On a recent weekend, 83-year-old Ms. Lai Thi Anh woke up at 2:30 AM, eagerly joining many other seniors from Phu Thuan hamlet, An Nhon Tay commune (formerly Cu Chi district). Following a convoy of vehicles, she traveled over 20km to Phu Nhuan Stadium to participate in a mass Qigong performance.
For the past seven years, Ms. Anh has been dedicated to a Qigong group in her small neighborhood. This was her first time being part of such a large-scale performance, with nearly 2,000 participants.
By 5 AM, the practice venue was brightly lit. Thousands of people lined up, and Qigong music filled the air. Ms. Anh stood in the middle, her thin but flexible hands gracefully moving through each steady motion. Beads of sweat dotted her cheeks; she wiped them with her sleeve, smiling as she said, “Not tired at all, I feel great!”
The “Qigong for Community Health” mass performance took place on the morning of November 16, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Traditional Medicine in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Phu Nhuan Ward, at Phu Nhuan Stadium.
This activity was in response to the 95th anniversary of the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Institute of Traditional Medicine, while also spreading the message that “Ho Chi Minh City is placing people’s health at the center of all development policies.”
Speaking at the program, Dr. Ho Van Han, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute of Traditional Medicine, stated that the presence of 2,000 people of all ages and medical staff demonstrated the growing trust in Qigong and traditional medicine for community health care, protection, and improvement.
Dr. Tran Ngoc Trieu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, assessed that the “Qigong for Community Health” mass performance is an important part of implementing Resolution 72-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthrough solutions to strengthen the protection, care, and improvement of public health – shifting the focus from treatment to prevention and continuous lifelong health care.
“When people are encouraged to exercise daily and take scientific, age-appropriate care of their health, we are building a sustainable foundation for the health of the entire population. I believe that those who practice Qigong know how to preserve themselves,” said the Deputy Director of the HCMC Department of Health.
Mr. Trieu also affirmed that the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health is committed to continuing to support similar models to help every citizen have the opportunity to improve physical fitness and care for their health both at home and within the community.
Attending the event, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung, City Party Committee member and Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, emphasized that the event not only encouraged the spirit of health training but also demonstrated the strength of solidarity and sharing.
At the program, Mr. Trung also called on delegates, medical staff, and citizens to turn their attention to the people in the Central and Northern regions heavily affected by storms and floods, to join hands in supporting them, helping them overcome difficulties, and stabilize their lives soon.
