Vietnam has its first gold medal of the 5th Asian Para Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Swimmer Đỗ Thanh Hải won the men's 100m breaststroke SB5 final on 21 October in 1:33.91, and teammate Lê Tiến Đạt finished second in 1:36.63 to make it a one-two for Vietnam. Iran's Ali Rashidabadi took bronze in 1:47.78.

According to the Vietnam Sports Administration, the final also included Ryuga Yamada of Japan, Bekassyl Kassymbek of Kazakhstan and Chaitanya Vishwas Kulkarni of India. Tuổi Trẻ reported that Hải swam in lane 5. He went to the front early and finished 2.72 seconds clear of Đạt.

A role reversal three years on

The result flips the podium from the previous Games. The timeline below uses the times published by the Sports Administration and Vietnamese media:

  • Hangzhou, China, 2023: Lê Tiến Đạt gold in 1:34.04, Đỗ Thanh Hải silver in 1:35.11.
  • Paris 2024 Paralympics: Hải reached the 100m breaststroke SB5 final and placed fifth in 1:35.61. Đạt placed fourth at his first Paralympics.
  • Aichi-Nagoya, 21 October 2026: Hải gold in 1:33.91, Đạt silver in 1:36.63.

Hải took 1.20 seconds off his Hangzhou time, although neither swimmer came close to the Games record of 1:28.80 or the world record of 1:24.65. Born in Cần Thơ in 1990, he lost the use of both legs after a severe fever at the age of three and took up swimming in Ho Chi Minh City at 18. He has competed at three Paralympics and is now aiming to qualify for Los Angeles 2028. Đạt, born in Đồng Tháp in 1987, said this was his fifth Asian Para Games and that both swimmers were proud to add medals for Vietnamese para sport.

Bonuses and what the medal is worth

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Lâm Thị Phương Thanh congratulated the swimmers and weightlifter Lê Văn Công, who won silver in the 49kg class on 19 October, and told the delegation to pay immediate bonuses, SGGP and Thanh Niên reported. Delegation head Nguyễn Trọng Hổ said sponsor Herbalife would give Hải a 50 million dong bonus for his gold (SGGP).

Thanh Niên also set out the payments due under government rules. Under Decree 349/2025, Hải will receive 160 million dong and Đạt 100 million dong. Under a Ho Chi Minh City council resolution, Hải also receives 140 million dong from the city, his managing unit, while Đạt receives 85 million dong. The city rewards Asian Para Games results at the same level as Asian Games results.

Vietnam now has one gold, two silvers and one bronze, good for 18th place in the provisional medal table. The other medallists are Lê Văn Công and Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Thúy, who won athletics bronze, according to Tuổi Trẻ. Other Vietnamese swimmers came close on the same day: Vi Thị Hằng placed fourth in both the women's 50m butterfly S7, just 0.37 seconds off the podium, and the 50m freestyle S8.

What comes next

The minister asked the delegation to look after the athletes' health and focus on each remaining event. The sources have not yet published the dates of Vietnam's next events. For background, see our reports on the opening ceremony and the team's preparations in Nagoya, and follow updates in Sports.