Ho Chi Minh City, 4 Sep 2026 – Vietnamese badminton star Nguyen Thuy Linh faces a difficult route at the Vietnam Open 2026, with this year’s tournament attracting more than 300 players from 27 countries and territories.
The competition will take place at Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City from September 8 to 13, featuring a strong international field that includes several highly ranked players.
Despite being Vietnam’s leading hope and currently ranked No.29 in the world, Thuy Linh has been seeded only second in the women’s singles event.
India’s rising star Tanvi Sharma, ranked world No.24, is the top seed.
Thuy Linh’s position in the draw has left her facing a challenging path from the opening round, where she will meet China’s Xu Wen Jing.
Born in 2007, the Chinese youngster has already produced several impressive results in 2026. She finished third at the Baoji China Masters before winning the Ruichang China Masters, a tournament at the same Super 100 level as the Vietnam Open.
Even if Thuy Linh successfully negotiates her opening-round challenge, the route ahead is unlikely to become any easier.
Her section of the draw also features India’s Isharani Baruah, the No.3 seed, and Chinese Taipei’s Tung Ciou-Tong, who enters the tournament as the fifth seed.
Thuy Linh is not the only Vietnamese player facing strong opposition at the tournament.
Other home representatives, including Vu Thi Trang in women’s singles, Le Duc Phat and Nguyen Hai Dang in men’s singles, as well as men’s doubles pair Nguyen Dinh Hoang and Tran Dinh Manh, have also been handed demanding early-round assignments.
Speaking at the Vietnam Open 2026 press conference on September 4, a representative of the organising committee acknowledged the strength of this year’s field but believes home support could give the Vietnamese players an important boost.
“It is clear that many strong players are taking part in this year’s tournament, so the Vietnamese players will face plenty of difficulties. However, with home advantage, they can play with confidence and are fully capable of producing surprises. As organisers, we also hope the Vietnamese players can go deep into the tournament.”
With a significantly competitive field heading to Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Open 2026 promises to provide a major test for the country’s leading badminton players, with particular attention focused on whether Thuy Linh can overcome a difficult draw and mount a strong challenge on home soil.
VSN/RPT
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