Shaping a New Economy
Vietnam Sports Economy Summit 2026
27 March 2026 · Meliá Hanoi
Overview
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng opened and closed the Summit. Deputy Ministers Lâm Thị Phương Thanh and Hoàng Đạo Cương and Nguyễn Danh Hoàng Việt, Director General of the Sports Authority of Vietnam, attended. The Summit released the Vietnam Sports Economy Report 2026 and set out ten big questions for Vietnam’s sports economy.
The Summit took place on the 80th anniversary of Vietnam Sports Day (27 March 1946 – 27 March 2026), under the direction of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, co-organised by the Sports Authority of Vietnam, the Vietnam Olympic Committee and Vietcontent.
International guests
- Mr Cho Hyun Jae, Chairman of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea.
- Ms Park Chan A, Director of the Korean Cultural Center.
Titles as at the time of the Summit.
VSES 2026 in review
Vietnam Sports Economy Report 2026
Vietnam’s first dedicated report on the sports economy, in eight parts: global sports business models, the size of Vietnam’s market, growth drivers (mass participation, infrastructure, events, sports tourism), investment opportunities and scenarios for 2026–2035.
The authors, represented by Trương Trí Vĩnh, called for a fuller legal framework, stronger rights protection and a dedicated capital market for sport.
The Minister’s message
“Sport is an important component of the modern service economy.”
“Vietnam can absolutely build a sports economy.”
“To get there, institutions must move one step ahead.”
— Minister Nguyễn Văn Hùng
Agenda
Opening remarks. Launch of the Vietnam Sports Economy Report 2026
Session 1The global view
Sport as an industry: from competitions to a billion-dollar business ecosystem
Session 2Vietnam’s opportunity
A strategy for Vietnam’s sports economy
Session 3Market and investment
Panel: Investing in Vietnam’s sports market
- Coffee break
Session 4International experience
Organising and developing sport: the case of Korea
Session 5Policies and strategies
Panel: Building Vietnam’s sports economy
Closing remarks
Ten big questions for Vietnam’s sports economy
Set out at VSES 2026.
- 01
Can Vietnam build a real sports industry?
- 02
How big is Vietnam’s sports market, really?
- 03
What will drive Vietnam’s sports economy?
- 04
Can Vietnamese sports clubs become real businesses?
- 05
Can media rights become a major revenue source for Vietnamese sport?
- 06
Can Vietnam become the region’s hub for sports events?
- 07
Can sport become a new driver of tourism and local economies?
- 08
Does Vietnam need a national strategy for the sports economy?
- 09
How can technology change Vietnam’s sports ecosystem?
- 10
What will Vietnam’s sports economy look like in ten years?
Lessons from Korea
Cho Hyun Jae, Chairman, Korea Sports Promotion Foundation
- A long-term strategy for the sector
- Public–private partnership: the state sets policy rather than running sport
- Investment from large groups and transparent financing
- Professional governance for clubs and leagues
Park Chan A, Director, Korean Cultural Center
Proposals raised
- Amend the Law on Physical Training and Sports to enable growth and remove barriers; a Sports Economy Strategy to 2045 is to be submitted to the Government.
- Expand public–private partnership in building and running sports venues.
- Explore hosting major international events and modernise infrastructure.
- Protect competition rights: SEA Games 33 drew some 2 billion views on FPT Play in under a month (Tô Nam Phương, FPT Play).
- More golf courses and simpler tax and investment procedures (Vi Quốc Tuấn, Vietnam Golf Association).
“This is the right moment to take the sports economy more seriously and more systematically.”
— Bùi Huy Năm, CEO, VTVcab
Companies attending
VSponsors
- TCL
- Herbalife
- Coolmate
- FMG
- VTC
In the press
“Vietnam is determined to host an event on the scale of the World Cup”
“The sports economy: a gold mine waiting to be tapped”
Media coverage
- Nhân Dân
- the Government News portal
- Quân đội nhân dân
- Đại biểu Nhân dân
- Vietnam Pictorial
- Diễn đàn Doanh nghiệp
- Tuổi Trẻ
- Lao Động
- Dân trí
- VTC News
- Kênh14
- Tuổi TrẻKỳ vọng thể thao Việt Nam tạo ra giá trị kinh tếRead
- Thanh NiênThể thao Việt Nam kỳ vọng kiếm tiền tỉ, trở thành trụ cột tăng trưởng mới của đất nướcRead
- VietnamPlusDiễn đàn Kinh tế Thể thao Việt Nam 2026: “Nhịp cầu” kiến tạo một thị trường đầu tư mớiRead
- VTV MoneyDiễn đàn Kinh tế Thể thao Việt Nam 2026: Bước chuyển từ nhận thức đến hành độngRead
- Thể thao & Văn hóaDiễn đàn Kinh tế Thể thao 2026: Mở hướng hình thành ngành kinh tế mới tại Việt NamRead
- Đại Đoàn KếtHướng tới xây dựng ngành kinh tế thể thaoRead
- Đại biểu Nhân dânHoạch định chính sách phát triển kinh tế thể thaoRead
- Báo Văn hóaKinh tế thể thao có khả năng đóng góp vào tăng trưởng và phát triển bền vữngRead
- Việt Nam NewsVSES 2026 highlights growth potential of sports sectorRead
- VietnamPlus EnglishVietnam Sports Economy Summit 2026: Building bridge towards new investment marketRead
- VOVSports economy forum in Vietnam looks to position sport as new growth driverRead
- Tatler VietnamNền kinh tế hứa hẹn hàng chục tỷ USD của Việt NamRead
- VTC NewsBộ trưởng VHTT&DL: Thể thao là cấu phần quan trọng của kinh tế dịch vụ hiện đạiRead
- Báo Văn hóaKiến tạo dư địa mới cho kinh tế thể thao Việt NamRead
- VnEconomyLựa chọn mô hình phát triển cho kinh tế thể thao Việt NamRead
- Diễn đàn Doanh nghiệpKinh tế thể thao: “Mỏ vàng” chờ khai thácRead
- Đại biểu Nhân dânThời điểm vàng để Việt Nam phát triển kinh tế thể thaoRead
- Sài Gòn Giải PhóngThể thao - ngành kinh tế tương laiRead
After the Summit
On 12 June 2026 the Sports Authority of Vietnam and Vietcontent signed a cooperation agreement: to sustain and expand the Summit, publish the Sports Economy Report every year, and build sector data and an index.
Photos
