Provincial delegations have been unveiling their targets for Vietnam's 10th National Sports Games in 2026. According to Báo Văn Hóa, Cần Thơ is aiming for 34 gold medals and a top-12 finish, Huế is targeting six to eight golds and Quảng Trị wants 29 medals in all. Ho Chi Minh City, meanwhile, is preparing a digital handbook to help organisers, teams and the public follow the Games.
The Games run from 14 November to 12 December 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City and several other localities, with 48 sports and 36 delegations. The opening ceremony takes place on 21 November at the Saigon Riverside Park.
Cần Thơ and Huế held send-off ceremonies on 28 October. In Cần Thơ, deputy city chair Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Điệp urged coaches and athletes to meet or beat their targets; in Huế, Lê Minh Nhân, director of the city's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, called for discipline, integrity and sportsmanship.
Targets of three delegations
| Delegation | Squad | Sports | Target | Ranking goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cần Thơ | 376 athletes, 97 coaches | 28 | 34 gold, 23 silver, 55 bronze | Top 12 |
| Huế | 223 members, including 177 athletes | 14 | 35-40 medals, 6-8 gold | Not stated |
| Quảng Trị | 98 members | 12 | 29 medals: 5 gold, 5 silver, 19 bronze | 25th-28th of 36 |
Cần Thơ funds 23 of its sports, with five backed by businesses, clubs and individuals. Judo, sepak takraw, Vovinam, chess and bowling are each expected to deliver three golds, and boxing, kickboxing, pétanque, basketball and triathlon two each. The city's athletes have won 968 medals at national and international events since the start of 2026.
Huế is relying on wrestling, karate, archery, shuttlecock kicking (đá cầu) and jujitsu. Its men's football team, made up mainly of U19 players plus some from a First Division side, is aiming for the semi-finals and a medal.
Quảng Trị enters 10 sports from its centralised talent programme plus MMA and boxing, which are privately funded; two of its 19 targeted bronzes are expected from those two. Swimming, athletics, rowing and canoeing are its spearheads.
Background: a first Games for the new Quảng Trị
This is the first National Games since the new Quảng Trị province was formed, and its targets build on the records of the two former provinces. At the 2022 Games, the former Quảng Bình won 5 gold, 9 silver and 3 bronze to finish 34th of 65 delegations, while the former Quảng Trị won 1 gold, 4 silver and 5 bronze to place 55th of 65. The delegation acknowledged thin squads in some sports, uneven standards, tight training budgets and gaps in facilities.
A digital handbook for spectators
For fans, the most practical change is Ho Chi Minh City's digital handbook, available as a mobile app and online. Nguyễn Nam Nhân, deputy director of the city's Department of Culture and Sports, described it as a bridge bringing the Games closer to the public. Users can look up venues and schedules for every sport, read the latest notices from organisers and get directions through a Google Maps link. A medal table for all 36 delegations can be searched by delegation, regional group or ranking. Referees and organisers use the same platform to post results, and coaches and athletes can check training and competition schedules without paperwork.
What comes next
The handbook will be trialled and adjusted during muay, the first sport of the Games in Ho Chi Minh City, before being rolled out to the other sports. Competition starts on 14 November, the opening ceremony follows on 21 November and the Games close on 12 December 2026, when the targets of Cần Thơ, Huế and Quảng Trị can be measured against the final medal table.