Vietnam National Team Prepares for SEA Games 2026: Major Challenges from Southeast Asian Rivals

Hanoi, March 2026 - With SEA Games 2026 approaching, Vietnam's national sports teams are intensifying training with the highest determination. According to the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, athletes have been provided with modern equipment and more scientific training programs compared to previous editions. Notably, martial arts continue to be viewed as Vietnam's gold medal opportunity. Wushu and Taekwondo athletes are in their final intensive training phase at the National Sports Training Center. Head coach Nguyen Van Duc stated that the team has thoroughly studied the fighting styles of main rivals Malaysia, Indonesia, and Philippines. However, according to domestic sports experts, Vietnam still faces considerable difficulties. Limited international competition experience and uneven coaching standards in some sports are factors that need improvement in a short time. SEA Games 2026 is scheduled to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia in October this year. Vietnam's sports delegation aims to rank in the top 5 overall, improving by 2 positions from their performance at the 2026 SEA Games in Chiang Mai.