Vietnam walking campaign sets Guinness World Record in nationwide effort

The record was recognised after people across 34 provinces and cities joined walking activities at the same time, from public squares and streets to communes, wards and special zones. The programme recorded 10,068,000,515 steps, but its significance goes beyond the number.

A simple activity such as walking created a nationwide platform for community participation, with millions of individual steps combined into a shared journey promoting health, environmental responsibility and sustainable development.

Walking campaign grows from 1 billion to 10 billion steps

The 2026 edition builds on a programme launched in 2025 by Nhan Dan Newspaper and the Ministry of Public Security, with the participation of the Ministry of National Defence and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.

While the first edition set a target of 1 billion steps, the 2026 programme adopted the goal of 10 billion green steps for a sustainable Vietnam. The target was surpassed as participants continued accumulating steps on the programme’s online platform ahead of the national walking day on August 30.

At the launch ceremony on August 30, Nhan Dan Newspaper Editor-in-Chief Le Quoc Minh said the significance of the second edition lay in its ability to turn an event into a habit, as lasting changes in daily life often begin with small actions maintained over time.

Walking requires no special facilities or expensive equipment and can be joined by almost anyone, he said, adding that simplicity helped the programme reach communities at the grassroots level, allowing individuals to contribute to a common national effort.

General Phan Van Giang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, said the programme chose an accessible activity to convey broader messages about public health, patriotism, civic responsibility and sustainable development.

From a mass sporting activity, it has developed into a wide-reaching platform for community connection and a reflection of national solidarity.

Guinness World Record reflects nationwide participation

Guinness World Records officially recognized the campaign for having the largest number of localities simultaneously organizing a walking activity to raise environmental awareness, with all 34 provinces and cities taking part.

The record was based not only on the number of participants or steps, but also on the ability of communities nationwide to act together at the same time toward a shared goal. By August 30, the programme had recorded 1,774,268 participants and 10,068,000,515 steps.

The 10 billion-step target, however, is not intended to be a final destination. Under the programme’s broader vision, participants are encouraged to keep accumulating steps after the national event and turn walking into a regular habit linked to healthier lifestyles and greater environmental awareness.

A Guinness record built around an everyday habit

Unlike records based on a single performance, the significance of this achievement lies in the way an everyday activity was used to connect people across the country.

One person walking only adds a small number of steps. But when millions of people act together, those individual contributions become a national movement. That is also why the programme places emphasis on continuity rather than a single record-setting day.

The Guinness World Record may have been set in one day, but the programme aims for a change that continues every day, with healthier people, stronger communities and greater environmental responsibility becoming part of daily life.

From 1 billion steps in its first edition to more than 10 billion this year, the campaign is evolving from a community event into a longer-term movement in which individual steps come together to represent a shared step forward for the country.

HCM City to hold charity walk for Agent Orange/dioxin victims

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