Vietnam's pickleball expanding in Asia | The current state of its spread and its outlook

Right now, pickleball is spreading explosively in Vietnam.

This new sport, which landed a few years ago, has grown to the point where dedicated courts are born one after another, mainly in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and tournaments are held everywhere on weekends. Combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis, its ease of being enjoyable regardless of age or fitness is a major reason it was accepted by the Vietnamese people. This article organizes the background of the rapid growth, the latest adoption status, the state of major cities, its positioning in Asia, and future challenges, based on information as of June 2026.

The Background of Pickleball's Rapid Growth in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing pickleball countries in Asia. Behind this, several factors overlap.

A Young Population and a Racket Sports Culture

Vietnam is a country with a young population composition and high interest in new sports and leisure.

The urban middle class is broadening, and spending on leisure and health consciousness are rising. In addition, badminton and tennis were already familiar, and the transition to pickleball, playable on similarly sized courts, progressed naturally. The presence of a foundation for racket sports has boosted adoption.

The Strength of Manufacturing and Domestic Brands

Vietnam is known as a manufacturing country for sporting goods, and that strength is alive in pickleball equipment too.

Domestically,Kamito, Sypik, and Facolos and other Vietnam-born brands are emerging, offering products that have the necessary performance at affordable prices. The experience of handling OEM production for many international brands has also led to quality improvements for domestic brands.

Climate and Low Cost

Because of the tropical monsoon climate, outdoor play being possible year-round is also a tailwind.

In the rainy season, demand for indoor facilities rises, and court installations in gymnasiums and sports centers are increasing too. Compared with tennis and the like, the initial cost is low, and many clubs offer equipment rentals and free lessons, so a wide range of people, including young people, can start casually.

The Rapid Expansion of Player Population and Market [Seen in Numbers]

Vietnam's pickleball population and related market have expanded by orders of magnitude in the past year or two. We summarize the main numbers in a table.

Explosive Increase in Participant Population

The number of competitors, put at about 10,000 as of 2024, centered on the country's major cities, then increased explosively in just about a year.

According to an October 2025 estimate by UPA Asia (jointly with YouGov), Vietnam's player population is about 16 million, amounting to roughly 16% of the population. This is an unofficial estimate, but it is a figure that shows the momentum of adoption. Young female influencers posting fashionable play on SNS also spurred its popularity. The point that the lightweight paddle and ball carry little worry of injury is also a reason it was widely accepted.

Source Vietnam.vn (UPA Asia × YouGov estimate)Created from

SNS and Influencers as the Spark

Essential to discussing Vietnam's rapid expansion is the presence of SNS.

Young female influencers posted casual, stylish play on SNS one after another, and the image of a "photogenic new sport" spread all at once. Courts became photo spots as they were, and countless groups sharing play videos, fashion, and technique highlights were born. The point that the lightweight paddle and ball carry little worry of injury, making it easy to start even for those not good at exercise, also matched such sharing well and led to explosive recognition. Match broadcasts on sports channels and online also increased, broadening the base of viewers too.

An Overheating So Great It's Called "a Playground for Billionaires"

The overheating also appears in the moves of business and the wealthy.

Local media even describe pickleball as a "multibillion-dollar gold mine" and "a playground for billionaires." There are also conspicuous moves of businesspeople and celebrities all playing and investing in related businesses. On the other hand, from some pro players there are also harsh assessments, such as "it hasn't gone beyond the realm of health promotion and a fad, and isn't regarded as a serious competition" and "it's a sport for the elderly and children." Precisely because it spread explosively, a debate over whether to place its footing on recreation or competitive sport is happening simultaneously—that is the current reality in Vietnam.

The Rapid Expansion of the Domestic Market

The growth of the equipment market is also striking, and consumption figures back that up.

According to EC and domestic newspaper statistics, in just the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnamese people bought about 1.4 million pickleballs, spending about 400 billion dong. This is an astonishing increase of about 800% year over year. To meet demand, related businesses such as court construction, equipment sales, coaching, and tournament operation launched all at once, creating new jobs too. Corporate team building, in-house tournaments, and program introduction at schools and universities have also progressed, continuing to spread to a wide range of people, from workplaces to educational settings.

Source VIET JO, "Pickleball Is Trending in Vietnam"(August 2024) and others

Facilities and Communities in Major Cities

Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Are the Two Major Bases

Vietnamese pickleball has Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi as its two major centers.

Both cities have several facilities with dedicated courts, and tournaments are held regularly on weekends. Many clubs offer free beginner lessons and equipment loans, and the low financial hurdle is also a feature.

An Inclusive Community That Transcends Generations

Vietnam's community has an inclusive atmosphere that welcomes everyone from beginners to advanced players.

The sight of grandparents to grandchildren playing together is also often seen, and a strong family culture and sense of community support adoption. Because many clubs mix and play regardless of generation or experience, pickleball functions not merely as exercise but also as a social place for connecting with people in the community and workplace. This "enjoyable on equal footing" nature is the foundation of the explosive spread.

Pickleball Cafes and Resorts as a New Business Type

Against the backdrop of overheating demand, complex facilities combining sport and socializing are also appearing one after another.

Some entrepreneurs are developing "pickleball cafes" with cafes or bars attached to the courts, and "pickleball resorts" that combine lodging and play. Such business types, where you can enjoy meals and interaction before and after playing, show that pickleball is taking root as part of a lifestyle, going beyond a mere sport. On the tournament front too, mechanisms to liven up the scene through awards and tournaments are progressing, such as the launch of the "Vietnam Pickleball Awards 2025" in 2025. As the ways to enjoy spectating and event participation broaden, the characteristic is that not only the participant population but the total number of "people involved" is increasing.

Positioning in Asia and International Exchange

One of the Fastest-Growing Markets in Asia

Vietnam is emerging as one of the fastest-growing pickleball markets in Asia.

The global pickleball market size varies by research firm, but as of 2024 it is estimated at roughly 2 billion dollars in scale, and the paddle market alone at about 1.9 billion dollars. By either estimate, Vietnam is counted, alongside Malaysia, among the fastest-growing markets in Asia, and its growth is backed up by international data such as DUPR.

Source DUPR「Malaysia and Vietnam Are Leading Asia’s Pickleball Market」Created from

Deepening Exchange with Japan

International exchange is also active, with Vietnamese players participating in tournaments in neighboring countries and America and honing their skills.

The relationship with Japan is also deepening, and Vietnam Airlines signed a diamond sponsorship contract with the Japan Pickleball Association for one year, from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026. An airline becoming the top sponsor of a domestic sports body is an expression of the expectation that pickleball will be tourism and exchange content connecting the two countries. For Japanese players, it makes expeditions to Vietnam and participation in local tournaments easier, and conversely it also becomes an opportunity for Vietnamese players and enthusiasts to visit Japan. Given the short distance and the background of both countries being familiar with racket sports, there is a possibility that cooperation will broaden in a wide range of forms going forward, such as player exchange, joint events, and equipment distribution. For trends in each country, seeSouth KoreaandChina、Thailandthe article as well.

Source PR TIMES, "Vietnam Airlines Signs a Diamond Sponsorship Contract with the Japan Pickleball Association"(April 2025)

Vietnam-Born Brands and the Growth of Manufacturing

Against the backdrop of manufacturing strength, Vietnam-born pickleball brands are raising their presence. We have organized the features of each.

What these have in common is responding to the rapidly growing domestic market and quality improvement with an eye on the international market. While maintaining price competitiveness against international brands, they meet quality standards and are gradually expanding their share.

Worth noting is that Vietnam is also an OEM production base for many international brands. The technology and know-how cultivated over many years of manufacturing overseas brands' products boost the launch of domestic brands. In other words, both the "power to make" and the "market that uses" are in place domestically, which is a strength rare among other emerging markets. Vietnamese-made equipment with an excellent balance of quality and price holds particularly great potential in price-sensitive emerging markets. On the other hand, raising international recognition, exhibiting at overseas trade shows, and expanding online sales and distribution networks are future challenges for global expansion.

Future Outlook and Challenges

Founding a Federation and Developing a Governing Structure

Amid the rapid growth, building a structure to bring the sport together is at a stage yet to come.

In September 2025, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism formally approved a preparatory committee for founding the Vietnam Pickleball Federation. However, a formal governing body responsible for comprehensive planning, support measures, and international cooperation is not yet in place, and the development of governance, including the unification of rules and the training of instructors, is required. The current situation is that infrastructure and systems have not kept up with the explosive adoption. Challenges are also pointed out, such as the number of courts and the training of instructors not keeping up with demand, congestion at popular facilities, and variation in rules and operation remaining by region and tournament. The government is boosting it as part of sports promotion, and the move for local governments to set up courts in public spaces is also spreading, so whether the bottlenecks can be resolved one by one is the key to not letting the boom end as a fad.

Improving Competitive Strength and Global Expansion

The current situation has a strong aspect of health promotion and recreation, and development as a serious competition is yet to come.

Efforts to improve competitive strength, such as participation in international tournaments and the development of pro players, are anticipated. Economically, in addition to court construction, equipment sales, coaching, and tournament operation, complex facilities such as pickleball cafes and resorts have also appeared, generating new jobs and businesses. There is also a possibility that affordable, high-quality Vietnamese-made equipment will expand its share in the global market, and there is ample room for it to grow into an Asian hub.

The figure of "16 million people" has great impact, but this is an estimate from a private survey, a figure at a stage where a formal federation is not yet in place. Vietnam's real remarkableness is the "speed of growth" rather than the number of people. In the momentum of recognition up 152% and equipment consumption up 800%, and the point that the manufacturing power of domestic brands is in place, lies this country's unique strength.

FAQ

Summary: Vietnamese Pickleball Growing into an Asian Hub

Vietnamese pickleball has achieved astonishing growth in a few years.

The number of competitors, put at about 10,000 in 2024, surged, and in 2025 an estimate on the scale of 16 million also appeared. Equipment consumption increased about 800% year over year, and domestic brands such as Kamito and exchange with Japan are also broadening. On the other hand, challenges also remain, such as founding a formal federation, unifying rules, and improving competitive strength.

Vietnam, where the conditions of a young population, a foundation of racket sports, and manufacturing strength come together, holds the potential to grow into an Asian pickleball hub. For Japan too, this rapid growth progressing right nearby is a development that cannot be overlooked when thinking about the future.

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