A boost for high-performance sports.

In May 2025, based on a proposal from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh agreed in principle to draft a new decree to replace Decree No. 152. Throughout 2025, the Department of Physical Education and Sports actively reviewed and gathered feedback from localities, federations, and national teams to finalize the draft.

Increased income, better nutrition.

On December 30, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh signed Decree No. 349/2025/ND-CP regulating the regime and policies for members of sports teams participating in concentrated training and competitions. The Decree will come into effect on February 15, 2026.

Cú hích cho thể thao thành tích cao - Ảnh 1. — Vietnamese sports are confident in conquering international heights in the future. (Photo: NGOC LINH)

According to Mr. Nguyen Danh Hoang Viet, Director of the Vietnam Sports Department, Decree 349 reflects a change in the mindset regarding investment in human resources – a key factor in high-performance sports. The goal is to help athletes and coaches feel secure in dedicating themselves to their work, reducing worries about making a living and the risks associated with training and competing at the highest level.

Compared to before, the salary system for athletes and coaches has been significantly adjusted upwards, with many positions seeing nearly double the previous pay. National team athletes will receive over 14 million VND per month during training camps, while the head coach of the national team will have a new income of nearly 30 million VND per month.

More importantly, the daily training and competition payment mechanism helps to make income more stable and transparent, limiting the situation where athletes and coaches have to rely entirely on prize money or external support as before.

Besides salaries, nutrition is considered a fundamental improvement. National and youth teams are guaranteed higher nutritional standards than before, while those preparing for the SEA Games, ASIAD, Olympics, or Paralympics will receive special treatment. Another noteworthy aspect of Decree 349 is the clearly defined regulations regarding the care and treatment of athletes' injuries. Athletes who unfortunately suffer injuries during training or competition will have their medical expenses covered, both domestically and internationally, depending on the severity and treatment requirements.

The goal is to improve performance.

The most notable aspect of Decree 349 lies in the medal reward system, with adjustments considered unprecedented. According to the new regulations, Olympic gold medalists receive 3.5 billion VND, and an additional 1.4 billion VND if they break a record.

Not only do Olympic gold medal winners receive a one-time bonus, but they also receive a monthly allowance of 40 million VND for 48 months. Therefore, including the total prize money and allowance, a Vietnamese athlete who wins an Olympic gold medal and breaks a Games record could receive approximately 7 billion VND – a sum sufficient to ensure a comfortable life long after retiring from competitive sports.

Decree 349 was issued in the context of Vietnamese sports aiming for the 2026 ASIAD and the 2028 Olympics. With clear and transparent solutions to the issues of remuneration and care, off-field pressure is reduced, allowing athletes and coaches to focus entirely on improving their performance.

More importantly, this decree sends a clear message: those who bring glory to the country are not only honored in the moment of victory, but also guaranteed health and a secure future. This is the foundation upon which Vietnamese sports can hope for a more sustainable period of development.

"Increased spending on nutrition is not only aimed at improving meals, but also reflects a long-term investment mindset: high-performance sports must be nurtured by science , rehabilitation, and biomedical science, rather than relying primarily on the spirit and sacrifice of athletes."