In Hanoi, the Walk Took Place at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and Ba Dinh Square

Vietnam has set a Guinness World Record after 1,774,268 people took part in the second nationwide "Marching Forward with Vietnam" event on Aug. 30, held simultaneously across all 34 provinces and cities. The record was for the largest number of localities organizing walking activities at the same time to raise environmental awareness.

The event was organized by Nhan Dan Newspaper and the Ministry of Public Security, with participation from the Ministry of National Defense and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee. In Hanoi, the walk took place at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square and Ba Dinh Square. Participants recorded nearly 10.07 billion steps at events held in nearly 3,000 communes, wards and special zones nationwide.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang praised the programme's creative approach and asked organizers to develop it into an annual activity linked with patriotic emulation movements and major national campaigns. He said the participation of millions of people will help build momentum for a stronger, more prosperous, civilized and happy Vietnam. Le Quoc Minh, member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Publicity and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association, said the programme's second edition marked an important step toward turning the event into a lasting social habit.

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Le Van Tuyen described the programme as a practical initiative to promote healthy lifestyles, improve public health and strengthen awareness of environmental protection and community responsibility.

The 2026 programme, launched on Aug. 12, forms part of the "10 billion green steps – For a sustainable Vietnam" campaign, encouraging people to exercise while adopting greener habits such as saving energy, sorting waste, planting trees and reducing carbon emissions. In central Nghe An Province, tens of thousands of officials, members of the armed forces and residents joined the event at Ho Chi Minh Square in Truong Vinh Ward on Aug.

30. Following a flag-raising ceremony and the national anthem, participants walked from the square along Truong Thi Street and back. All communes and wards in Nghe An organized activities in response, with universities and colleges also mobilizing large numbers of staff, Youth Union members and students. The programme also featured communications and experiential activities on net zero, climate change, green development and the circular economy, aiming to promote public awareness of environmental protection and sustainable development.