Despite a challenging year of 2025, Vietnam’s sports sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience and progress, further enhancing the country’s standing on the international stage through the Olympic movement and strategic investment in high-performance sports.
As Vietnam implements its Sports Development Strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2045, the focus is not only on sustaining mass participation but also on improving quality and competitive achievements globally.
Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet, Director of the Sports Authority of Vietnam and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, said 2026 will be a pivotal year, marked by major international competitions and the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s traditional sports sector (March 27, 1946 – 2026). To optimise resources, the committee will prioritise athlete nutrition, youth training and digital transformation in sports governance, while expanding socialisation efforts to mobilise funding for overseas training camps and international experts.
In 2026, Vietnam will prepare intensively for key tournaments, including the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya (Japan), the Asian Beach Games in China, the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Saudi Arabia, and the 4th Youth Olympic Games in Senegal. Cooperation with the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia will be strengthened to provide technical training, governance courses and additional development funding. Olympic education will continue to be linked with anti-doping efforts and sports ethics promotion.
Addressing the 6th meeting of the Vietnam Olympic Committee’s Executive Board on February 6, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, who also serves as Chairman of the Vietnam Olympic Committee, stressed that 2026 is “not only a year of medals, but a year to affirm the identity and stature of Vietnamese culture and people through sports.”
He noted the growing role of federations and associations in promoting grassroots sports, alongside humanitarian initiatives such as nationwide swimming and drowning prevention programmes. Emerging sports like pickleball have also contributed to fostering active lifestyles within communities.
Vietnam’s achievements at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand marked a highlight of 2025. Although sending only the sixth-largest delegation among 11 ASEAN countries, Vietnam finished third overall with 87 gold, 81 silver and 111 bronze medals, reflecting focused investment in Olympic sports.
Beyond Southeast Asia, Vietnam secured a gold medal at the 3rd Asian Youth Games and sent athletes to the 9th Asian Winter Games, signalling readiness to expand into new sporting arenas.
At the grassroots level, events such as the Olympic Run Day for Public Health attracted thousands in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Dien Bien, reinforcing the message of regular physical exercise for a healthier nation.
With stronger communication strategies and growing corporate sponsorship, the Olympic movement continues to serve as a bridge connecting elite achievement with community engagement, laying a sustainable foundation for Vietnam’s sporting ambitions in the years ahead.
