Vietnamese Sports Spending: A Growing Market

C The fire of the sports economy

According to data from Metric.vn From 2024 the sale of products with the keyword “Pickleball” reached on four large e-commerce platforms (Shopee, Tiktok Shop, Lazada and Tiki) VND 271.9 billion. It is striking that this figure alone rose to VND 228.7 billion in the first quarter of 2025, almost the same as the previous year. The best -selling items include rackets, competition balls, special shoes, backpacks and pickleball clothing.

Mr. Hoang (45 years old, living in Gia Lai) also invests a lot in his passion: running. “I spend about 30 million VND on shoes, supplements such as food gel and electrolyte water packages every year … And then we have not even mentioned the costs of shirts, accommodation and travel for marathons in different places in the country, such as Hanoi, Hue, Da Nang and Khanh Hoa … I am estimated to give it a small amount every year, not an amount of VND, not a small amount, not a small amount, but not a small amount, but not a small amount, and it is not a small amount, but it is not a small amount, but it is not a small amount, but it is not a small amount, but it is not a small amount, but it is not a small amount, but it is not a small amount, and it is not an amount of VND. experiences gained, “he said. People who practice other sports, such as football, badminton and tennis, also spend a lot of money to satisfy their passion and at the same time improve their health.

That is why many authorities and organizations have focused on organizing football, pickleball and running tournaments for the community. Although this is not their strong point, these organizations can still make a profit and earn billions of Dong with the sale of competition tickets, advertising money, and so on. Many domestic sports brands have also started producing more diverse products, from football and badminton to running and pickleball. At the same time, many “big boys” have also opened stores in Vietnam in the sports industry, which, despite the high value of the products, attract a few million to tens of millions of Dong, many customers.

Many amateur players also seize the opportunity to become Kol’s (influencers in a particular field) or KOCs (consumers with influence in the market). They use products such as shoes, rackets, competition material, supplements, etc. and then give reviews to receive rewards and committees. They build an ‘ecosystem’ based on their own experiences: spending money and creating commercial value.

Opportunities and challenges

The above statistics show that Vietnamese are increasingly concerned about their health and willing to spend his money to invest. This forms the basis for mass sport to become an “industry” that produces even greater profits in the near future. A bank can spend dozens of billions of Dong to sponsor a big competition and thus reach tens of thousands of potential customers. A domestic sportswear brand not only guides professional athletes, but is also willing to collaborate with amateur athletes to build an image that is close to the customer and thus increase the turnover. At that time, the money flow is constantly circulating between athletes, organizers and companies, which contributes to economic development.

It is clear that mass sports open a new “gold mine” for the Vietnamese market. Sports brands, event organizers and investors all see the opportunity. But this also accompanies the challenge of service quality and professionalism. Some competitions have been criticized for poor organization, causing traffic jams or not guaranteeing the safety of athletes. In the meantime, pickleball courts have risen massively, but much do not meet the standards; Many football and tennis courts are not regularly maintained, which leads to relegation and easily causes injuries in athletes. These are also the reasons why the mass sport economy in Vietnam has not yet fully used its potential, despite the still high demand from the population.

Mass sports need more professional steps for sustainable development. Running, pickleball or amateur football tournaments can only retain participants if they are systematically organized and guarantee the quality of services, safety and a complete experience. In addition, the policy of management agencies plays an important role in supporting infrastructure, planning playgrounds and stimulating companies to invest in the long term instead of following trends. These are the things we have to focus on to improve.

From a broader perspective, the fact that Vietnamese spend more and more money on sport not only the rising standard of living, but also the change that sport is no longer just professional, no longer a side issue, but an essential part of life. At the same time, a strong basis for mass sport is also a springboard for the development of professional sports, aimed at achieving top performance during major tournaments in the region, on the continent and worldwide, such as the Games in Southeast Asia, Asia or the Olympic Games.

Moreover, the development of the mass sport movement has created a lot of space for economic exploitation. Nowadays, the community sports sector not only offers traditional services, such as clothing trade and offering playgrounds, but also numerous new services that are suitable for the market thanks to the sharpness of entrepreneurs and startups. However, the sport economy in Vietnam has not yet fully developed and can grow even further, which offers opportunities for many people to make money . (follow-up)