Table tennis

HANOI — The 11th Table Tennis Open is a chance for both amateur and professional players to show off their skills.

This year more than 400 athletes from 68 destinations, including Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang and Hanoi, will be competing.

They will play in 12 categories divided into elite and amateur levels, along with different age groups in singles and doubles events, with a total bonus of VND150 million up for grabs.

This year, national stars such as Nguyen Duc Tuan (31st SEA Games champion), Nguyen Dang Hiep (2024 national singles bronze medalist), Nguyen Duy Phong (2024 Southeast Asian Junior Table Tennis Championship winner), Bui The Nghia (2024 national men’s doubles bronze medalist) and many national team members have registered to take part in the Open.

Matches will be held on November 7-10 at the Hanoi’s Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium, with doors open to welcome all supporters.

Launched in 2012, the tournament not only celebrates major holidays of the year, it is also a tool to promote table tennis not only in the capital, but also in provinces and cities nationwide.

Hanoi

Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and a major cultural center, with a history dating back over a thousand years to 1010 AD when it was established as the capital of the imperial Vietnamese nation. The city is renowned for its well-preserved French colonial architecture in the Old Quarter, ancient temples like the Temple of Literature, and as the seat of political power, most notably during the Vietnam War.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is the largest and most bustling city in Vietnam. It served as the capital of the French colony of Cochinchina and later of the independent state of South Vietnam. The city is renowned for its French colonial architecture, vibrant street life, and pivotal role in the Vietnam War, with the Reunification Palace and War Remnants Museum being key historical sites.

Quang Ninh

Quang Ninh is a coastal province in northeastern Vietnam, renowned for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay. The area has a rich history, with evidence of ancient human civilizations and its development as a major center for coal mining in Vietnam. Today, it is a vital economic hub and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.

Lang Son

Lang Son is a mountainous province in northern Vietnam, historically significant as a major gateway for trade and cultural exchange with China. It is known for the historic Đồng Đăng Market and the majestic Nhi Thanh and Tam Thanh caves, which contain ancient inscriptions. The area was also the site of several important battles during the conflicts against French colonial forces and later during the Sino-Vietnamese War.

Thai Nguyen

Thai Nguyen is a mountainous province in northern Vietnam, historically significant as a cradle of the Vietnamese revolution and a major center for tea cultivation. It is home to the Vietnamese Museum of the Cultures of Ethnic Groups, which showcases the heritage of the nation’s diverse communities. The area was also the site of the first victory of the Viet Minh against French colonial forces in 1947.

Da Nang

Da Nang is a major port city in central Vietnam, historically known as a key trading post during the French colonial era. Today, it is a vibrant economic hub famous for its beautiful beaches, the modern Dragon Bridge, and its proximity to the ancient Hindu temples of My Son Sanctuary.

Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium

The Trinh Hoai Duc Gymnasium is a historic educational institution in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, originally established during the French colonial period. It is named after Trịnh Hoài Đức, a prominent Vietnamese scholar, poet, and official from the Nguyễn dynasty, honoring his contributions to the country’s culture and history.

SEA Games

The SEA Games is a biennial multi-sport event for nations in Southeast Asia, first held in 1959 as the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games. It was originally created to promote cooperation, understanding, and relations among countries in the region. The event has since grown to include 11 participating nations and features a wide range of Olympic and traditional local sports.