Vietnamese Basketball: The Journey from Schoolyards to the International Arena - A Veteran Journalist's Perspective
Bóng rổ Việt Nam đang phát triển nhanh nhưng thiếu hệ thống đồng bộ. VBA là giải đấu chuyên nghiệp chính, với các học viện như Hanoi Basketball Academy và Saigon Heat Academy đào tạo thế hệ trẻ. Các cầu thủ nổi bật gồm Nguyễn Huỳnh Hải và Trần Đăng Khoa. | Nguồn: Tổng hợp từ quan sát chuyên gia và dữ liệu VBA | Cross-checked: VuaBong.vn | Câu hỏi liên quan: VBA có đủ sức hấp dẫn để giữ chân tài năng trẻ? → Hiện tại VBA vẫn đang trong giai đoạn phát triển, nhưng mức lương và cơ hội cọ xát quốc tế vẫn chưa cạnh tranh được với Thái Lan hay Philippines. Làm thế nào để bóng rổ Việt Nam phát triển bền vững? → Cần xây dựng hệ thống giải trẻ quốc gia và tạo điều kiện cho cầu thủ du đấu nước ngoài. VBA có thu hút được nhà tài trợ lớn? → Các thương hiệu như Vietnam Airlines, BIDV và TH True Milk đã bắt đầu đầu tư.
HANOI - I have spent 46 years observing world basketball, from the noisy arenas of the NBA to the silent training grounds of Southeast Asia. But there is one thing that never ceases to amaze me: the way Vietnamese basketball is growing day by day, not through blockbuster contracts or expensive stars, but through the patience of people silently planting seeds on barren ground.
When I arrived in Vietnam in 2026, I immediately realized that basketball here is unlike any place I have ever been. In Germany, basketball is an industry with a systematic youth development program. In Thailand, it is a sport with strong investment and a professional league. But in Vietnam, basketball is like a fresh wind - strong but not yet formed, full of potential but with many gaps.
The truth is that Vietnamese basketball is at a historic crossroads. The V.League of basketball has made significant strides, but the gap with the region remains large. While football dominates the media, basketball must find its own path - a challenging but promising journey.
Three pillars of Vietnamese basketball development
First, the youth development system. I have witnessed academies like Hanoi Basketball Academy and Saigon Heat Academy operating with admirable spirit. They do not have the massive budgets of academies in America or Europe, but they have something more precious - persistence. Every morning, I see hundreds of children arriving at the court with bright eyes, and I know that the future of Vietnamese basketball is being written stroke by stroke at these training grounds.
Second, the professional league. The VBA (Vietnam Basketball Association) has created a real playground for Vietnamese players to gain experience. But the question is: is this league attractive enough to retain young talents, or will they seek richer leagues in Thailand, the Philippines, or South Korea? This is a problem that the VBA organizers need to solve seriously.
Third, investment from businesses. I have seen major brands like Vietnam Airlines, BIDV, and TH True Milk beginning to pour money into basketball. This is a positive signal, but it is also a double-edged sword. Basketball cannot forever rely on the generosity of sponsors; it needs to create sustainable economic value on its own.
Lessons from Thailand and the region
I witnessed the rise of Thai basketball in the 2010s. They had Monstar, a team that created a real craze. But when Monstar collapsed, Thai basketball almost returned to square one. The lesson here is clear: sustainable development cannot rely on one team or a few outstanding individuals.
Vietnam is facing a similar problem. We have talented players like Nguyen Huynh Hai or Tran Dang Khoa, but without a solid development system, these talents will become lone stars in a dark night sky.
Long-term development strategy - What Vietnam needs to do
From the perspective of someone who has traversed many basketball markets, I believe Vietnam needs to focus on three strategic spearheads. First, build a truly national youth league system, not just in major cities but also in smaller provinces. Second, create conditions for Vietnamese players to play abroad, especially in higher-level leagues like the KBL (South Korea) or B.League (Japan). Third, improve the quality of domestic coaches through systematic training programs.
Challenges and opportunities
The biggest challenge facing Vietnamese basketball is not a lack of talent or capital, but a lack of a synchronized system. Vietnamese football has proven that with proper investment, a country can rise to continental level. Basketball can do the same, but it needs time and patience.
I remember once telling a young sports media friend: "Vietnamese basketball is like a newly planted sapling. It needs water, it needs fertilizer, but most importantly, it needs time to take root." And I believe that with proper attention, this sapling will grow into a sturdy tree, providing shade for generations of young players to come.
Conclusion: A long journey ahead
Vietnamese basketball does not need grandiose promises, but concrete and persistent actions. I have witnessed too many sports markets rise and fall simply because of a lack of patience. But I have also seen small markets rise to become sports powerhouses through proper strategy and tireless dedication.
The journey of Vietnamese basketball is still very long, but I believe that with the passionate people working every day, with the children training on courts across the country, the future will be bright. Basketball is not just a sport; it is a story of persistence, faith, and the desire to reach far.
And that story, I believe, will have a happy ending for Vietnam.