Vietnam will host the 2027 Asian Bodybuilding Championships, with Quảng Ninh the expected venue, SGGP reported. It will be the fourth time the country has staged the continental championships.
On 23 October 2026, WBPF president Datuk Paul Chua and WBPF executive director Christina Kam visited Quảng Ninh to meet representatives of the Vietnam Bodybuilding and Weightlifting Federation about preparations for the event. According to SGGP, the Vietnamese side gave a detailed report on its preparations, technical conditions and the competition venue. SGGP's introduction says Vietnam was given the opportunity to stage the championships by the Asian Bodybuilding Federation, but the report does not say when the decision was made or give dates for the competition.
Fourth time as host
SGGP said Vietnam previously staged the Asian Bodybuilding Championships in 1998, 2006 and 2013. Compiled by KBVN+:
| Edition in Vietnam | Year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1998 | Hosted by Vietnam |
| Second | 2006 | Hosted by Vietnam |
| Third | 2013 | Hosted by Vietnam |
| Fourth | 2027 | Expected venue: Quảng Ninh |
The championships are returning to Vietnam after a 14-year gap.
Built on recent results
At the 2026 Asian Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, Vietnam sent 28 athletes and won 12 gold, 7 silver and 6 bronze medals, finishing first in the team standings out of 24 teams. Regionally, bodybuilding last featured on the SEA Games programme at SEA Games 31, held in Vietnam in 2022, where the Vietnamese athletes also topped the team standings.
| Event | Squad | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Team ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Asian Championships, Bangkok | 28 athletes | 12 | 7 | 6 | First of 24 teams |
| SEA Games 31, Vietnam, 2022 | Not stated | 5 | 2 | 1 | First |
Figures from SGGP. In total, Vietnam brought home 25 medals from the Asian Championships in Bangkok.
What it means for Vietnamese bodybuilding
At the 2027 championships, Vietnam's bodybuilders will compete at home as the team that topped the standings at the 2026 Asian Championships. SGGP said the Bangkok results would give the athletes extra motivation as they prepare to host.
For Quảng Ninh, it adds another international event to the province's plans. It has already hosted the 2026 Southeast Asian fencing championships, where Vietnam's fencers won 9 golds and the team title.
What comes next
SGGP noted that bodybuilding is under consideration for a place as an official sport at the 21st Asian Games (ASIAD 21) in Qatar in 2030. For the 2027 championships, SGGP has not reported competition dates, a confirmed venue beyond Quảng Ninh as the expected host, or any signed hosting agreement; those details are still to be announced by the organisers.