Vietnamese Sepak Takraw and the Historic ASIAD Gold: Nearly 4 Billion VND in Bonuses and Special Preferential Treatment

The Vietnamese women's sepak takraw team has won a historic gold medal at ASIAD 20, held in Nagoya, Japan. This victory not only affirms the position of Vietnamese sepak takraw on the continental stage but also brings enormous bonuses and preferential treatment, amounting to nearly 4 billion VND in state bonuses and billions more from local authorities. According to Decree No. 349/2026/ND-CP of the Government, each athlete winning an ASIAD gold medal receives a bonus of 280 million VND. In addition, they are entitled to a special preferential treatment of 20 million VND per person per month, lasting from the time of achievement until the next ASIAD. This period is estimated at about 48 months, equivalent to 960 million VND per person. Thus, the total bonus and preferential treatment each athlete receives from the state budget amounts to approximately 1.24 billion VND. The Vietnamese women's sepak takraw team consists of three athletes, including Nguyen Thi Thu Trang and Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly, along with a third teammate. With three members, the total state budget bonus for the team reaches nearly 4 billion VND (precisely about 3.72 billion VND). Among them, two athletes, Nguyen Thi Thu Trang and Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly, are on the payroll of Hanoi city. Beyond the state bonus, the athletes also receive special attention from local authorities. According to Resolution No. 82/2026/NQ-HDND of the Hanoi People's Council, each athlete from this locality receives an additional 140 million VND. More notably, they are also entitled to a special preferential treatment of 33.5 million VND per person per month for 48 months, equivalent to about 1.608 billion VND each. Thus, counting only the Hanoi budget, each athlete receives approximately 1.748 billion VND. As a result, the two athletes on the Hanoi payroll could receive a total of nearly 6 billion VND from both the state and city budgets. Meanwhile, the third athlete, who is not on the Hanoi payroll, will only receive the central budget bonus, creating a significant income disparity within the same team. In addition, the coaching staff is also entitled to corresponding benefits. Specifically, coach Hoang Thi Thai Xuan, who directly led the team to the gold medal, will receive 50% of an athlete's state budget entitlement, equivalent to about 620 million VND. Beyond the official bonuses mentioned above, the team also received a "hot bonus" of 200 million VND from the delegation. This amount was paid immediately at the event and is not included in the documented figures. In addition, bonuses from the federation and sponsors are also recorded but have no specific figures yet, promising to further increase the total bonus value the athletes receive. The ASIAD gold medal of the Vietnamese women's sepak takraw team is considered a historic achievement, opening great expectations for the development of this sport in the future. With a clearly institutionalized bonus and preferential treatment system, this is seen as a positive signal to attract and retain talent for Vietnamese sports, while also motivating athletes in other localities to strive. However, it should be noted that the special preferential treatment extending to the next ASIAD depends on the congress cycle and budget, and may change if policies are adjusted. The figure "nearly 4 billion VND" mentioned by the media mainly reflects the state budget bonus for all three athletes, while the actual total value received by the Hanoi athletes is significantly higher when including local bonuses, hot bonuses, and sponsor bonuses.