Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Thong Nhat Stadium is one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most historically important sports grounds, at 138 Dao Duy Tu in Dien Hong Ward. In normal years it is associated mainly with football and athletics, but the decisive fact for any 2026 visitor is that the stadium is undergoing a major public renovation. Work formally began on 24 March 2026, and the site has functioned as a construction project rather than a normal spectator venue for much of the year. Anyone planning a visit should therefore think of Thong Nhat first as a historic place to understand, not as a stadium where admission or a match can currently be assumed.

The stadium’s roots go back to 1929, when construction began in the former Cho Lon area. It opened in 1931 and was originally known as Renault Stadium. After a major expansion around 1959–1960, it became Cong Hoa Stadium, and in 1975 it took the name Thong Nhat, meaning “Reunification.” Over the decades it became a central venue for football in southern Vietnam and later in the unified national sports system. Before My Dinh National Stadium opened in Hanoi, Thong Nhat also carried a much larger share of high-profile national fixtures.

Its historical importance is tied to the city around it. Thong Nhat sits in a dense urban district rather than in a remote sports park, so generations of supporters have approached it through ordinary city streets, markets and residential blocks. The ground has hosted domestic clubs, major football matches, women’s football and athletics, and for many residents it has been part of the everyday geography of sport in Ho Chi Minh City. That long use also created the maintenance problems that eventually made the 2026 overhaul unavoidable.

By 2024, reporting documented serious deterioration. Parts of the grandstands, functional rooms, toilets, running track and other facilities were in poor condition, and Stand B had already stopped receiving spectators because of safety concerns. The current project is therefore more than a cosmetic repaint. Ho Chi Minh City approved a comprehensive program covering grandstands, the playing surface, athletics infrastructure, technical systems and a new construction component around the stands.

The renovation broke ground with an investment of nearly 320 billion VND and an approved construction period of about 360 days. By June 2026, city project officials said roughly a quarter of the work had been completed. The plan calls for the refurbished A, C and D stands, grass field and athletics track to be ready in time for the National Sports Games in late 2026, while newly built sections, including work around Stand B, continue into early 2027. The full project is expected to finish in the first quarter of 2027, with a planned capacity of 17,750 seats after completion.

This timetable creates an unusual visitor situation. Football teams that would normally use Thong Nhat shifted matches to Go Dau Stadium during the construction phase, so a generic online fixture list or older travel page can be misleading. A future event may return to Thong Nhat before every construction element is finished, especially around the National Sports Games, but that must be confirmed from the specific event organizer. Do not travel to the stadium expecting a tour, open grandstand or match simply because an older listing says it is a home ground.

At present, there is no meaningful general sightseeing ticket or daily tourist opening schedule. The safest description of access is temporary closure for renovation, with event-specific access possible only when officially announced. The exterior location can still be reached, but construction boundaries, traffic control and work zones should be respected. Photography from public streets may be possible, but entering work areas or attempting to reach the pitch is not appropriate.

The stadium’s address remains useful for orientation. It is in central Ho Chi Minh City rather than on the urban fringe, and taxis or ride-hailing services can reach the surrounding streets easily. Exact gate arrangements, drop-off points and pedestrian paths can change while construction continues, so follow temporary signage rather than old gate information. If you are attending a sanctioned event after partial reopening, use the entrance specified on the ticket because the traditional gates may not all operate.

Accessibility cannot be responsibly described in permanent terms while the site is being rebuilt. The project includes modernization of public-use infrastructure, but the final step-free routes, accessible seating, toilets and circulation plan should be checked after reopening. During construction, anyone with mobility needs should avoid making a special trip unless an organized event publishes clear accessibility information.

There is no standard visit duration in the current phase because there is no regular public tour. A brief stop to see the exterior and understand its urban setting may take 20 to 30 minutes, while a future match or sports event will follow its own schedule. Sports-history enthusiasts may still appreciate seeing where the stadium stands, but most travellers should postpone a dedicated visit until the project is substantially complete.

Thong Nhat Stadium is therefore a “ready” place to document but not a ready-made attraction to recommend for immediate entry. Its value in 2026 lies in the combination of nearly a century of sporting history and a major transition now underway. For a future visitor, the renovation may substantially improve comfort and safety. For a visitor today, the essential advice is simpler: confirm reopening and event access before you go.