Despite achieving glory through sparkling medals, many Vietnamese athletes and coaches still face the harsh struggle of making ends meet. This harsh reality has discouraged many families from supporting their children in pursuing a professional sports career.

However, recent efforts suggest that this could change.

Beyond the spotlight

On June 15, the final of LION Championship 23 between fighters Pham Van Nam and Le Van Tuan attracted viewers not only for its high technical quality but also for the fighters’ compelling backstories. Both athletes had previously worked as motorbike taxi drivers before turning professional. Their grueling journey to pursue martial arts mirrors the struggles of many Vietnamese athletes.

According to Decree 152/2018/ND-CP, a national head coach receives a daily training and competition wage of VND 505,000 (about USD 21), while provincial-level coaches earn only VND 215,000 (USD 9). National athletes receive VND 270,000/day (USD 11), while provincial athletes earn just VND 180,000/day (USD 7.40).

With these rates, average monthly income for coaches and athletes ranges from VND 5 to 12 million (USD 205 to 490), including meal allowances. This is a meager amount considering the intensity of training and personal sacrifices involved. For those with families, financial pressure is even more pronounced. Many have to take on additional jobs like ride-hailing or online sales to supplement their meager income from sports.

The income gap, limited performance bonuses, injury risks, and short career spans all contribute to many athletes leaving the profession early. The resulting instability prevents full dedication to their sport.

Systemic barriers

Nguyen Hong Minh, former head of the Department of Elite Sports 1 under the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, noted that if coaches and athletes were paid salaries on par with society’s average, more families would support their children’s pursuit of professional sports. Realistically, athletes and coaches must be able to live off their earnings if they are to train and compete wholeheartedly.

A major challenge lies in the heavy reliance on government funding. Vietnam’s elite sports programs are largely funded by the state, which must balance numerous other social priorities. To address this, more flexible mechanisms and greater social capital involvement are needed to ease financial constraints.

Although the Prime Minister approved Decision 1189/QD-TTg on the "Strategy for the Development of Vietnamese Physical Education and Sports to 2030, Vision to 2045", implementation remains sluggish. Many sports still struggle to mobilize private funding and commercialize the industry. Potential revenue streams like broadcasting rights, corporate sponsorship, and sports tourism remain underexploited. The lack of an attractive policy framework and skilled personnel also hinders the development of a robust sports economy. As a result, brain drain and early career changes remain common.

New hope on the horizon

Recently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism issued Decision 1722/QD-BVHTTDL on drafting a new decree on benefits for athletes and coaches during training and competition, replacing Decree 152. The Vietnam Sports Administration is tasked with leading the effort, with a goal of submitting the draft to the government for approval by November 2025. This signals a positive step toward improving the livelihoods of sports professionals.

Since early 2024, Hanoi has provided a major boost with a new resolution on special benefits. Athletes and coaches selected for national teams now receive a regular monthly stipend of VND 7 million (USD 286), while youth national team members receive VND 5 million (USD 204). Reward schemes for major sports events have also been raised significantly. Gold medalists at the Olympics now receive VND 74.5 million/month (USD 3,040), while ASIAD and SEA Games gold medalists get VND 33.5 million (USD 1,370) and VND 15 million (USD 612) respectively. Coaches receive 50% of the athlete reward, ensuring fairness and recognition of their vital role.

Still, to build a sustainable sports ecosystem, better policies must be paired with efforts to increase private-sector involvement. Vietnam must develop professional leagues, transparently commercialize broadcasting rights and sponsorships, and incentivize companies to sponsor teams and athletes or invest in sports infrastructure.

Innovative business models like sports tourism, national-brand product lines, and recreational sports services should also be promoted. Moreover, greater investment in education and post-retirement career planning for athletes is crucial.

When athletes are assured of a stable present and future, they will be empowered to give their all - pushing Vietnamese sports toward regional and global success.

PV