On March 22, the Olympic Run Day 2026: For Public Health – For National Security opened at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi, drawing more than 17,000 participants, including armed forces personnel, civil servants, workers and residents of the capital.

Attending the ceremony were Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security, who chaired the event, and Le Quoc Minh, member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and mass organizations, Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association and Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper.

Also present were Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee; Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; representatives of the Vietnam Olympic Committee; Major General Pham Kim Dinh, Director of the Department of Political Affairs under the Ministry of Public Security and Head of the Organizing Committee.

The event was held on the largest scale ever

The Olympic Run Day 2026 was organized on an unprecedented scale, led by the Ministry of Public Security in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and authorities in 34 provinces and cities, with media sponsorship from the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association, Nhan Dan Newspaper and the Vietnam Television.

This mass sporting event commemorates the 80th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's call for nationwide physical exercise (March 27, 1946 – March 27, 2026), the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's sports sector and the 80th anniversary of the People's Public Security force (July 12, 1946 – July 12, 2026).

The program was held simultaneously on the morning of March 22, 2026, across nearly all 3,321 communes, wards, special zones and central areas in 34 provinces and cities, attracting nearly 1.4 million participants nationwide with 17,000 around Hoan Kiem Lake alone.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of National Defense Le Quoc Hung emphasized that amid nationwide emulation to celebrate the success of the 14th National Party Congress and the elections for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term, the event carries significant meaning in promoting physical training across society.

Hung reiterated President Ho Chi Minh's call for physical exercise, highlighting the importance of health for individuals and national development.

Following his guidance, the Central Public Security Party Committee and the Ministry of Public Security have consistently prioritized sports development within the force under the motto "Fitness to safeguard national security," contributing to improved physical strength, resilience and readiness for new challenges.

Spreading widely across the country

At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong noted that the campaign "All people exercise following the example of President Ho Chi Minh" has been widely implemented, attracting broad participation.

Currently, 38.5% of the population regularly engages in physical exercise, 28.9% of households meet sports participation criteria and over 100,000 sports clubs are operating effectively nationwide.

In the coming time, ministries, sectors and localities are encouraged to continue promoting awareness, investing in grassroots sports infrastructure and diversifying activities to sustain the movement.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha said that in response to Olympic Run Day 2026, all 126 communes and wards in Hanoi organized activities throughout March, combined with the 51st Ha Noi Moi Newspaper Run for Peace, attracting 100,000 participants citywide.

This meaningful activity raises public awareness about physical fitness while contributing to the upcoming final round of the long-standing and prestigious race.