Photo Credits to: Vietnam News
The VTV A.O. SMITH Pickleball Open 2025 burst into action from October 24–26 at Happyland Court (Long Bien), drawing roughly 700 athletes across skill tiers and age groups for three days of fast hands, kitchen battles, and roaring stands.
Divisions, Players, Organizers
Organizers split competition into 11 doubles categories, including a celebrity/artist class that put pop culture next to pro-level play. Headliners featured world No. 6 Quang Duong teaming with his brother Bao Duong; rising stars Truong Vinh Hien and Sophia Phuong Anh; former and current national tennis standouts Nguyen Minh Quan and Nguyen Dac Tien; and popular amateur names such as Ngoc Trieu and Nguyen Anh Thang. Celebrities stepping on court included singer Ha Le, Miss Universe Vietnam 2024 runner-up Vu Thuy Quynh, MC Vo Thanh Trung, actor Chi Nhan, and former football striker Do Thi Ngoc Cham.
“Pickleball is not only a recreational sport but has become a means to connect the community, promote a healthy lifestyle and create positive values for society,” said VTV general director Nguyen Thanh Lam at the opening ceremony. “Meanwhile, sport is not only a competition but also a bridge linking people to share love.”
In a milestone for the sport domestically, the tournament deployed an Instant Replay System—its first use at a Vietnamese pickleball event—to aid officiating and align with international standards.
Photo Credits to: Vietnam News
Charity Night
Fans didn’t just spectate—they gave. At the Glow Pickleball Charity Night on October 25, the Duong brothers ran an exhibition and workshop with supporters, then auctioned a signed paddle. Proceeds supported the Tam Long Viet Fund, which finances heart surgeries and treatment for children from difficult circumstances.
The prize purse topped one billion dong (about US$38,000), with awards ranging from five million to sixty million dong and a 20-million-dong MVP bonus. Finals drama included a men’s open doubles withdrawal after a late injury, while multi-event standouts and first-timers alike shared the spotlight across age and rating brackets.
Hanoi’s Open showed how Vietnam is building its own pickleball identity: deep community buy-in, smart officiating tech, and a charity heartbeat that keeps the sport grounded. From youth prospects to crossover stars, the pipeline looks real, the production values are rising, and the courts are filling. If this week was any indication, Vietnam isn’t just hosting big events—it’s shaping the standard for how pickleball should look and feel at home.
