For over 4 years, the “outdoor and free fitness room” of a group of Hanoi men has been operating daily on the Sword Lake sidewalk, regardless of the cold winter or hot summer.

  Thi "room" attracts a large number of people, mainly middle-aged men.

This schedule fits those who are busy at work.

Mr. Thang, a resident of Dinh Tien Hoang Street, a member of this outdoor club, said he not only practices fitness but has also has jogged around the lake for more than 40 years, since he was a boy.

Thanks to the effort, Thang has a good shape and looks much younger than his age. 

The sports equipment was contributed by members over the years. Although the weights are rudimentary,they are enough for about 20 people.

Supporting the exercises is a small USB-connected speaker with many suitable tracks of music.

The favorite exercise of Mr. Le Nguyen Khoi (born in 1963) is the dual bar.

"The demand for doing fitness and exercise of the people is high. Many foreign tourists also join us. We hope to have more public facilities to further develop the movement and improve health of people,” a member said.

The lakeside bench is an ideal piece of equipment for doing exercise.