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

ベトナムの都市部で、この数年はっきり存在感を増しているスポーツがピックルボールです。小さめのコートで始めやすく、旅行者でもレンタル道具がある施設を選べば体験できます。

一方、「競技人口1,600万人」という数字は公式登録者数ではありません。UPA AsiaとYouGovが2024年に12市場・1万4,000人超を対象に行った調査から人口全体へ推計した値で、ベトナム国内では算出方法を疑問視する報道もあります。ブームの大きさを示す目安にはなりますが、確定人数として読むのは避けたい数字です。

2026年8月30日〜9月6日には、世界ピックルボール連盟（WPF）が認定・支援する「Pickleball World Cup 2026」がダナンで開催されました。この記事では、熱気だけを追うのではなく、数字の読み方、旅行者のコート選び、日本で続ける方法まで整理します。

先に結論：旅行者が押さえたい4点

• 人気の拡大は確かですが、1,600万人は調査に基づく推計で、公式登録者数ではありません
• ダナンの世界大会は2026年9月6日に終了済みです。現在は大会観戦ではなく、現地コートでの体験情報として読み進めてください
• 予約前に、屋内・屋外、パドル貸出、1面貸しと交流参加のどちらか、雨天時の扱いを確認すると失敗が減ります
• Googleマップの営業時間や口コミ件数は変動するため、当日に施設のSNSや電話で再確認するのが安全です

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.

検索行動やコートの増加から、関心が急速に伸びたことは読み取れます。ただし、検索回数と実際の競技人口は別の指標です。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

ブームを象徴する出来事が、2026年8月30日から9月6日にかけてダナンで開催されたピックルボール・ワールドカップです。世界ピックルボール連盟（WPF）も大会を認定・支援しました。大会が終わった現在も、ダナンが大規模な国際大会を受け入れた事実は、現地の施設と競技コミュニティの厚みを示す材料になります。

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.

Recommended courts in Da Nang

Da Nang, host of the World Cup. A highly rated court that's easy to drop by between beach days.

Recommended courts in Hanoi

In Hanoi, courts have grown around the Old Quarter, too. This is a highly rated facility you can drop by between sights.

* Ratings and operating status change. Before you visit, check the latest opening hours and whether a reservation is needed on Google Maps.

Shops that sell equipment ── find them on the map

For those who want to buy paddles, balls, or apparel locally, here are some highly rated pickleball specialty shops (Google Maps ratings, as of July 2026). Many carry overseas brands like Joola and Selkirk, and you can sometimes buy them more affordably than in Japan.

Shops in Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City has a rich selection. Large shops carrying overseas brands abound, so choosing a paddle is fun too.

A shop in Da Nang

Da Nang has plenty of specialty shops, too. Handy when you want to pick up a new paddle mid-trip.

A shop in Hanoi

Authorized retailers in Hanoi. Some large stores also sell badminton gear, so the selection is wide.

*Stock and the brands carried vary by store. It's reassuring to check the latest on Google Maps or social media before you visit.

大会後にダナンでプレーするなら

ワールドカップは終了しましたが、ダナンには旅行中に利用できるコートがあります。大会名だけを手がかりに古い観戦情報を探すより、現在営業している施設と交流枠を確認するほうが実用的です。

• 予約形式を確認：コートを1面借りる方式か、1人で参加できるオープンプレーかを確認します
• 貸出品を確認：パドル、ボール、シューズの貸出有無は施設ごとに異なります
• 暑さと雨への対策：屋外なら日中を避け、雨季は屋根の有無とキャンセル条件も確認します
• 料金は再確認：時間帯や人数で変わるため、掲載価格を固定料金と思わず予約時に確かめます

プレーの前後に観光を組み合わせるなら、A guide to Vietnamese foodis also a helpful reference.

If it makes you want to give it a try back in Japan

Pickleball caught fire in Vietnam, but the number of players in Japan is steadily growing too. If you try it on your trip and enjoy it, you can keep playing after you get home.

For court searches in Japan and information on tournaments and events, the pickleball-focused media outletPickle Timeshas it all in one place. Besides letting you search for courts nationwide, it carries beginner information and tournament schedules, so it makes a good starting point when you're looking into “where in Japan can I play.”

If you're looking for a court,Search courts nationwide (Pickle Times)from there. Riding the momentum of your trip, try picking up a paddle back in Japan, too.

Frequently asked questions

How popular is pickleball in Vietnam?

2024年以降に急速に広がり、UPA Asia／YouGovの調査では約1,600万人と推計されました。ただし、これは調査回答を人口へ外挿した値で、公式登録者数ではありません。街中で専用コートが増えていることは、普及を示す別の手がかりです。

What kind of sport is pickleball?

It's a racket sport that feels like tennis, badminton, and table tennis combined. On a smallish court, you rally a light, perforated ball with paddles. The rules are simple, so even beginners can enjoy it right away.

Can travelers play in Vietnam too?

you can. In cities, more facilities offer rental courts and equipment, and there are beginner-friendly meetups. You can find information through groups like “Pickleball Saigon” in Ho Chi Minh City.

ワールドカップはいつ・どこで開催されましたか？

2026年8月30日から9月6日にかけて、ベトナム・ダナンで開催されました。世界ピックルボール連盟（WPF）が認定・支援した大会です。

How do you get started with pickleball in Japan?

The number of players is growing in Japan too. For searching domestic courts and finding tournament and event information, the specialist outlet Pickle Times (pickle-times.com) has it all in one place.

まとめ：数字を割り引いても、現地で試す価値はある

推計1,600万人をそのまま公式な競技人口とみなすことはできません。それでも、コートの増加、大規模コミュニティ、ダナンでの国際大会開催を合わせて見ると、ベトナムでピックルボールが一時的な話題を超えて定着しつつあることは伝わります。

旅行者は、施設の営業状況、レンタル、参加形式、雨天対応を予約直前に確認するのがいちばん確実です。現地で面白さを知り、帰国後も続けたくなったら、Pickle Timesで日本のコートを探してみてください。