Bac Ninh has set itself a target of more than 90 medals, including at least 30 golds, at Vietnam's 10th National Sports Games, according to Bao Van Hoa. As the multi-sport event heads into its busiest phase in November, host Ho Chi Minh City is finishing venues for karate and rowing, and its women's football team is aiming to win back the title it lost four years ago.
The Games in numbers
Held every four years, the National Sports Games is Vietnam's largest elite sporting event. This edition brings together 36 delegations, 34 provinces and cities plus the police and the army, competing in 48 sports for 973 sets of medals. Ho Chi Minh City is the main host, with some sports staged in partnership with other localities. Several sports have already been held.
Bac Ninh's squad of 279 athletes and 56 coaches will compete in 218 events across 17 sports, Bao Van Hoa reported. Runner Nguyen Thi Oanh is named as one of the delegation's gold-medal hopes. Local sports officials say the results will be used to review each sport and plan investment for the next cycle.
Key November dates, compiled by KBVN+
| Sport | Venue | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karate | Tan Thuan ward arena, HCMC | 4–8 Nov | 390 athletes, 28 teams, 25 medal events |
| Canoeing | Da Bang lake, Nghia Thanh commune | 14–21 Nov (planned) | |
| Rowing | Da Bang lake | 22–29 Nov (planned) | |
| Traditional boat racing | Da Bang lake | 30 Nov–4 Dec (planned) | |
| Women's football | Ba Ria stadium | 19 Nov–2 Dec | Five teams, single round robin |
Karate and rowing venues
Karate preparations are essentially complete, according to Bao Van Hoa. A technical meeting and draw are scheduled for 3 November, and kata and kumite bouts run from 4 to 8 November. Vu Son Ha, the official in charge of karate at Vietnam's sports authority, said the mats and equipment are in place, athletes' age, team and transfer records will be checked, and 50 national and international referees have been trained for the event. Hanoi topped the karate standings at the 2022 Games with four golds, four silvers and five bronzes, but Ho Chi Minh City, the police, the army, Ninh Binh and Ha Tinh are expected to push them hard.
At Da Bang lake, Hoang Duc Tan, director of the city's water sports centre, said crews are building the start tower, boat pontoons and control building, aiming to finish by 5 November. Organisers are also planning spectator areas and running an anti-litter campaign at the lake.
HCMC women chase lost crown
Ho Chi Minh City won women's football gold in 2018 but took silver in 2022 behind host Quang Ninh, Tuoi Tre reported. All five teams this time have clubs in the 2026 national women's league. Coach Doan Thi Kim Chi's side, just crowned national champions for an eighth straight year and a 15th time overall, face Quang Ninh on 19 November, Ninh Binh on 23 November, Thai Nguyen on 29 November and Hanoi on 2 December. Their results against the four rivals in the 2026 league, according to Tuoi Tre:
| Opponent (province represented) | League results |
|---|---|
| Thai Nguyen T&T | Drew 1-1 (away), lost 1-2 (home) |
| Phong Phu Ha Nam (Ninh Binh) | Won 3-2 (away), lost 0-2 (home) |
| Hanoi | Won 1-0 and 3-0 |
| Than Khoang San Viet Nam (Quang Ninh) | Won 2-0 and 1-0 |
Both defeats came after the title was already won. The Games bar foreign players, whom HCMC alone used in the league, and the team returns from AFC Women's Champions League 2026-2027 group games in India only on 9 November, leaving about nine days to recover. Several key players, including Huynh Nhu, Bao Chau, Thu Thao and Thuy Trang, are over 30.
What comes next
For fans in and around Ho Chi Minh City, November offers a run of live events: karate from 4 November, boat racing from 14 November and women's football from 19 November. KBVN+ will track results and how Bac Ninh fares against its 30-gold target.