Lam Dong Seeks to Make Sports Festival an Annual Event
Following the success of Sports Festival 2026, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed that the province hold the event annually, aiming to establish an effective public-private partnership model and create distinctive tourism products for the locality.
13 Competitions Attract More Than 6,300 Athletes
The Sports Festival 2026, held in Lam Dong Province from early July to mid-September 2026, featured 13 competitions and drew over 6,300 domestic and international athletes to Tien Thanh Ward.
This event was made possible through a partnership among the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association under the Ministry of Public Security, the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, and Nova Real Estate Investment Corporation (NovaGroup), which organized the festival.
Senior Colonel Tran Quang Trung, Head of the Political Affairs Division of the Lam Dong Provincial Police, stated: “We deployed personnel to ensure security and safety for the events, which included both local competitions and international tournaments with a significant presence of foreign athletes from multiple countries.”
Among the 13 competitions, there were seven international events and six national-level contests. A highlight was the 2026 National Youth and U23 Triathlon Championships, which featured 240 competitors from 11 local delegations. They took part in 24 events across four age categories: U12, U14, U18, and U23.
At the same time, the ITF Masters Tour MT100 Phan Thiet drew 53 athletes from Belgium, France, Norway, the United States, and Vietnam, who competed across seven categories.
The goal should not be limited to successfully organizing an event. It should also be to further develop grassroots sports, introduce new tourism products, create more opportunities for businesses and deliver tangible benefits to local residents
Huynh Ngoc Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism
The 2026 ASEAN Police Golf Championship attracted 56 players representing 14 countries and territories, along with two teams from Vietnam. The ATP Challenger 50 tennis event attracted almost 100 players from around the world, featuring seeded competitors who are among the top-ranked players globally.
Meanwhile, the 2026 International Women's Beach Volleyball Tournament showcased 175 athletes from 16 teams, including eight international squads from Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Japan.
A notable moment was the opening ceremony, which attracted close to 17,000 attendees. During the first week of the event, the area recorded over 60,000 visitor arrivals.
Lasting Impressions
Due to its large scale and high competitive standards, the Sports Festival 2026 drew a significant number of local and international athletes to Lam Dong, many of whom were joined by family members.
"This is a sports-tourism initiative that provides considerable economic benefits, boosts tourism interest, and creates a unique tourism offering for Lam Dong," Trung stated.
According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the successful organization of the Sports Festival 2026 brought about widespread positive impacts, promoting physical activity and sports engagement, enhancing mental well-being, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and strengthening community relationships.
The event also provided concrete benefits in tourism, economy, politics, diplomacy, social aspects, and humanitarian efforts, helping to enhance and promote Lam Dong's image.
Additionally, the Sports Festival 2026 set a significant precedent for public-private partnerships in the province. The government offered strategic direction and guidance, while businesses contributed to infrastructure investment, mobilized community resources, and organized the event.
Importantly, all costs for the organization were fully funded without relying on state or provincial budget resources.
The success of the event has also paved the way for Lam Dong to attract more significant national and international sporting events in the future.
According to Senior Colonel Tran Quang Trung, following the success of this major sporting occasion in Lam Dong, the Ministry of Public Security instructed the Vietnam People's Public Security Sports Association to devise a plan for an international sports competition center in Vietnam under its auspices.
In the near future, the association also intends to expand the Sports Festival program by incorporating additional sports.
At the local level, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recommended that the Provincial People's Committee continue to support and facilitate the yearly organization of the Sports Festival in the province.
The objective is to gradually establish this series of events as a distinctive sports-tourism product linked to Lam Dong's brand and tourism development strategy.
Huynh Ngoc Tam, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highlighted that the Sports Festival is a promising model for the advancement of sports. It serves to encourage physical activity and promote health, create cultural, tourism, and entertainment products, and showcase the region.
In addition, it provides a contemporary approach to sports development by blending competition with experiential activities, community engagement, and the economic opportunities associated with sports.