The muay competition at Vietnam's 10th National Sports Games got under way on the evening of 22 October at the arena of the Đông Hòa Ward Public Service Centre, 252 Trần Hưng Đạo, Ho Chi Minh City, VTV reported. Báo Văn Hóa said it is the first sport to be contested in Ho Chi Minh City and opens the country's biggest multi-sport event, with 21 delegations taking part. The bouts run until 30 October; the Games proper start on 14 November.
Muay: 13 weight classes, straight knockout
According to VTV, muay was originally planned for November but was brought forward to fit the organising plan and venue availability. Team officials held a technical meeting and the draw on the afternoon of 21 October. The organisers listed 35 coaches and 42 referees.
The combat events cover 13 weight classes: six for men (45–48kg, 48–51kg, 51–54kg, 54–57kg, 57–60kg and 60–63.5kg) and seven for women, from under 45kg up to 60–63.5kg. Bouts are single elimination, three rounds of three minutes with a one-minute break. There are also performance events, Wai Kru (4 to 5 minutes per routine) and Mai Muay (5 to 6 minutes), for men and women in singles and pairs. Organisers, as quoted by VTV and Báo Văn Hóa, named Hà Nội, Ho Chi Minh City, Thái Nguyên, Thanh Hóa and Quảng Ngãi as the main medal contenders, while warning that a field of 21 teams could produce surprises.
Key dates
Compiled by KBVN+ from the sources:
| Date | Milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September | Deadline for official athlete registration | SGGP |
| 21 October (afternoon) | Muay technical meeting and draw | VTV |
| 22 October (evening) | Muay competition opens in Ho Chi Minh City | VTV, Báo Văn Hóa |
| 30 October | Muay competition ends | VTV, Báo Văn Hóa |
| November | Steering committee, organising committee and heads-of-delegation meetings | SGGP |
| 14 November | Games officially begin | Sports Authority, SGGP |
| 21 November | Opening ceremony (planned) | Sports Authority |
| 27 November to 11 December | Indoor volleyball, with matches from 28 November | SGGP |
| 12 December | Closing ceremony at Phú Thọ Sports Arena | Sports Authority |
According to the Vietnam Sports Authority, 36 delegations will compete in 48 sports and 973 events; SGGP says the 48 sports include 63 disciplines. Ho Chi Minh City is the main host, with some events in other localities. Around 12,000 officials, coaches and athletes and 2,000 referees are expected, along with some 200,000 guests, fans and visitors. Several venues have changed: badminton moves to Hồ Xuân Hương Arena, basketball to Lãnh Binh Thăng Arena and artistic gymnastics to Phú Thọ Arena.
Registration checks and volleyball schedule
SGGP reports that the technical subcommittee is reviewing every sport's entry list to prevent errors and disputes. Each athlete or team may represent only one delegation, and each athlete may enter only one sport. Athletes need a legal employment or transfer contract signed before 1 January 2026, or certification from the relevant military or police authority. Only localities and sectors that competed in a sport's national system between 2022-2025 may enter it, except for new sports such as roller sports, pickleball, esports, sailing, traditional boat racing, go and MMA.
Indoor volleyball has been moved from its original 25 November to 11 December window to fit the host city's programme, SGGP said. It will be played at Rạch Miễu Arena with eight men's teams (Hà Nội, Army, People's Police, Ninh Bình, Vĩnh Long, Khánh Hòa, Ho Chi Minh City, Đà Nẵng) and eight women's teams (Hà Nội, Army, Ninh Bình, Thanh Hóa, Quảng Ninh, Tây Ninh, Hưng Yên, Ho Chi Minh City), each registering 10 to 14 players. Group standings go by wins, then points, set ratio, point ratio and head-to-head result.
What's next
Muay continues in Ho Chi Minh City until 30 October. The organising meetings follow in November, before the Games begin on 14 November and the opening ceremony on 21 November. The Sports Authority says schedules and venue changes are posted on the Games' official information site.