What started with just four Filipinos knocking a pickleball around has grown into a thriving community of more than 120 members in Ho Chi Minh City. The HCMC Pickleball Kabayan Group has become far more than a place to play, bringing together Filipinos and Vietnamese players through sport, friendship, culture and plenty of laughter.
Key Points:
- The HCMC Pickleball Kabayan Group has grown from four players into a community of more than 120 members.
- For Filipinos living in Vietnam, the group offers a familiar space filled with their language, food, humour and culture.
- The welcoming club has also attracted Vietnamese players, including beginners who found an inclusive environment.
- Its growth comes amid Vietnam's pickleball boom, with more than 37% of surveyed Vietnamese respondents having tried the sport.
From Four Players to a Filipino Community
Kabayan's growth has been remarkable. What began as four Filipinos casually playing pickleball has gradually become a fixture in Ho Chi Minh City's sporting scene.
For group leader Gretchen Kilvington, who works as a teacher at an international school, the rapid expansion was unexpected. The community grew naturally as existing members began bringing along friends and introducing more Filipinos to the group.
On the courts, the Filipino connection is impossible to miss. Players switch between English, Tagalog and Bisaya, while Vietnamese voices occasionally join the mix. Even when the games finish, the socialising continues, with players sharing food, jokes and stories.
Traditional Filipino snacks such as hopiang ube can make an appearance, while playful suggestions of holding a fiesta during open play add to the relaxed atmosphere. For Filipinos living thousands of kilometres from home, those small details can make a major difference.
A Taste of Home in Ho Chi Minh City
For John Raymond Pondoc, who works at Vinschool in District 9, Kabayan provides something that goes beyond sport. “For me, it means home,” Pondoc said, explaining how playing alongside fellow Filipinos brings back the language, jokes and everyday conversations he misses while living abroad.
That familiarity is one of the group's biggest attractions. Players can arrive simply wanting to play pickleball, but the conversations often turn to work, food, memories of the Philippines and life overseas.
Chito Durban, president of Samahang Pinoy Vietnam, believes those shared connections are particularly important for Filipinos living abroad.
“When you’re living abroad, having people around you who share the same culture, beliefs, background, interests, hobbies, and dialect makes a big difference,” Durban said. “It gives you that feeling that you’re not completely alone in a foreign land.”
An Inclusive Space for New Players
Although Kabayan has strong Filipino roots, its appeal has never been limited to Filipinos.
Nguyen Thi Nhat Linh, a Vietnamese entrepreneur, joined the group as a beginner and quickly found herself welcomed by the community. Rather than feeling intimidated by her lack of experience, she found an environment where she could learn while making new friends.
“I gained much more than just pickleball skills,” she said, highlighting the friendships, increased activity and social connections she discovered through the group.
Her experience also underlines what makes Kabayan different from simply joining a sports club: beginners can become part of the community without feeling judged.
Riding Vietnam's Pickleball Boom
Kabayan's rapid growth comes as pickleball continues to surge across Vietnam. A recent study found that more than 37% of Vietnamese respondents had tried pickleball, the highest participation rate among the 12 Asian markets included in the study.
The sport's growing popularity was also evident in July, when Ho Chi Minh City hosted the Asia Open Pickleball Championships, attracting more than 1,000 players from across the region. For Kabayan's Filipino members, however, pickleball's appeal goes beyond the sport itself.
The court has created a place where Filipinos can reconnect with their culture while building friendships with people from their adopted home. Vietnamese players, meanwhile, have found an open community where they can pick up a paddle, learn the game and meet new people.
Why Players Keep Coming Back
The appeal of Kabayan ultimately comes down to what happens after the points are played. Pondoc captured that perfectly: “You come because you want to play, but you stay because of the people, the friendships, the laughter, and the sense of belonging.”
That has become the heart of the HCMC Pickleball Kabayan Group. What began as four people playing a new sport has turned into a community of more than 120 members — proving that sometimes, finding a little piece of home can be as simple as picking up a paddle.
