Many businesses in Nghe An are capitalizing on the pickleball craze to attract customers.
Pickleball is creating a sensation in Vietnam, and particularly in Nghe An province. The surge in players has led to the development of numerous related services, creating business opportunities for many locals.
Pickleball courts are flourishing.
Over the past six months, pickleball has become a leading amateur sport in Vietnam. Pickleball courts have sprung up continuously to meet the growing demand. In Vinh City, preliminary statistics show that there are approximately 100 pickleball courts located in wards such as Le Loi, Quan Bau, Truong Thi, Trung Do, Hung Loc, Ha Huy Tap, Nghi Phu, etc.
According to both business owners and players, the appeal of this sport lies in its novelty, ease of play, and relatively low investment. Furthermore, the design of the rackets, shorts, skirts, and shirts is highly fashionable. The pickleball movement has boosted sportsmanship, improved health, and fostered camaraderie among people.
Besides the courts owned by organizations and associations, there are many courts that people have invested in and built themselves to rent out by the hour, with the number of people booking courts increasing significantly.
Recognizing the popularity of this sport, Mr. Phan Trung Dong, from Dong Vinh ward, Vinh City, pooled resources with friends and rented a space to open a pickleball court on Ngo Thi Nham street in mid-November 2024. Because the court was recently renovated and has a roof to protect against rain and sun, the number of customers registering for training has been steadily increasing.
Mr. Dong said: "Recognizing the great demand from the people, we jointly built four pickleball courts to serve the community. The total investment was over 500 million VND. People mainly rent them by the hour, especially during peak hours or weekends, when the courts are always full. At times, customers have to contact us in advance to reserve a court to play on."
Not only in Vinh City but also in other localities, especially in mountainous districts, the pickleball movement has flourished recently. In the border district of Que Phong, according to preliminary statistics, as many as 9 pickleball courts have opened in a short period of time, with the number of registered players increasing rapidly.
Mr. Long, the owner of a pickleball court in Kim Son town, Que Phong district, said: On average, renovating a pickleball court with an area of 80 square meters is recommended.2-100m2The total cost usually ranges around 100 million VND. I rented space to build three covered courts to serve the needs of the local people. The courts are open every day of the week with rental prices ranging from 80,000 to 120,000 VND per hour. If four people play, each person only pays 20,000 to 30,000 VND per hour. Depending on peak or off-peak hours, this price is quite affordable for most people.
In Tan Ky district, the first pickleball venue opened at the end of November, attracting considerable attention from the public. A representative from the Tan Ky District Department of Culture and Information stated that the venue has four courts, and due to the large number of registered players, it frequently experiences overcrowding. It is expected that the number of courts will increase in the future as many people have begun renovating or building new courts.
According to our research, there are currently three types of pickleball courts being invested in by people for business purposes: indoor courts, outdoor courts, and outdoor courts with roofs, each with different investment costs. Consequently, these courts also have different rental prices.
According to surveys, the current rental price for pickleball courts in the province ranges from 80,000 to 200,000 VND per hour, depending on the quality of the court, its location, and the services provided.
Hot fashion pickleball
The pickleball craze isn't limited to playing fields; the market for equipment and apparel related to this sport shows no signs of slowing down.
According to surveys, there are many types of pickleball rackets on the market, including basic rackets for beginners priced from a few hundred thousand dong to professional rackets costing millions of dong from brands such as Wilson, Franklin, Selkirk, and Paddle Tek… On e-commerce platforms, unbranded rackets are much cheaper, commonly priced at 300,000 - 500,000 dong per piece.
Pickleballs are relatively inexpensive on the market, including training and competition balls. Prices range from 30,000 to 70,000 VND per ball. The difference between pickleballs and badminton, table tennis, or tennis balls is that they are much more durable and last longer.
Besides rackets and balls, men's and women's pickleball apparel is equally diverse and is becoming a new trend, with many brands launching specialized product lines. These outfits not only meet the needs of the sport but also offer a modern and stylish look, ensuring that every movement is confident, comfortable, and safe.
According to Ms. Phuong, the owner of a pickleball sportswear store in Vinh City, the uniforms for this sport are very diverse in style, material, and price. Women's uniforms, in particular, have been trending on social media recently. Each women's competition set averages between 150,000 and 500,000 VND, with major brands costing millions of VND. For men, the investment is mainly in competition shoes, while clothing is much simpler and more affordable.
Besides renting courts, buying rackets, balls, or uniforms, many people are also contacting services to hire coaches to teach this sport. Because it is a new sport that many people have never tried before, mastering it with proper technique requires guidance and instruction. According to our research, each pickleball course in Nghe An currently costs between 2 and 3 million VND for 10 to 15 lessons.
