Image Credits to: Vietnam VN
The Mekong Delta has a new benchmark in competitive pickleball. The VTV Can Tho Pickleball 2026 – Nam Long Cup was held on March 21–22 at the Nam Long Pickleball Courts in Can Tho City, drawing more than 800 athletes from clubs and provinces across Vietnam. With a prize pool exceeding 2 billion Vietnamese Dong (VND) and the region's most diverse set of competitive divisions yet, this was the largest pickleball tournament ever staged in the Mekong Delta.
The VTV Can Tho Pickleball 2026 – Nam Long Cup drew 800+ athletes to Can Tho on March 21–22. The 2 billion VND prize pool, multiple skill-based brackets, and a newly introduced Pickleball Queen category marked a landmark moment for the sport across Vietnam's western provinces. What Is the VTV Can Tho Pickleball Tournament? The VTV Can Tho Pickleball Tournament is an annual event organized by VTV Can Tho (Vietnam Television Can Tho), a major regional broadcaster. The 2026 edition — the Nam Long Cup — was held at the Nam Long Pickleball Courts on Tran Hoang Na Street, Cai Rang Ward, Can Tho City. It is the biggest pickleball tournament the Mekong Delta has seen, bringing players from across Vietnam's provinces into a single competitive arena.
The Numbers
The tournament attracted over 800 professional, semi-professional, and recreational athletes. Players came from clubs spanning multiple provinces and cities across Vietnam. The total prize pool exceeded 2 billion VND. The top prize in the men's doubles Open (Pro) category was 200 million VND.
Competition Categories
The VTV Can Tho Pickleball 2026 featured a wide range of skill brackets. Events included men's doubles 5.0 and Open, mixed doubles 5.5 (corporate), women's doubles 4.5, and mixed doubles at 5.8, 7.0, and 7.9 levels. A newly introduced Pickleball Queen category honored women athletes throughout the tournament.
Who Won?
In the flagship men's doubles Open category, Lý Hoàng Nam and Nicholas Khamphilath claimed the championship and the 200 million VND top prize. Diệp Anh was recognized as the Pickleball Queen of the tournament.
What This Means for Vietnam's Western Provinces
Pickleball in Vietnam has traditionally been strongest in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The VTV Can Tho Pickleball 2026 signals that the sport is spreading west. With 800+ athletes, broadcast support from VTV Can Tho, and serious prize money, the Mekong Delta now has a flagship annual tournament worth watching.The next edition can only be bigger.
