendation of walking 10,000 steps a day, originally promoted by a Japanese pedometer in the 1960s, has been questioned by recent research. Large cohort studies published in JAMA, The Lancet Public Health and BMJ show that mortality risk drops sharply once people reach about 7,000–8,000 steps, with a roughly 47‑51% reduction compared with low‑activity levels. Additional benefits continue above that threshold but at a slower pace, and the difference between 7,000 and 10,000 steps is marginal.

Experts now advise a more flexible target, encouraging anyone to increase daily movement gradually—starting from as few as 4,000 steps. "There are days I only reach 7,000‑8,000 steps but still have a solid workout," says 17‑year‑old runner Đinh Long Vũ. The emphasis is on regular activity rather than hitting a fixed number, especially for people with sedentary jobs.

The shift reflects a broader move in Vietnam away from treating the step count as a rigid benchmark toward viewing it as one tool among many for maintaining physical and mental health.