Young Vietnamese step away from screens to reconnect in real life

On weekends, she joins group running sessions. The longer routes, particularly trail runs, have taken Hue to different places and helped her meet more people who share her interests.

"Yoga gives me a moment of stillness, while running allows me to travel farther and meet more people,” Hue said.

“I can't text, make calls or scroll through social media while running.

“I have to focus on every step."

Through her training sessions, Hue has realized how important companions can be.

Sometimes, simply meeting someone on the road is enough to bring extra joy and motivation.

Hue is part of a growing number of Vietnamese people choosing to spend less time in front of screens after work.

Stressed, exhausted, and tired of wasting time on social media filled with negative and emotionally draining content, many no longer want to spend hours scrolling through their feeds.

Instead, they are turning their attention to work, studies, sports, and spending time with friends in the real world.

Whether running, practicing yoga, learning a foreign language or pursuing their passions, they are meeting new people, encouraging one another and finding a sense of connection through real-life interactions.

Shared interests bring people together

For Nguyen Thanh Trung, 38, who works in the IT sector, running helps him stay active after hours spent working on a computer.

However, when he trains alone, his running schedule is sometimes interrupted by work.

Since joining a team, he has maintained a routine of four to five running sessions a week and often serves as a pacer at races.

“When people are waiting for you and reminding you, it's hard to skip a run. Running is more fun, too," Trung said.

Within the team, experienced runners help new members warm up and maintain their pace, while faster runners slow down to wait for their companions.

Conversations that initially revolve around running shoes, breathing techniques or routes gradually expand to work, family, and everyday life.

According to Trung, discipline helps runners maintain a regular routine, while training sessions bring people closer together in real life.

During the hours they exercise together, they step away from their screens and talk face to face.

Strangers become running partners and close friends, and some have even found romantic partners through the group.

Le Nguyen Thuy Tien, 35, an office worker, has not completely abandoned Facebook but has chosen to use it more casually.

As an introvert who often feels awkward when meeting strangers, Tien has found a way to connect with others that suits her personality.

Instead of getting drawn into arguments or negative news feeds, she spends time with a crocheting and knitting group.

At first, she watched instructional videos and asked other members about things she did not understand.

Discussions about choosing yarn, matching colors and fixing a wrong crochet stitch could all become starting points for conversation.

Online exchanges later continued during in-person crafting sessions.

“You don't have to try hard to find something to talk about. Just sitting together and crocheting, asking each other a few questions, naturally makes you feel closer," Tien said.

Through her hobby, she has made new friends and found a way to express her care for others.

She now spends time making small items for relatives and friends as an alternative to expressing feelings that are difficult to put into words.

Sharing an interest in history, Do Xuan Giang, 29, a PhD candidate in Vietnamese history, has found like-minded friends in 'Quan Tra Da Hoc Su,' a community where high school and university students connect and share knowledge and research skills related to history.

Initially, the group shared guidance with students on finding research materials and developing research skills related to their fields of study.

Although members now study and work in different places, they continue to arrange meetings to spend time together and pursue their shared interest.

Every month, the group organizes a themed discussion session, with a guest speaker helping to open up the conversation.

The program is free, and anyone interested can register.

The group has organized 13 sessions so far. Its seven core members are mostly Gen Z, coming from different academic backgrounds.

Regular gatherings help keep friendships going despite each person's work and personal commitments, while expanding their circle to include more people with similar interests.

As a result, they are also gradually distancing themselves from gossip and negativity on social media.