Nguyễn Thùy Linh faces a challenging path at the Vietnam Open 2026 badminton tournament as she enters the draw as the second seed rather than the top seed, according to tournament reports. Running from September 8 to 13 at the Nguyễn Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City, the BWF World Tour Super 100 event features more than 300 athletes from 27 countries and territories competing for a total prize pool of $120,000.
Seedings and Draw Complications for Thùy Linh
Thùy Linh holds a world ranking of 29, placing her as the highest-seeded Vietnamese player in the women’s singles draw, according to tournament disclosures. However, India’s Tanvi Sharma secured the top seed position with a world ranking of 24. Consequently, the tournament placement creates a difficult bracket for Thùy Linh as she attempts to reclaim a title she previously won in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
In the opening round, Thùy Linh will face China’s Xu Wen Jing. The two competitors met just a month prior at the Korea Masters, where Xu defeated the Vietnamese star. Born in 2007, Xu enters the tournament following notable results, including a third-place finish at the Baoji China Masters and a victory at the Ruichang China Masters at the Super 100 level. Should Thùy Linh advance past the first round, her section of the bracket includes third seed Isharani Baruah of India and fifth seed Tung Ciou-Tong of Chinese Taipei.
Broader Vietnamese Representation Across Events
Other Vietnamese players face demanding opening fixtures across the tournament categories. In women’s singles, Vũ Thị Trang squares off against fourth seed Amalie Schulz of Denmark. Trang, who competed at the 2012 London Olympics, also teams up with younger player Bùi Bích Phương in the women’s doubles to face Malaysia’s Cheng Su Hui and Chong Jie Yu.
In the men’s singles draw, Lê Đức Phát meets India’s Muthusamy Subramanian, while Nguyễn Hải Đăng plays Malaysia’s Cheam June Wei. Meanwhile, Hà Nội International Challenge champions Nguyễn Đình Hoàng and Trần Đình Mạnh draw the second-seeded men’s doubles pair of Zhi-Wei He and Huang Jui-Hsuan of Chinese Taipei. In total, four Vietnamese pairs feature across the women’s doubles and mixed doubles events, with the third-seeded duo of Phạm Thị Diệu Ly and Phạm Thị Khanh meeting Chen Su Yu and Chen Han in their opening match.
International Stars Draw Attention in Ho Chi Minh City
Tournament organizers noted during an introductory press conference that the depth of international talent presents an uphill battle for local contenders, though home-court advantage could inspire surprises. Alongside the rising young talent, the tournament features marquee international names. Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia, an Olympic bronze medalist who formerly ranked second in the world before injuries dropped him to 54th, is expected to draw substantial crowds to the Nguyễn Du Gymnasium. Japan’s Shogo Ogawa, the 2024 Vietnam Open champion currently ranked 68th, also returns with his unpredictable playing style.
The competition serves as vital preparation for Thùy Linh and her compatriots ahead of the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Action at the Nguyễn Du Gymnasium runs through September 13.
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