Vietnamese Philanthropist Introduces Vietnam To Polo

POSTED ON April 8, 2015 @ 10:00 am

Vietnam’s leading golf entrepreneur Mr. Le Van Kiem has again demonstrated his leadership and vision by introducing the aristocratic game of polo to the country.

Under his auspices, the 2015 Vietnam Charity Polo Cup was staged at a specially created polo field at the award-winning Long Thanh Golf Resort, south of Ho Chi Minh City. The inaugural match was played between the Long Thành Golf Pahang Polo which featured players from the royal Malaysian state of Pahang and the Viet Thai International Thai Polo.

The polo ground was built on a six-hectare site located on the grounds of the golf club which occupies about 1000 hectares of land. The polo field was built in record time at a cost of US$3.9 million. Plans are now underway for the construction of a world-class club house for an investment of US$5.6 million.

Commenting on the investment, Mr. Le said, “We are pleased to introduce the sport of polo to Vietnam and we are confident that this venture will play a major role in promoting the growth of tourism to Vietnam in the years to come.”

As part of the Vietnam Charity Polo Cup more than US$200,000 was raised through an auction and these funds collected will go towards the support of three worthy causes. Part of the funds will go towards the protection of wild elephants aimed at putting a stop to the senseless slaughter of elephants and the illegal trade in ivory.

Another part will be donated to the Vietnam Wildlife Organisation to support the Vietnam Wildlife organization in its drive protect to support the Pangolin Conservation Program in Vietnam. The third beneficiary will be the Business Association of Vietnam War Veterans. Mr. Le personally purchased two items at the auction for US$38,000 and these proceeds went towards the charity. Mr. Le, one of Vietnam’s best known philanthropist has donated more than US$30 million dollars towards various charitable causes.

Present at the event was Queen Elizabeth’s eldest grandson, Prince Peter Phillips, who is himself an ardent polo enthusiast.