Pickleball is booming in Vietnam｜3rd in Asia by number of players, with a world championship in Da Nang

There's a sport spreading explosively across Vietnam right now: pickleball. A racket game that's like tennis, badminton, and table tennis rolled into one, it has courts popping up all over town, with young and old alike picking up a paddle.

In August 2026, the sport's world championship, the Pickleball World Cup, comes to Da Nang, Vietnam ── the first time it's held in Asia. This article covers the real state of the boom in Vietnam, ways travelers can enjoy playing, and even where to find information for getting started in Japan.

What is pickleball?

Pickleball is a paddle sport born in 1960s America. On a court smaller than a tennis court, players hit a light, perforated plastic ball back and forth with flat paddles (rackets).

• The rules are simple, and even beginners can enjoy a match within minutes
• The court is small and the exertion moderate — kids to seniors can play together
• The gear is simple, so the barrier to starting is low

This "anyone can pick it up right away" ease is what's driving the global boom.

The basic rules are simple, too. A game is first to 11 points (win by two), and you can play singles or doubles. What stands out is the area just in front of the net called the "kitchen" (non-volley zone). Hitting the ball out of the air (volleying) while standing in it is a fault, and the battle over this strip is the heart of the tactics. As for the finer rules, learning them as you play is plenty.

The explosive boom in Vietnam

Pickleball arrived in Vietnam about seven years ago, but it really caught fire only in 2024. Its growth is astonishing when you look at the numbers.

In a country where football reigns supreme, the fact that search volume sometimes overtakes it is something of an event.Da Nangand in cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vacant lots, rooftops, and parks are being turned into courts one after another.

Why did it catch on so much in Vietnam?

There are several reasons behind how far it has spread in such a short time.

• Easy to get started: The rules are easy, and anyone with tennis or table-tennis experience takes to it right away (one survey found about 30% of players came from other racket sports)
• Compatibility with social media：Groups of friends having fun together are made for social media, and the community expanded all at once
• Affordable cost: Because the gear is cheap and a court fits even in a small space, they've sprung up all over the city
• It can be played across generations: you can enjoy it together with family, friends, and people of different generations

Behind the court boom ── why they multiplied across the city

There's a clear economic reason behind courts springing up all over town, too. You can fit three or four pickleball courts in the space of a single tennis court. Because the return per unit of land is higher, owners of idle plots and rooftop space are converting them into courts in droves.

On top of that, Asia has many badminton courts almost the same size as a pickleball court. The ease of repurposing existing facilities helped drive its spread. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, the number of courts is estimated to reach around 1,000.

The "Pickleball World Cup 2026" in Da Nang

The boom is symbolized by the Pickleball World Cup held in Da Nang from August 30 to September 6, 2026. It's the first time this world championship has been held in Asia — a sign that Vietnam's pickleball fever has been recognized worldwide.

As a precursor, a tournament held in Da Nang in 2025 (the MB Vietnam Cup) drew about 600 participants and more than 7,900 spectators, earning a Guinness World Record as the "most-attended pickleball tournament." Da Nang is a city of beaches and World Heritage sites.Foodalong with sightseeing, it's also drawing attention as a destination for watching sports.

How can travelers play? ── how to find a court and tips for giving it a go

It's not just for watching — it's not hard for travelers to actually play, either. Keep a few points in mind and you can easily get a game in mid-trip.

How to find a court

• Search "pickleball" on Google Maps: Courts and clubs near your current location come up right away
• Use Facebook groups: Groups like Ho Chi Minh City's "Pickleball Saigon" (over 40,000 members) are where you'll find court info and beginner-friendly meetups
• Ask your hotel or a gym: In urban areas, they may even point you to a nearby rental court

Try it empty-handed

• Equipment rental available: many facilities lend out paddles and balls, so you can turn up empty-handed
• The fees are affordable：Court fees run roughly a few hundred to about 1,000 yen per hour (varying by facility and time of day). Split among friends, it's cheaper still
• Wear something you can move in: A T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers are enough. You'll sweat, so a change of clothes helps
• Beginners and solo players welcome: there are many drop-in (same-day) meetups, and English often gets you by. It's a sport where even solo players find it easy to join in

If you're looking for an evening activity,Nightlife guideA nice way to spend the day is to work up a sweat playing pickleball in the daytime, alongside this.

Cities where it's easy to play

The appeal of every one of these cities is how easily it pairs with sightseeing and food. For how to get around each city,A comparison of 17 cities in Vietnamas well.

Courts where you can play — find them on the map

To make it easy to actually go, we've listed the highly rated courts by city (Google Maps ratings, as of July 2026). You can open each location on the map from its name.

Recommended courts in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has both the most courts and the largest community. Here are popular, easy-to-reach courts from around District 1 out to the suburbs.