Vietnam Ministry of Education promotes physical activity in schools

The Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training has issued Official Dispatch No. 5069/BGDĐT-GDPT to strengthen physical training and arts practice in general education institutions starting from the 2026-2027 school year. The initiative aims to ensure students develop a habit of regularly practicing at least one sport and one musical instrument or art form by the time they complete their general education.

This policy follows data showing that while over 10.4 million students participate in extracurricular sports, the World Health Organization has warned that 82-91% of Vietnamese adolescents aged 11-17 do not meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. To address this, schools are encouraged to establish clubs based on student interest and health, without using participation as a formal academic assessment criterion.

In support of these physical education goals, the first Phu Dong Student Games in Phu Tho province is being organized in 2026. The event features nine disciplines, including football, volleyball, basketball, swimming, and various martial arts such as Vovinam and Taekwondo. The games are being held across three clusters—Viet Tri, Vinh Yen, and Hoa Binh—to facilitate wide-scale competition and talent identification.