In recent years, the movement of mass physical training and sports in Hoa Binh province has grown vigorously and spread widely. From the city to the rural villages, communes, and residential areas, the spirit of "All people do exercises following the great example of Uncle Ho” has become an integral part of daily life. Regardless of age, gender or occupation, people eagerly participate in physical training, creating a vibrant, energetic atmosphere and boosting community morale.

In the communes, wards and townships throughout the province, sports have become an essential aspect of the spiritual and cultural life. The popular activities like soft volleyball, fitness exercises, football, table tennis, cycling… have been attracting the participation of the local people.

Around 5 p.m. every day, the courtyard of Dong Thanh village’s cultural house in Cao Duong commune (Luong Son District) bursts with laughter and cheers from a soft volleyball game played by the local residents. Ms. Bui Thi Binh An, a regular participant, says: "Since I started playing soft volleyball, my physical and mental health have improved significantly. I feel more cheerful and optimistic. Most importantly, these sporting sessions have helped strengthen neighborhood bonds and community solidarity”. Clearly, mass physical training and sports activities not only improve health but also provide a healthy recreational environment, fostering the community connection, enriching the spiritual life and helping prevent social evils and vices.

According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in 2024, nearly 317,800 people in the province regularly engaged in physical activities. More than 61,200 households participated the the sports activities and 836 sports clubs operated actively across the region. The leading localities in regular participation included Lac Son District (nearly 59,000 people), Hoa Binh City (56,450 people), and Kim Boi District (over 43,640 people).

Volleyball remains a favorite with 217 clubsmaintaining effective activities. Additionally, newer sports like pickleball have drawn interest with 95 clubs, followed by athletics (77 clubs) and football (75 clubs). In the past year alone, the province held 14 provincial-level tournaments,67 district-level tournaments, and nearly 400 tournaments at the commune, ward, and township levels, attracting over 67,300 athlete entries. Moreover,2,865 sports facilities throughout the province have been utilized effectively to serve the public’s needs for training, competition, and social interaction.

The movement of mass physical training and sports in Hoa Binh continues to expand steadily, evidenced by the yearly increase in participants. In 2022, there were 300,730 regular participants, followed by over 309,000 in 2023 and nearly 317,800 in 2024, an increase of about 17,100 people compared to the of two years. Similarly, the number of sports families also saw significant growth, reflecting a positive shift in public awareness and behavior regarding fitness and health. This affirms that the mass sports movement has become a sustainable, positive lifestyle trend in the province.

These impressive results are thanks to the dedicated leadership and direction of Party committees, the local authorities and the enthusiastic participation of the people. The socialization of sports has been promoted, encouraging organizations and individuals to collaborate and contribute to building the movement.

Mr. Dao Tien Cuong, the Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, says: "In 2024, the Department proactively advised the Provincial Party Committee, the People's Council and the People’s Committee on effectively managing and implementing the state policies in the field of sports. Mechanisms and policies were developed to promote the development of sports in the province. The campaign "All people do exercises following the great example of Uncle Ho” continues to be widely deployed, attracting the participation of all people and contributing to improved physical health, a healthy living environment and cultural progress.

Beyond promoting physical health, the movement of mass physical training and sports also acts as a powerful connector within the community, strengthening neighborhood relationships. Every playground, training session and competition is an opportunity for the people to meet, exchange, understand, and bond, building a society that is healthy both physically and mentally.