The tournament will take place from 4-7/9 at Global City Sports Park in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring top international pickleball players, including Malaysia Open champion Trinh Linh Giang, organizers announced.

Prior to the Vietnam Open, the PPA Tour Asia will hold two similar events in Hong Kong and Japan during the last two weeks of August.

Linh Giang (above) with other top players at the upcoming Vietnam Open in early September. Photo: PPA Tour Asia

Linh Giang (above) with other top players at the upcoming Vietnam Open in early September. Photo: PPA Tour Asia

Kimberly Koh, CEO of UPA Asia, called the Vietnam Open a major milestone for the sport's development in Vietnam, paving the way for its future. "We are creating a professional pathway for local athletes and inspiring the next generation," she said.

The PPA Tour Asia is a professional pickleball circuit held in Asia with three tiers: Open (USD 50,000 prize money and 1,000 ranking points), Cup (USD 500,000 and 1,500 points), and Slam (USD 1 million and 2,000 points).

The PPA Tour Asia believes Vietnam possesses the facilities and conditions suitable for international events. The growing popularity of pickleball in Vietnam over the past two years has laid the groundwork for its professional development.

"Currently, some Vietnamese athletes have had the opportunity to go abroad to learn, exchange, and compete. I hope the government and sponsors will join hands to further develop pickleball in Vietnam," Koh added.

Alongside Linh Giang and other domestic players, the Vietnam Open will also feature overseas Vietnamese players like Ken Tam and Sophia Tran, established stars in the sport. Linh Giang, a former top Vietnamese tennis player, transitioned to pickleball following its recent surge in popularity. He often partners in men's doubles with his friend Ly Hoang Nam, a former top Vietnamese tennis player.

Following the Vietnam Open, the PPA Tour Asia will hold the Cup in Malaysia in October with increased prize money and ranking points. With 1,000 points earned at the Malaysia Open, Linh Giang currently leads the PPA Tour Asia rankings. There are multiple ranking systems in global pickleball, but the most common are the PPA Tour and DUPR.

The PPA Tour, based in the US, the birthplace of pickleball, comprises 25 domestic tournaments in 2025 categorized as Slam (2,000 points for the champion), Cup (1,500), Open (1,000), and Challenger (125). The current men's number one player is Federico Staksrud of Argentina.

The DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is a global ranking system for all levels, regardless of age, gender, or experience. Points are calculated based on match results, the number of matches played, and the skill level of opponents. Players earn more points for defeating stronger opponents. Vietnamese-American player Quang Duong is currently ranked 7th.

Vy Anh