In 2026, Can Tho will host Vietnam's top national cue sports events for the first time. The Vietnamese Billiards and Snooker Federation (VBSF) and VTV Southern Region have confirmed the city as the venue for both the National Clubs Billiards and Snooker Championship (Carom category) and the National Youth Carom Championship. This marks a new chapter for cue sports in Vietnam, with Can Tho stepping into a national role.
The announcement came at a press conference on 15 September. More than 300 athletes are expected to compete across four disciplines, with a total prize pool of 300 million VND. The main events include men's three-cushion carom, women's three-cushion carom, men's one-cushion carom, and junior men's three-cushion carom. Top prizes in each category will range from 20 to 50 million VND. This is the largest prize fund for cue sports ever offered in Can Tho. According to Vietnam.vn, the tournaments will run from 1 to 10 October 2026 at the city's Sports Training and Competition Center, marking Can Tho's first time hosting national-level billiards and snooker competitions.
"The 2026 championships in Can Tho will feature both the national club billiards and snooker (carom) championship and the national youth carom championship, all held at the city's Sports Training and Competition Center."
- Vietnam.vn
Focus on cue sports and local development
VBSF president Le Son Hai and Can Tho's Deputy Director of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thanh Dong say the choice of Can Tho is about more than just competition. Organisers want to build on the city's growing interest in billiards and use the event to find new talent and raise the region's profile in the sport. The championships will serve as a ranking event for national athletes and a chance to scout promising youth players, feeding into Vietnam's cue sports development system. As reported by Vietnam.vn, the tournament is part of the annual national competition calendar and aims to strengthen the national talent pool.
Organisers also hope the event will boost tourism and economic activity in the Mekong Delta. By bringing a national tournament to Can Tho, they want to show off the city's hospitality and attract future sports events. The joint announcement from VTV Southern Region, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho, and the VBSF stated that this is part of a broader plan to make Can Tho a regular venue for major sporting events in Vietnam.
"The choice of Can Tho as host is directly linked to the rapid growth of the local billiards scene and rising audience interest in the Mekong Delta. Organizers also see the event as a platform for identifying young talent and reinforcing the national reserve of cue sports athletes."
- Vietnam.vn
Organisers highlight health and community goals
Phung Van Hiep, Deputy Director of VTV Southern Region, said the championships are meant to be more than just a sports event. Organisers see it as a way to promote healthy living and community well-being, in line with the national movement for sports participation inspired by President Ho Chi Minh. Their goal is to make cue sports a bigger part of Vietnamese culture and use the event to encourage positive social change.
With Can Tho confirmed as the 2026 host, the city now faces the task of delivering on both sporting and community goals. The size of the event, the record prize pool, and the focus on both elite and youth competition set a new standard for Vietnamese cue sports. If organisers succeed, Can Tho could become a regular stop on the national cue sports calendar, and new talent may be discovered at its tables. According to a recent report by 24h.com.vn, the announcement came at the same time as another major billiards tournament in Ho Chi Minh City, which also featured about 310 players and four disciplines, highlighting the busy 2026 season for cue sports in Vietnam.
