Physical Activity and Social Prescribing in Viet Nam: Where Could Community Movement Programs Add Value, and When Must Clinical Care and Rehabilitation Lead?
VIET NAM CONTEXTEVIDENCE & EVALUATION
Physical Activity and Social Prescribing in Viet Nam: Where Could Community Movement Programs Add Value, and When Must Clinical Care and Rehabilitation Lead?
Category: Research & Evidence
Last reviewed: October 2026
Early in the morning, people gather in parks, neighborhood courtyards, and public spaces across Viet Nam. Some walk together, while others practice gentle exercises, dance, or follow familiar movement routines. For many participants, these activities offer more than physical exercise. They provide companionship, a familiar routine, and an opportunity to spend time with others.
Yet having an activity nearby does not necessarily mean everyone can take part.
Someone who has recently moved to a neighborhood may not know where local groups meet. A person returning to everyday life after an illness may want to become active again but feel uncertain about joining a group. Others may be interested in participating but face difficulties involving cost, transportation, accessibility, or unfamiliar social surroundings.
These barriers are not always medical. Sometimes people need reliable information, a welcoming introduction, or practical help finding an activity that fits their circumstances.
This is where social prescribing may have a role.
Social prescribing is an approach to connecting people with suitable non-clinical activities and community resources based on their needs, interests, and preferences. Community movement programs may offer opportunities for physical activity, social connection, enjoyment, and participation in everyday life.
However, helping someone join a neighborhood walking group is not the same as prescribing therapeutic exercise, assessing medical fitness, or providing rehabilitation.
For Viet Nam, the opportunity is to explore how healthcare services, community organizations, and existing local activities might work together to make participation easier. Any such approach should recognize what communities already offer, avoid unnecessary referral processes, and maintain clear boundaries between community activities and professional healthcare.
Why does physical activity belong in social prescribing?
The health benefits of regular physical activity are well established. The World Health Organization's 2020 guidelines recognize its contribution to cardiovascular health, the prevention and management of several noncommunicable diseases, mental health, sleep, and physical functioning.
WHO also emphasizes that some physical activity is better than none. People who are not sufficiently active can benefit from starting with manageable amounts of movement and gradually increasing their activity according to their abilities and circumstances.
These recommendations provide an important public health foundation. However, knowing that physical activity is beneficial does not necessarily help someone find an activity they enjoy or overcome the difficulties of participating.
A person may receive appropriate advice to become more active but have no suitable place nearby. Another may find commercial fitness programs too expensive or uncomfortable. Someone else may prefer a neighborhood walking group where the main attraction is spending time with others.
Social prescribing can help address this gap between health advice and practical opportunities.
NHS England recognizes physical activity, sports, dance, walking groups, and other community activities among the resources to which social prescribing link workers may connect people. Its updated workforce development framework, published in August 2026, emphasizes person-centered conversations, community partnerships, and support that reflects what matters to each individual.
The objective is not necessarily to place everyone in a structured exercise program. For some people, an enjoyable activity with others may provide a meaningful opportunity for social participation as well as movement.
These potential benefits should not be assumed to occur for every participant or attributed automatically to a referral. Nor does everyone need a navigator.
The possible contribution of social prescribing lies in helping people access opportunities that matter to them when additional support is genuinely useful.
Community movement in Viet Nam: Existing opportunities and practical limitations
Walking, badminton, neighborhood exercise groups, dance, and recreational sports are familiar activities in many Vietnamese communities. Some take place in parks or other public spaces, while others are organized through community facilities, sports clubs, workplaces, or local social organizations.
Informal groups also develop naturally among neighbors and friends without becoming formal service providers.
These activities may provide a useful starting point for community-connected care. However, their presence should not be mistaken for an established social prescribing network.
A group may be easy for regular members to attend but difficult for newcomers to discover. Some activities have no published schedule, reliable contact information, or clear way of welcoming new participants. Others depend on volunteer organizers or the continued availability of suitable public spaces.
Participation may involve transportation, equipment, or membership costs. Even a free activity can be difficult to access for someone with caregiving responsibilities, a disability, or unpredictable working hours.
National physical activity data provide useful context, although they do not directly measure access to community programs.
The Ministry of Health and WHO's 2021 STEPS survey, published in its full report in 2025, found that 22.2% of Vietnamese adults aged 18–69 did not meet the physical activity recommendations used in the assessment. The proportion was higher among women than men and higher in urban than rural populations.
The survey also found that 73.8% of respondents reported no recreation-related physical activity within the categories measured.
These figures require careful interpretation. STEPS measures physical activity across work, transportation, and recreation. It does not establish how many people participate in neighborhood exercise groups or other organized community activities.
Nor does reporting no recreation-related physical activity within the survey's categories mean that someone never walks for enjoyment or undertakes any light recreational movement. The findings reflect the survey's definitions, including the intensity and duration of activities assessed.
Nevertheless, they highlight an important distinction. Someone may accumulate substantial physical activity through work or transportation without participating in organized recreation. Another person may want to join a walking or dance group primarily for companionship rather than to meet a particular exercise target.
The 2021 survey provides historical context, not a direct measure of physical activity participation in 2026.
A relevant recent development is Decision No. 103/QD-PB, issued on 13 July 2026 by the Ministry of Health's Department of Disease Prevention. The decision introduced the Handbook on Physical Activity for Improving Community Health.
The handbook provides physical activity guidance for different populations, including older adults, people living with chronic conditions, and people with disabilities. It also addresses safety and the promotion of physical activity in community, educational, and workplace settings.
This is a useful national resource for physical activity promotion. However, it does not establish a national social prescribing referral system, create a separate community navigator profession, or make ordinary neighborhood activities equivalent to clinical rehabilitation.
For Social Prescribing Vietnam (SPVN), the important question remains how people can find and access suitable community opportunities, rather than assuming that the existence of national physical activity guidance automatically makes those opportunities available.
What does the evidence tell us about physical activity referral programs?
There is an important distinction between evidence about the benefits of physical activity and evidence about the effectiveness of programs that refer people to physical activity services.
The first is supported by extensive international research and WHO recommendations. The second depends more heavily on how a program is organized, whom it serves, what activities are available, and whether people participate.
An activity can be beneficial without a particular referral model being effective.
Physical activity referral schemes generally involve healthcare-initiated referrals to exercise or physical activity services. Depending on the model, they may include written referrals, professional advice, supervised sessions, behavioral support, and follow-up.
These schemes share some features with social prescribing, but they are not necessarily the same. Many focus primarily on increasing physical activity, whereas social prescribing may also address social participation, confidence, practical barriers, and other non-clinical needs.
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Mino and colleagues, published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity in 2024, examined 52 studies of physical activity referral schemes.
The analysis of 11 randomized controlled trials involving 5,046 participants found a small but statistically significant improvement in physical activity compared with usual care. The pooled effect was Hedges' g = 0.18, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.12 to 0.25. The certainty of evidence for this comparison was rated high.
However, comparisons with physical activity advice or enhanced versions of referral schemes did not establish clear additional benefits. The certainty of evidence for those comparisons was low.
The researchers also examined program uptake and adherence. Certain components, including person-centered approaches, screening, and brief advice, were associated with better adherence. However, the analysis did not establish that these components caused better outcomes or consistently increased physical activity.
These findings suggest that organized referral programs can help some people become more active, but their average effects may be modest. More complicated programs are not necessarily more effective, and questions remain about how best to support participation over time.
A further perspective comes from a Bayesian re-analysis by Huang and colleagues, published in Frontiers in Public Health in September 2026.
The researchers examined reports from nine randomized trials involving social prescribing or related referral approaches for adults with or at risk of chronic diseases. Most trials evaluated exercise-oriented programs, while only one involved a broader link-worker model.
The analysis suggested an increased likelihood of achieving recommended physical activity levels. However, the pooled estimate for this outcome was based on only two trials that provided compatible data.
The researchers also found an association between greater program participation and better outcomes. This raises an important implementation question: whether people actually engage with the intended support may matter more than simply being referred.
However, participation was assessed after randomization, and such comparisons cannot establish that participation itself caused the observed benefits. People who attend more regularly may differ from those who do not in motivation, health status, available time, or other circumstances.
The findings are therefore suggestive rather than definitive.
These studies provide reasons to examine carefully designed approaches to physical activity referral. They do not establish that every social prescribing model works, that more intensive navigation is always better, or that connecting people with existing neighborhood movement groups in Viet Nam will necessarily improve health outcomes.
For SPVN, the evidence supports responsible exploration while remaining realistic about what is known and what still needs to be evaluated locally.
A referral is not the same as meaningful participation
Providing someone with information about an activity is relatively straightforward. Helping that person make a connection that works in everyday life can be more difficult.
Consider a woman who spends most of her working day sitting and would like to join a neighborhood movement group. She knows regular activity could be beneficial but has never attended a local group and feels uncomfortable arriving alone.
A healthcare professional may provide appropriate physical activity advice and suggest exploring opportunities nearby. For someone confident about finding activities independently, that may be enough.
For this woman, however, the barrier is not necessarily a lack of knowledge about exercise. She may want to know whether beginners are welcome, what participants are expected to do, whether fees apply, or whom she should contact.
An appropriately organized community navigation function could potentially help obtain this information or arrange an introduction if she wants assistance.
The group organizer might explain the schedule, describe the activity, and help her understand what to expect. These relatively small steps could make participation more realistic without turning the group into a healthcare service.
Yet attending the first session is only one part of the experience.
The woman may enjoy the activity but discover that the schedule conflicts with work. She may feel that the exercises are too demanding, the location is inconvenient, or the atmosphere is less welcoming than expected.
In those circumstances, the initial connection may not lead to regular participation.
This is why referral counts alone provide a limited picture. Receiving information, contacting an organizer, attending for the first time, and continuing to participate are different experiences.
Where practical follow-up is appropriate, it may help identify whether the person would prefer another activity or wants assistance resolving a particular barrier.
However, follow-up should reflect the person's preferences and should not become unnecessary monitoring of attendance or private activities.
Choosing not to participate, or deciding that a group is unsuitable, should not automatically be treated as failure. A person may reasonably prefer another activity, need a different schedule, or decide not to join at all.
A meaningful community connection should remain voluntary.
What makes a community movement group suitable?
A group does not automatically become an appropriate community resource simply because it meets regularly or is located near someone's home.
Before arranging an introduction, the person or organization making the connection needs reliable information about what the activity involves.
A neighborhood walking group may have an experienced organizer, a consistent meeting place, and an informal approach that welcomes newcomers. Another group may meet less regularly or have no designated person responsible for responding to questions.
Neither arrangement is necessarily unsuitable. However, someone making a referral should understand the group's practical limitations rather than promise assistance the organizer cannot provide.
Accessibility is particularly important.
A suitable activity should be considered in relation to its location, costs, schedule, physical environment, and participation requirements.
A group that meets early in the morning may suit some older residents but be difficult for parents preparing children for school. An evening activity may work better for employed adults but raise concerns about transportation or personal safety.
Similarly, a group may be affordable but difficult to reach for someone who cannot use available transportation independently.
The physical demands of the activity also need to be described accurately. A gentle recreational walking group differs from a demanding fitness session, and neither should be advertised as suitable for everyone regardless of health or functional limitations.
Environmental conditions matter in Viet Nam as well.
Outdoor activities can be affected by heat, heavy rain, flooding, poor air quality, traffic, and unsuitable walking surfaces. Organizers should consider whether sessions need to be adapted, postponed, or canceled when conditions create unnecessary risks.
The social environment is equally important. A group may be physically accessible but difficult for newcomers to join if expectations are unclear or regular participants are not welcoming.
An older adult, a person living with a disability, or someone returning after a long period of inactivity may appreciate information about whether participation can be adapted to their abilities.
These considerations are not intended to turn community groups into clinical services. They reflect the need for honest, practical information that allows people to make informed choices.
An ordinary recreational group should not be presented as a therapeutic exercise or rehabilitation provider unless it genuinely offers those services under appropriate professional and legal arrangements.
Who might need additional help connecting with community movement?
There is no single population for whom community movement navigation will always be appropriate.
Some people already know where to find suitable activities and need no assistance. Others may benefit from help because they are unfamiliar with local opportunities or face practical barriers.
Someone who recently moved to a new neighborhood may need current information about nearby activities. A person with irregular working hours may need a program offered at a different time. A family caregiver may prefer a short activity close to home rather than one requiring lengthy travel.
For others, the main difficulty may be social. Joining an unfamiliar group can feel uncomfortable, particularly after a long period away from community activities.
These circumstances illustrate why a person-centered conversation may be more useful than simply recommending a standard exercise program.
However, support should not be based on assumptions about age, disability, illness, or financial circumstances.
Older adults, people living with chronic conditions, and people with disabilities should not be excluded from community activities merely because of a diagnosis or functional limitation.
At the same time, a person's health, functional abilities, and the demands of a particular activity may affect whether professional advice or rehabilitation support is needed.
Community navigation may help identify accessible opportunities or clarify participation arrangements. It should not independently prescribe exercise intensity, determine functional capacity, or replace specialist assessment.
A diagnosis alone does not establish whether someone can participate. Equally, an invitation from a community group does not replace individualized professional guidance when that guidance is necessary.
The appropriate response depends on the person, the activity, and the circumstances rather than a general assumption that everyone within a particular population needs the same assistance.
When must clinical care and rehabilitation lead?
Community movement can complement healthcare, but it is not a substitute for clinical assessment, treatment, or rehabilitation.
This distinction becomes especially important when someone has a condition that affects the safety or suitability of particular movements.
Consider a person recovering from a stroke who has persistent balance difficulties and reduced mobility. Joining a neighborhood activity may eventually provide valuable opportunities for social participation and regular movement.
However, the person's rehabilitation needs and the suitability of particular activities may first require assessment by an appropriately qualified healthcare or rehabilitation professional.
The same principle applies to people recovering from major surgery, experiencing unstable symptoms, or requiring structured rehabilitation following serious illness or injury.
Cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise, and other specialized interventions are healthcare services with specific clinical objectives and professional responsibilities. They should not be presented as interchangeable with ordinary community movement programs.
A community organization may be able to provide suitable activities when participation is appropriate, but it should not independently determine rehabilitation goals, prescribe therapeutic exercise, or change clinical recommendations.
Where professional guidance has identified relevant precautions or limitations, a community navigator may help someone explore suitable opportunities within those boundaries.
This does not mean that everyone with a chronic condition must remain in formal rehabilitation or obtain medical permission before any physical activity.
The decision depends on the person's circumstances and the demands of the activity.
There may also be situations where concerning symptoms arise during participation. Chest pain, fainting, severe unexpected breathlessness, or other potentially serious symptoms require an appropriate medical response rather than ordinary navigation assistance.
Community organizers should understand how to recognize situations requiring urgent help and activate appropriate emergency procedures within their competence.
They should not be expected to diagnose medical conditions or determine that potentially serious symptoms are harmless.
Clinical care and rehabilitation must lead when professional assessment or intervention is necessary. Community movement may provide additional opportunities for participation without taking over those responsibilities.
Does everyone need medical clearance before joining a movement group?
Safety is essential, but unnecessarily strict medical clearance requirements can create barriers to everyday physical activity.
It would be misleading to suggest that everyone must obtain a doctor's approval before joining a gentle walking group or beginning ordinary light physical activity.
WHO's 2020 guidelines indicate that pre-exercise medical clearance is generally unnecessary for individuals without contraindications who are beginning light- or moderate-intensity activity that does not exceed the demands of brisk walking or everyday living.
This guidance is also relevant to adults living with certain chronic conditions, provided there are no contraindications and the activity is appropriate to their circumstances.
However, it should not be interpreted as saying that medical assessment is never necessary.
People with concerning symptoms, unstable conditions, significant functional limitations, or particular circumstances following illness, surgery, or injury may require individualized professional advice.
The same may apply when someone intends to begin more demanding activity that places greater demands on the body.
Viet Nam's 2026 Handbook on Physical Activity for Improving Community Health provides additional guidance and precautions for different population groups. Relevant recommendations should be considered according to the individual's circumstances, including when consultation with a healthcare professional is appropriate.
The important distinction is that medical assessment should respond to relevant clinical needs rather than become an automatic requirement imposed on everyone who wants to join an ordinary community group.
A community navigator should not independently declare someone medically fit or unfit for an activity or override clinical advice.
Where professional assessment is appropriate, the navigator may help the person reach the relevant healthcare service.
This approach supports both participant safety and reasonable access to everyday physical activity.
What responsibilities should community organizations and navigators have?
Community movement programs operate under different organizational arrangements.
An informal neighborhood walking group is not the same as a grassroots sports club, a commercial fitness facility, or a professionally supervised rehabilitation program.
The responsibilities of each organization depend on the activities it provides and the legal requirements applicable to those activities.
An ordinary community organizer may be responsible for communicating meeting arrangements, explaining participation conditions, and organizing activities within the group's capabilities.
A community navigator, where such a function has been appropriately established, may help people understand available options, contact organizers, or overcome practical barriers.
Neither role automatically includes professional healthcare or rehabilitation responsibilities.
Viet Nam's Law on Physical Training and Sports No. 77/2006/QH11, as amended by Law No. 26/2018/QH14, establishes the general legal framework for physical training and sports activities.
For grassroots sports clubs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Circular No. 18/2011/TT-BVHTTDL provides model provisions concerning organization and activities.
The circular was amended by Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BVHTTDL, effective from 15 February 2026. The amended provisions are reflected in Consolidated Document No. 82/VBHN-BVHTTDL, issued on 9 January 2026.
These instruments are relevant to grassroots sports clubs within their scope. They do not establish a national clinical social prescribing pathway or mean that every informal neighborhood activity must operate as a healthcare service.
Separately, the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment No. 15/2023/QH15 governs healthcare practice, including relevant professional responsibilities associated with rehabilitation.
Organizations must therefore consider the actual activities being offered. If a program provides regulated professional services, it must meet the applicable requirements.
An ordinary movement group should not describe itself as delivering medical treatment or rehabilitation unless it has the appropriate professional and legal basis to do so.
Information sharing also requires care.
If a healthcare organization introduces someone to a community provider, the receiving organization should normally receive only the personal information necessary for the intended purpose, subject to applicable legal requirements.
Viet Nam's Law on Personal Data Protection No. 91/2025/QH15 and Government Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP, both effective from 1 January 2026, are relevant when organizations process or exchange personal information.
An organizer of an ordinary community activity generally does not need a participant's detailed medical history simply because the introduction originated from a healthcare service.
Clear responsibilities and appropriate information-sharing arrangements can support collaboration without placing unnecessary obligations on community organizations or compromising participants' privacy.
How could community movement connections work in practice in Viet Nam?
A practical approach should begin with the activities that already exist rather than assume every locality needs a new social prescribing program.
Healthcare organizations, community institutions, and other suitable partners could examine what opportunities are available locally, who organizes them, and whether reliable information can be obtained.
These opportunities might include neighborhood walking groups, recreational sports, community dance activities, or programs organized through existing facilities.
Some groups may already have clear schedules and contact information. Others may operate informally and lack the capacity to receive referrals from healthcare organizations.
Understanding these differences is important before developing a connection pathway.
For a person who wants to join an activity and can make contact independently, accurate information may be enough.
Someone else may appreciate an introduction to the organizer or assistance understanding whether the group is accessible.
A person with a relevant rehabilitation need may require professional guidance before certain community activities can be considered.
These situations call for different responses. There is no reason to impose the same pathway on everyone.
In some circumstances, a healthcare professional may provide general information about suitable local activities. In others, an established community organization may be better positioned to help someone find an appropriate opportunity.
Where additional navigation support is useful, the arrangement should have a clear purpose and defined responsibilities.
It should also be possible to recognize when no suitable activity is available. A person should not be encouraged to attend a group that has stopped operating, cannot accommodate relevant accessibility needs, or lacks appropriate arrangements for the activity it provides.
Sometimes the responsible response is to acknowledge a gap rather than make an unsuitable referral.
Over time, healthcare and community partners may identify opportunities to improve existing activities or develop new partnerships.
However, those decisions should reflect actual community demand, available resources, and the capacity of participating organizations.
The objective is not to create another exercise prescription system. It is to make community participation easier where practical barriers currently prevent people from taking part.
Why does sustained participation matter?
A referral is an entry point, not an outcome in itself.
Someone may receive information about a movement group and express interest without attending. Another person may join once but decide not to continue.
The reasons can vary.
An activity may be enjoyable but difficult to fit around work or family responsibilities. The location may be inconvenient, or the group may not feel welcoming. Sometimes the person's health or personal circumstances change.
These experiences help explain whether community movement opportunities fit the realities of people's lives.
They also show why the number of referrals is an incomplete measure of success.
A pathway that generates many referrals but few meaningful connections may be less useful than a smaller initiative that helps interested people find activities they genuinely want and are able to attend.
However, maintaining participation should not become an obligation.
Someone may attend occasionally and still value the experience. Others may prefer to stop or move to another activity.
A person-centered approach should respect these choices rather than treating every interruption as a program failure.
Where follow-up is appropriate, it may help identify whether the person received the support they wanted or would appreciate another option.
It should not require community organizers to monitor participants unnecessarily or disclose private information to healthcare services without an appropriate basis.
The aim is to make participation possible, not to make people accountable to a referral system for their recreational choices.
What should Viet Nam evaluate before expanding community movement pathways?
There is a reasonable case for exploring carefully designed community movement connections in Viet Nam, particularly where existing opportunities are difficult for some people to access.
However, these initiatives should not begin with the assumption that they will automatically improve clinical outcomes, prevent hospital admissions, or reduce healthcare costs.
An initial evaluation should focus on the problem the arrangement was intended to address.
If the main difficulty is finding reliable information, the evaluation could examine whether people can identify suitable activities more easily.
If the purpose is to support introductions, it could explore whether individuals who wanted assistance were able to contact appropriate organizations and whether practical barriers were resolved.
The experiences of participants, community organizers, and relevant healthcare professionals would provide important information.
A community provider may welcome new participants but have limited staff, volunteer capacity, or funding. A referral arrangement that transfers substantial additional responsibilities to such an organization may not be sustainable.
Safety concerns, inappropriate referrals, and unexpected administrative burdens should also be examined.
Where physical activity outcomes are assessed, the measurement methods should match the program's objectives.
Attendance records, self-reported changes in activity, and participants' descriptions of their experiences provide different kinds of information. They should not be treated as interchangeable.
A small local initiative might demonstrate that information is more accurate, participants find suitable activities more easily, or practical introductions work better.
It would not necessarily establish that the intervention caused improvements in health or that the same model would work equally well elsewhere.
The international evidence also cautions against assuming that more intensive programs are automatically better. An approach involving multiple assessments, referrals, and follow-up contacts may be unnecessary when accurate information and a welcoming community group are sufficient.
For Viet Nam, responsible implementation means understanding what additional navigation contributes and whether that contribution justifies the resources and responsibilities involved.
Community movement should remain part of everyday life
Physical activity is important for health, but participating in a community movement group is not simply another form of healthcare.
For many people, walking with neighbors, joining a recreational activity, or attending a familiar group provides enjoyment, companionship, and a sense of belonging.
These experiences should not be reduced to clinical targets or referral statistics.
Social prescribing may help people connect with suitable opportunities when practical barriers, limited information, or uncertainty make participation difficult.
Its role is not to prescribe therapeutic exercise in place of healthcare professionals or transform ordinary community groups into rehabilitation providers.
Clinical care and rehabilitation must remain central whenever assessment, treatment, or individualized professional intervention is required. At the same time, people without relevant contraindications should not face unnecessary medical clearance requirements before participating in ordinary light or moderate physical activity.
Community organizations should provide activities within their actual capabilities, with clear information about what they offer and appropriate safeguards for participants.
For Viet Nam, the most useful starting point is to recognize the movement opportunities communities already have while examining who can access them and who may be left out.
Some people may need nothing more than reliable information. Others may appreciate a personal introduction or brief assistance overcoming a practical barrier. Those with particular health or functional needs may require professional guidance before joining certain activities.
These differences should shape any future approach.
The evidence supports the benefits of physical activity and suggests that organized referral schemes can produce modest improvements under some conditions. It does not establish that every social prescribing model or community movement pathway will be effective.
For Social Prescribing Vietnam (SPVN), the opportunity is to support evidence-informed learning and responsible collaboration among healthcare, community, and other appropriate partners.
The objective is not to create another system for prescribing exercise.
It is to help people find opportunities for movement and community participation that make sense for their circumstances, while respecting their preferences, safety, and access to appropriate professional care.
Sometimes that connection may begin with a conversation in a healthcare setting. At other times, it may require little more than current information, a welcoming group, and a suitable place to participate.
What matters is whether people can make connections that are useful to them and realistic to maintain within everyday life in Viet Nam.
References
World Health Organization. WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020. ISBN: 9789240015128.
World Health Organization. Physical Activity. Fact sheet. Updated 26 June 2024.
World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. A Toolkit on How to Implement Social Prescribing. Manila: World Health Organization; 2022. ISBN: 9789290619765.
NHS England. Social Prescribing: Frequently Asked Questions. NHS England.
NHS England. Workforce Development Framework for Social Prescribing Link Workers. Version 2, updated July 2026; published 13 August 2026.
Ministry of Health of Viet Nam and World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. National Survey on the Risk Factors of Noncommunicable Diseases in Viet Nam, 2021. Published 2025. ISBN: 9789290620266.
Mino E, Pfeifer K, Hanson CL. Are physical activity referral scheme components associated with increased physical activity, scheme uptake, and adherence rate? A meta-analysis and meta-regression. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2024;21:82. doi:10.1186/s12966-024-01623-5.
Mino E, Hanson CL, Naber I, et al. A systematic review and narrative synthesis of physical activity referral schemes' components. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2023;20:140. doi:10.1186/s12966-023-01518-x.
Huang M, Fu G, Du Z. Bayesian re-analysis suggests participation rather than referral underlies the benefits of social prescribing for chronic diseases. Frontiers in Public Health. 2026;14:1951236. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1951236.
Ministry of Health of Viet Nam, Department of Disease Prevention. Decision No. 103/QD-PB issuing the Handbook on Physical Activity for Improving Community Health. Issued 13 July 2026.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law No. 77/2006/QH11 on Physical Training and Sports. Issued 29 November 2006; effective 1 July 2007.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law No. 26/2018/QH14 amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Physical Training and Sports. Issued 14 June 2018; effective 1 January 2019.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam. Circular No. 18/2011/TT-BVHTTDL providing model regulations on the organization and activities of grassroots sports clubs. Issued 2 December 2011.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam. Circular No. 16/2025/TT-BVHTTDL amending and supplementing Circular No. 18/2011/TT-BVHTTDL. Issued 1 December 2025; effective 15 February 2026.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam. Consolidated Document No. 82/VBHN-BVHTTDL concerning model regulations for the organization and activities of grassroots sports clubs. Issued 9 January 2026.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law No. 15/2023/QH15 on Medical Examination and Treatment. Issued 9 January 2023; effective 1 January 2024.
National Assembly of Viet Nam. Law No. 91/2025/QH15 on Personal Data Protection. Effective 1 January 2026.
Government of Viet Nam. Decree No. 356/2025/ND-CP detailing certain provisions and implementation measures under the Law on Personal Data Protection. Issued 31 December 2025; effective 1 January 2026.
Editorial and Legal Note
This article provides an educational and implementation-focused discussion of physical activity, social prescribing, and potential community movement connections in Viet Nam. It draws on international guidance, published research, national survey findings, and relevant Vietnamese legal provisions reviewed through October 2026.
The health benefits of physical activity are supported by established public health evidence. However, findings concerning physical activity referral schemes, social prescribing interventions, participation, and long-term outcomes must be interpreted according to the populations and interventions studied.
The international research cited does not establish that a particular community movement referral model is effective, safe, or universally available in Viet Nam.
Social prescribing and community care navigation are discussed as potential approaches to connecting people with suitable community resources. They do not replace clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, or other regulated professional services.
Under WHO guidance, routine pre-exercise medical clearance is generally unnecessary for individuals without contraindications beginning light- or moderate-intensity activity that does not exceed the demands of brisk walking or everyday living. Appropriate clinical assessment remains important when symptoms, health conditions, functional limitations, or planned activities require professional judgment.
Organizations considering community movement partnerships should assess the activities actually provided, applicable legal requirements, participant preferences, accessibility, safety arrangements, professional responsibilities, supervision, information protection, and community provider capacity.
Social Prescribing Vietnam (SPVN) is a development, education, research, implementation, and collaboration platform. Publication of this article does not mean that SPVN currently operates physical activity programs, provides medical or rehabilitation services, offers individualized exercise prescriptions, or directly coordinates community referrals.