Michael Waibel is the editor of an urban development book called “Ho Chi Minh: MEGA City.” He says city planners should create more “green spaces” and urge people to exercise in public.
On a recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Waibel said it is “not very pedestrian-friendly and there are no bicycle lanes to my knowledge.”
Vietnamese officials have paid little attention to physical activity. But they continue to be very concerned about undernourishment. UNICEF says 28 percent of Vietnam’s children are not as big as they should be. This is especially a problem in rural areas of the country. But people who live in cities are often overweight. So government policies must be different depending on whether an area is rural or urban.