Pickleball's rapid spread in Vietnam — including a jump from 54 to over 100 courts in Hanoi's Long Bien district and an estimated 1,000 courts in Ho Chi Minh City — has sparked widespread noise complaints. Residents report sleepless nights, tenant losses and formal petitions as courts operate from dawn until after midnight. Authorities face growing pressure to enforce noise rules while balancing the sport's popularity and public-health warnings about chronic noise exposure.
‘Acoustic Hazard’: Pickleball Boom Triggers Noise Backlash Across Vietnam
The initial pickleball craze saw more people in Vietnam pick up a paddle per capita than anywhere else in Asia, according to one survey (Nhac NGUYEN)(Nhac NGUYEN/AFP/AFP)
The sharp, repetitive "pop-pop" of pickleball paddles now echoes from before dawn until after midnight at newly built courts across Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities, dividing communities between enthusiastic players and neighbours pushed to the brink by constant noise.
Residents Push Back
"It drives me nuts," said Hoa Nguyen, 44, who lives with her family behind a multi-court complex on Hanoi's northeastern outskirts. "People are playing in the middle of the night and there's nothing we can do about it. The noise makes it impossible for me to sleep. It just keeps going pop-pop-pop." State media report that most noise grievances filed through the capital's iHanoi app relate to pickleball, a phenomenon the press has labeled an "acoustic hazard." Beyond the paddle noise, residents also point to unruly crowds and congestion in packed parking areas.
Rapid Growth of the Sport
Pickleball's rise in Vietnam accelerated about two years ago, following earlier popularity surges in North America. Rating company DUPR ranks Vietnam as the second-fastest-growing market for the sport in Asia after Malaysia. Regional organiser PPA Tour Asia estimated that more than 16 million people in Vietnam have tried pickleball, though that figure is extrapolated from a survey of roughly 1,000 respondents and should be treated as an approximation.
Hanoi's Long Bien district has become a hub: state media say the number of courts climbed from 54 to more than 100 in less than a year. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City may have an estimated 1,000 courts, many sited close to residential blocks and workers' dormitories.
Voices From the Ground
Lam Thanh, 50, who manages a dormitory near one of Ho Chi Minh City's courts, says the disturbances carry real costs. "Many tenants couldn't stand the noise and have moved elsewhere," she said. "There's the popping sound of paddles, cheering, shouting and joking around — it's all extremely exhausting for us." A Hanoi student, 16-year-old Duong, said the racket has made it hard to concentrate on homework.
Coaches and club owners point to the sport's accessibility as part of its appeal. "The paddle is light and the ball is light... Children can play it, and so can adults," said coach Pham Duc Trung, 37. "For many players, the sound of the ball hitting the paddle is part of the fun." Not everyone shares that view.
Health, Policy and Enforcement Issues
Experts note that pickleball strikes generate a sharper, higher-pitched sound than tennis or badminton, which can carry farther in dense urban environments. Ho Chi Minh City has been identified by the United Nations as one of Asia's loudest cities, with noise pollution levels that may pose hearing risks. Vietnam has nationwide noise regulations intended to limit late-night disturbances, but residents say enforcement is often inconsistent — and courts continue to operate late into the night.
State media have carried health warnings from doctors: coverage on the state-run VTC News site described the constant popping as a potential trigger for stress, sleep disruption and increased cardiovascular risk, calling the strikes "like the ticking of a clock against the temples." Local authorities now face pressure to balance the sport's popularity and economic benefits against residents' quality-of-life concerns.
Bottom line: Pickleball's rapid expansion in dense Vietnamese cities has produced a clash between community recreation and residential calm, prompting complaints, petitions and calls for clearer rules and enforcement.
