So much activity

In my last post I went on for a while about Traditional Medicine. (I’m learning all sorts of interesting facts about wildlife trade in Viet Nam so prepare yourself for more posts about that). Reading a report on TM I came across this statement: “In traditional medicine systems, the prevention of ailments and disease are considered to be as important as the cure.” In this post I would like to tell you about the amazing phenomena that is Viet Nam’s culture of exercise.

EVERYONE DOES IT! The busiest times are before 7am or after 9pm when it finally gets below 95 degrees in Ha Noi. And there’s such a range of activities. From the old couples practicing Tai Chi by West Lake, to the middle-aged couples learning to tango on the street to the delightful sounds of ABBA, to the youngsters playing soccer in the park. Even in my own life I’ve suddenly become really active. 1-2 times a week I’m playing Frisbee, riding my bicycle around town, and I’ve recently taken up badminton with my friend Jonathan, a very popular sport among Hanoians. Oh, and I might be a member of the Viet Nam women’s Gaelic Football team in an upcoming Southeast Asian competition….more on that later…

I think my favourite activity to watch is the women’s jazzercise groups that spontaneously emerge in floral exercise pajamas and do a lot of synchronized hip thrusting and shaking. Some day I’ll get up the courage to join one of these ensembles. Then look out Flash Dance- I’m taking it to the streets Ha Noi style.

I googled "excercise Hanoi" and this video came up. It's so accurate and includes Bahamen's only slightly less well-known hit "Who let the frog out"