From 4.30 am, residents of Nha Trang and neighbouring areas head to the beaches in Khanh Hoa Province to exercise and swim. Among them, many dig shallow trenches and cover themselves with sand, creating a distinctive sight in the early morning.
Nguyen Huu Phuoc, 69, from Tay Nha Trang Ward, said he had followed the routine for more than 10 years in the hope of easing weakness and pain in his legs.
Phuoc covers his legs with sand (Photo: Trung Thi).
As he buried his legs deep in the sand, Phuoc said the sensation felt like a massage, sometimes causing his legs to twitch slightly.
“I find that covering my legs with sand eases the pain and makes walking easier. When I’m too busy to come to the beach, my legs start to feel uncomfortable and ache again,” he said.
While covered in sand, Phuoc sometimes lies back to relax and listen to the waves. At other times, he practises back-bending exercises to help relax his spine.
After 15 to 30 minutes, he leaves the sand, swims or bathes in the sea, then heads home to resume his daily routine.
Many people come to Nha Trang beach early in the morning to exercise and swim (Photo: Trung Thi).
Mai Thi Yen, 63, also from Tay Nha Trang Ward, said she had suffered from chronic joint pain for more than 20 years. She had received injections directly into her knee and tried various medicines and supplements, but the pain never disappeared completely.
Late last year, while visiting Ho Chi Minh City for a medical appointment, Yen said a doctor advised her to get up early, walk barefoot on the sand, swim in the sea and spend time in the sun to support her health.
She began regularly burying herself in sand at the start of this year, followed by full-body exercises and a swim.
After some time, she noticed that her legs hurt less and walking had become easier. The feeling of tightness around her hips had also eased considerably.
“I find that my legs hurt less after covering myself with sand and swimming, so I’ve kept coming to the beach. Breathing the fresh air and listening to the gentle sound of the waves also helps me feel more relaxed,” Yen said.
She added that many older people living some 20-30 km from the beach had also adopted the same routine.
“They pool their money to hire a car and leave at around 4.30 am so they can reach the beach, bury themselves in sand and then swim. Many say their arms and legs become more flexible and their health improves after coming to the sea regularly,” Yen said.
Many people bury themselves in the beach sand, leaving only their heads exposed (Photo: Trung Thi).
However, Luong Tien Dung, a doctor at Khanh Hoa province’s Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation Hospital, said there were currently no studies or medical evidence confirming that covering the legs or entire body with sand benefited the blood vessels or musculoskeletal system.
Dung said early-morning sunlight could help the body produce vitamin D and support calcium metabolism, helping to prevent osteoporosis and ease muscle and joint pain, particularly among older people.
He added that exercising in water and walking along the beach could improve joint mobility, relieve mental stress and contribute to better overall health.
