The requirement for 2026 and the upcoming development phase is to organize, manage, and invest in sports in a more long-term, professional, and effective manner. Along with the increasingly improved infrastructure, the sports economy is harmonizing with the cultural and tourism industries, opening up new avenues of development and demanding a comprehensive and transparent legal framework to attract and leverage social resources.
In this context, amending and supplementing specialized laws and identifying sports economics as a new growth engine is of significant importance. In an interview with a reporter from Nhan Dan Newspaper, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung shared his vision, direction, and key solutions to develop Vietnam's sports economics in a systematic, sustainable manner, approaching regional and international standards.
Reporter: Minister, in the development strategy of the culture, sports, and tourism sector, what is the Ministry's vision and direction to make the sports economy a significant contributor to the national GDP in the future?
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung: The sports economy is considered a new economic sector with a higher growth rate compared to traditional economic sectors. On a global scale, the sports economy ranks as the 9th largest economic sector, with an estimated value of approximately 2,650 billion USD.
In our country, although there are no complete statistics on the market size of sports economic activities, it can be seen that many types of sports businesses and services have flourished in recent years. The number of private sports training facilities has increased sharply, especially in pickleball, swimming, mini-football, badminton, tennis, billiards & snooker... Many large-scale sports competitions are organized through socialized models, attracting a large number of participants, such as international marathons, trail running, triathlons, golf, cycling, international volleyball, basketball, mixed martial arts...
These events not only generate direct revenue for the budget but also have a ripple effect, promoting the growth of many other sectors and fields, such as tourism and transportation, as well as contributing to the promotion and development of the local economy.
In the manufacturing and export sector, Vietnam is currently considered one of the world's largest factories for apparel and sportswear. Leading corporations such as Nike and Adidas produce 40-50% of their goods in Vietnam. We also have the advantage of being located in the Asia-Pacific region, a densely populated area with a young and dynamic population, and considered a region experiencing rapid growth in the sports economy.
Therefore, if we do not soon recognize the role and importance of sports economics, we will miss the opportunity to make a breakthrough and fail to exploit the enormous potential of this field. Thus, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been and will continue to strengthen its advisory role to the Government in perfecting policies and building a legal framework to both effectively manage and strongly promote the development of sports economic activities.
In the Strategy for the Development of Physical Education and Sports in Vietnam until 2030, with a vision to 2045, we have set a target for the 2025-2030 period to significantly increase the number and scale of sports production and business facilities, diversify service types; aiming towards the formation of a modern sports market by 2045, with regional and international competitiveness, contributing positively to GDP growth, creating jobs, and affirming Vietnam's position on the world sports map.
Reporter: To realize the economic potential of major sporting events and sports tourism, what specific solutions does the Ministry have to attract investment, encourage private sector participation, and improve the efficiency of utilizing existing sports facilities and human resources, Minister?
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung : Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW (2025) on the development of private economy has clearly affirmed the pioneering role of enterprises in investing in infrastructure, organizing events, developing sports services and products, and gradually forming a leading sports economic sector.
In fact, except for some high-investment projects such as stadium construction or large-scale sports facilities, most sports activities can attract private investment. If we have the right legal environment and policies to unleash and promote the potential of the private sector, this will be a leading force in quickly making sports economics a key economic sector.
In recent times, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has focused on solutions to encourage private enterprises to participate in organizing large-scale sports competitions and events, including international sports events. The result of this policy is that private enterprises are increasingly able to self-fund the organization of national and international competitions domestically without relying on state budget support. The Ministry has also directed the acceleration of the development and promulgation of economic and technical standards in the field of physical education and sports to create conditions for private participation in bidding and the implementation of state-ordered contracts for the provision of sports services. This is a necessary step towards creating equal competition between the public and private sectors in the provision of sports services.
In the field of investment, construction, and management of sports facilities, the Ministry has also directed the promotion of joint ventures and partnerships, creating conditions for private companies to exploit land and public sports facilities within the framework of current laws. At the same time, it has proposed amendments to regulations on public-private partnerships and suggested that competent authorities allow the implementation of the PPP mechanism (the State and the private sector jointly investing in, constructing, managing, and exploiting infrastructure and public service projects) in the field of physical education and sports to pave the way for attracting investment in the construction of large-scale sports facilities.
In the coming period, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will focus on reviewing and proposing amendments to the Law on Physical Education and Sports and a number of related legal documents, including important amendments related to regulations on the business of physical education and sports and professional sports.
Reporter: In the context of deep international integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, how does the Minister assess the role of technology and international cooperation in the development of the sports economy?
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung: In the context of deep international integration and the strong development of the fourth industrial revolution, technology and international cooperation play a key role, acting as both a lever and a breakthrough factor in the development of sports economics in Vietnam. This is also reflected in the Party and State's policy, emphasizing the utilization of scientific and technological achievements, promoting innovation, and expanding international cooperation to enhance national competitiveness, especially in new and promising fields such as sports economics.
Today, technology is not just a means or tool of support, but has become a core component in most sports activities. From clothing and training equipment to nutrition, supplements, training methods, and management and coaching, everything incorporates a very high level of technology.
Furthermore, the continuous development of science and technology has created many new and attractive sports products and forms for young people, such as e-sports. Technology also helps connect coaches, trainees, sponsors, and event organizers within a single ecosystem, thereby forming a modern, transparent, and efficient sports market.
In particular, sports are closely linked to media and digital technologies in live television broadcasting, tournament rights sales, and sporting event organization.
Regarding international cooperation, it is evident that in the current context of globalization, the role of international cooperation is extremely important, especially for sports, which is considered one of the leading fields in the process of international integration. Expanding international cooperation will contribute to promoting the development of the sports economy, particularly in hosting international sports games and events domestically, or attracting foreign investment. In recent times, we have also successfully taken advantage of joining trade agreements to expand export markets for sportswear, footwear, and equipment.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism believes that, with increased awareness and a determination to innovate in the management of the sports sector, the sports economy in our country will experience a strong boom in the coming period, contributing to both job creation and national economic growth.
Reporter: Minister, what are the key challenges facing the development of Vietnam's sports economy today?
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung: Developing the sports economy is a process that both opens up great opportunities and poses strategic requirements demanding a long-term vision and thorough preparation. At the macro level, I believe there are several key issues that we need to clearly identify in order to guide policy and action:
Firstly, we need to define the role of sports economics within the overall national development strategy. We need to clarify that sports economics is not merely a service sector, but a component of the creative economy, linked to tourism, trade, culture, and diplomacy. Without a clear definition, it will be difficult to attract commensurate attention from policymakers, investors, and society as a whole.
Secondly, we need to build a modern, integrated sports market that still retains its Vietnamese identity. Deep integration with the international sports market is essential, but it is crucial to ensure that cultural values, the spirit of sportsmanship, and the national image are not diluted. The market needs to operate according to international standards but reflect the characteristics, needs, and creativity of the Vietnamese people, so that each sporting event or product becomes a "cultural ambassador" of the country.
Thirdly, we must establish a balanced and sustainable sports economic system. The development of the sports economy cannot rely solely on popular sports; it must create a balance between high-performance sports, recreational sports, school sports, community sports, and sports for all ages. If the market focuses only on a few leading sports, we will miss out on the enormous socio-economic potential from dozens of other sports and from mass movements.
Fourth, there needs to be a synchronized connection between infrastructure planning, human resources, and products and services. At the strategic level, infrastructure is not just about stadiums or arenas, but also includes sports service and commercial centers, training and tourism experience complexes, and networks of sports science and medical services. Human resources also need to be planned and trained in sync with the development direction of products and services, to create a closed value chain from production-organization-distribution-consumption.
Fifth, ensure a balance between economic and social goals. The economics of sports must bring tangible economic benefits while simultaneously contributing to improving public health, strengthening national unity, promoting the country's image, and fostering a healthy lifestyle. If we only pursue short-term profits, we risk losing the core values of sports and neglecting the long-term benefits for society.
Sixth, building national governance capacity in sports economics. As the market expands, it requires strong macroeconomic management capacity to regulate, guide, ensure transparency and fairness, and promptly respond to fluctuations, crises, or new global trends. This capacity lies not only with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism but also with the coordination of many ministries, sectors, and local governments.
Thus, it can be affirmed that the development of sports economics is a journey of transformation from a "supporting industry" to a "growth driver," from "individual events" to "an interconnected system." If we fully identify these strategic issues and address them comprehensively, Vietnam's sports economics can absolutely rise to become one of the key innovative economic sectors, making practical contributions to the goal of rapid and sustainable development and affirming the country's position on the world sports economic map.
Reporter: Thank you very much, Minister!
Source: https://nhandan.vn/hoan-thien-the-che-de-kinh-te-the-thao-cat-canh-post937558.html
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