The inaugural Nha Trang University Student Sports Festival for the 2026–2027 academic year is reaching its final stage after more than a week of competition involving over 1,000 student athletes. The multi-sport event brings together competitors from three specialized schools and four affiliated faculties to contest seven distinct disciplines, marking a milestone for campus athletics in Khanh Hoa province.
Organized to commemorate both the 67th anniversary of the university’s founding on August 1, 1959, and the 50th anniversary of its establishment and development in Khanh Hoa on October 4, 1976, the games showcase a broad spectrum of athletic talent. Competition spans men’s 11-a-side football, women’s futsal, men’s and women’s volleyball, badminton, swimming, and taekwondo, transforming campus arenas into high-energy venues.
Campus Infrastructure Prepares for Competition
To host the expansive schedule, the Nha Trang University Center for Physical Education and Sport made significant investments in campus infrastructure. The upgrades feature a multipurpose gymnasium alongside a synthetic grass football pitch, built specifically to accommodate the rigorous demands of a seven-discipline tournament.
Nguyen Anh Tu, deputy director of the center, noted that the institution used organizational experience gained through previous partnerships with Thanh Nien newspaper in running three editions of the Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament. That background helped administrators transition campus sport operations from basic recreational offerings into a professionally managed department.
Over the years, the center has supported local and national events, including youth football festivals across the under-9, under-11, and under-13 age brackets, the 2026 International Veterans Football Tournament, and the Vietnam Professional Basketball League.
Medals and Milestones in the Pool and on the Mats
Intense competition across the week produced standout performances in individual and team events. In swimming, Ha Thuy Dan, a second-year student in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, claimed the gold medal in the women’s event.
I am overjoyed,
Dan said after her victory. I was hoping and waiting for this opportunity since my first year, but only in my second year did I get the chance to compete.
She added that she plans to return for future editions if the faculty continues the event.
Other students highlighted the social and community value of the games. Nguyen Dinh Minh Khang, a student of cohort 67, law degree course no. 1 in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, described the festival as a productive arena for students to test their skills, interact, and build stronger peer networks across different academic departments.
University Uses Festival to Scout Athletes and Promote Health
Beyond campus engagement, university organizers are using the festival as an evaluation platform. Nguyen Anh Tu stated that the school plans to identify and select standout athletes from the tournament to form official university squads for provincial, regional, and national competitions.
University officials emphasize that the tournament serves dual purposes: advancing student health and maximizing the utility of campus facilities. Organizing sporting events for the community contributes to improving health, creating a healthy environment to practice sports, and strengthening interaction and social connection,
Nguyen Anh Tu said. At the same time, it allows us to use facilities effectively, promotes our image, and enhances the prestige of Nha Trang University.
Closing Matches on the 50th Anniversary
The remaining competition schedule centers on the tournament’s football finals. The decisive matches for both the men’s 11-a-side tournament and the women’s futsal competition are scheduled for the morning of October 4.
That timing aligns directly with official ceremonies observing the 50th anniversary of the university’s continuous operations and institutional development within Khanh Hoa province. Whether campus organizers will establish the festival as an annual fixture on the academic calendar remains unconfirmed by university administration.
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