At 97, Vietnamese woman draws admiration for daily runs, love of fitness

Living with her extended family in Thach Trung Ward, Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, north-central Vietnam, the elderly woman has become a local icon for her unusual daily routine: running several kilometers every morning and working out in the afternoon.

Videos of Huynh jogging and exercising, often posted online by her grandchildren, have attracted hundreds of thousands of views, shares, and comments in recent years.

Her discipline, stamina, and cheerfulness have inspired people far beyond her neighborhood.

A lifelong commitment to staying active

Meeting Huynh in person, one might easily forget she is nearly a century old.

Her memory is sharp, her movements steady, and her spirit remarkably energetic.

Huynh shared that she got married in 1951 and gave birth to nine children.

Two of them sadly passed away young, while her remaining seven children have families of their own.

Today, she has 29 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and even two great-great-grandchildren.

In her younger years, Huynh worked in the fields while her husband made a living in the forest.

Life was hard, but constant physical labor built her strength and resilience.

She even plowed fields — a task typically reserved for men.

When her husband passed away 27 years ago, Huynh stopped farming but began jogging to cope with the loss.

What started as a form of emotional relief soon became a daily habit she could not live without.

“If I don’t run, I feel restless,” she said.

Each morning, Huynh wakes at 5:00 am and spends an hour reading prayers or attending church.

She then walks to a nearby public space to start her run.

After warming up with a brisk walk, she runs about three to four kilometers before heading home.

Around 7:00 am, she enjoys a bowl of noodle soup at a local shop — always finishing it.

Then, despite her family’s protests, she insists on doing house chores like sweeping or picking vegetables.

“I never skip breakfast,” she said.

“For lunch and dinner, I eat two bowls of rice with pork, chicken, and vegetables.”

Huynh naps for about 30 minutes after lunch and then does light chores or stretches in the afternoon.

She ends the day with a 40-minute session on the treadmill in her family’s yard, before going to bed around 8:00 or 9:00 pm.

Despite her age, Huynh does not experience breathlessness while running.

“People are often surprised and ask to look at my knees,” she laughed. “I’m happy to show them.”

Fitness, not secrets, to longevity

Apart from mild hypertension, Huynh remains in good health.

Her family monitors her condition closely, reminding her to take her blood pressure medication and to avoid overexerting herself.

“At this age, most people are frail, but I feel strong,” she said.

“I don’t have joint pain, and after exercise, I feel even more hungry and energetic.

“When it rains and I can’t run, I feel uneasy.”

Huynh also enjoys chewing betel nut — a habit she maintains daily — and says there is no real secret to her longevity other than a love for physical activity and staying engaged in daily life.

Her grandson, Vo Ta Nam, 35, said the family is proud of her discipline and spirit.

“We admire her strength and consistency,” he said.

“But we always remind her not to overdo it, especially with her age and blood pressure.”

A love for travel and the outdoors

In addition to running, Huynh enjoys traveling.

She often joins her family on trips across Vietnam, relishing the chance to see new places and enjoy nature.

“She always looks forward to these trips,” Nam said.

“She says at her age, being able to travel and stay active is a blessing.

“So we make sure to take her somewhere every year.”