It's Day #5 at the Olympics and Vietnam still hasn't won any medals. There are only 13 athletes from Vietnam in this year's Summer Olympics. (we know Vietnam doesn't compete at all in the Winter olympics)... and looking at every athletes profiles, it doesn't look like any of them has a chance to medal.

when I compare Vietnam to the other asian countries (China, Japan, Koreas), Vietnam is lacking way behind in competition sports. Those countries are winning alot of medals.
So why isn't Vietnam winning anything? is it because of bad athletic vietnamese genes? or viets don't want to work too hard physically? or can we blame the government for not funding more sports into the citizens? something's wrong.

something wrong.

Yes to all above. Vietnam only ever chance of winning a medal came from that viet badminton player, the martial art field which they have won a medal from before or even gymnastics event.

To share my thoughts on this topic, here is what i think
Frankly, the current athletes are not good enough.Not likely. Considering their ancestors whooped countless world superpower asses countless times, so this notion is laughable.Quite possible, there are quite a few lazy Viets around. However, I have met too many Viets who push themselves to the limit to know this couldn't be the deterniming factor.

I think this is the most sifnificant factor. Take a look at the USA for example. The average New York Yankees player earns about $ 6,186,321 for 2012. For salary like that who wouldn't want to be a super athlete. Something is wrong indeed.

Many things can become a factor like government funding, sporting facilities, world class coaching and medical specialist.

When you look at tien minh nguyen, some of the very young gymnastics girls, the shooters and even martial art. They had all abilities to win but couldn't. If Vietnam wants to do better the government need a lead by example and provide more fundings to the the sporting academy.

I think it's a question of funding, particularly grass roots sports funding. Throwing money at the problem isn't going to deliver results anytime soon. Maybe Vietnam doesn't have that much of a sports culture or identity as yet. Get the kids involved, provide a framework of support for those who have the talent to continue. They need outside expertise to set up an Olympic program as well. I think many promising athletes just drop their training and head into the workforce because there just aren't enough sponsors around. They need to eat and support themselves/their families after all. I'm from Sydney and I was lucky enough to see a Vietnamese athlete win a silver medal when I was 10. I can't believe it's been 12+ years.

"Trần Hiếu Ngân (born June 26, 1974) is a Vietnamese Taekwondo athlete who competed in the Women's 49-57 kg weight class at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and she won the silver medal. It was the only Vietnamese medal during the 2000 Summer Olympics." (Wikipedia). This is what pride feels like.

Yes. Vietnamese are like other SE Asians. Do not feel bad. Nobody in your neighborhood wins much medals. It is just genetics.