Pickleball Getaways’ First Vietnam Tour Featuring Ben Johns, Dekel Bar Sells Out

Pickleball Getaways announced its first Asia tour to Vietnam, scheduled for February 24 to March 3, 2026, with co-founders Ben Johns and Dekel Bar listed as principals behind the travel-and-pickleball operator. Pickle News Asia warned that "Pickleball Getaways expects demand for the Vietnam tours to be high and forecasts bookings will be sold out quickly."

The on-court program promises concentrated instruction and play: "Over nine hours of instruction and playing time with professional coaches, along with exhibition matches and skill-based sessions," while competition and practice will take place on eight permanent pickleball courts - four indoor and four outdoor. The itinerary language captured on the PickleGetaways and Pickle Asia pages lists exhibition matches, skill-based sessions, and group play as part of the coaching slate.

Participants will be lodged at the five-star New World Hoiana Beach Resort, with the trip marketed to blend sport and sightseeing. Pickle Asia and the PickleGetaways listing both highlight guided tours "to explore Vietnam’s culture, history, and landscapes" plus "group dinners, evening activities, and opportunities to connect with fellow travelers" as built-in social programming during the Feb 24 to Mar 3 dates.

Dekel Bar is confirmed as a coaching presence on the Vietnam trip. PickleGetaways promotes him with the line, "As a top 10 player in the world, Dekel is an expert competitor and instructor, and he is also one of the co-founders of Pickleball Getaways. Don't miss your opportunity to learn from and play with Dekel yourself!" Pickle News Asia also profiles Bar as "the 32-year-old right-hander" and reports he is "currently no. 11 in Men’s Doubles in the PPA Tour and no. 6 in Mixed Doubles," while PickleGetaways lists Bar's background as "originally from Raanana, Israel," a "former professional tennis player, achieving a top ranking of 580 in men’s singles," and notes credentials including "IFP Certified," "Gold medalist on the PPA and APP tours," and specialties in "kitchen attacks, court positioning, serves, and Ernes." The PickleGetaways page also notes Dekel as co-owner and content creator of Pickleball 360 and lists sponsors Joola and Pickleball Central.

Ben Johns is named on the PickleGetaways page as a co-founder alongside Dekel Bar; the site shows "Hometown: Austin, TX" and an education line reading "Education: Economics and Entrepreneurship, IDC Herzliya" adjacent to his entry in the supplied copy.

Pricing displayed on the PickleGetaways Vietnam listing appears in multiple formats on the page: one line reads "From $2,980.00" while another section shows "$3,680.00 – $5,960.00 Price range: $3,680.00 through $5,960.00." PickleGetaways' promotional pitch for the trip appears verbatim on the product page: "Join us in Vietnam for a pickleball and travel experience unlike any other! Enjoy world-class pickleball instruction on permanent courts, discover the country’s rich culture and history, and relax at 5-star New World Hoiana Beach Resort."

Pickleball Getaways is positioning Vietnam as its first offering in Asia, joining prior destinations such as Antigua; Ixtapa and Mayan Riviera in Mexico; Costa Rica; and Spain. Pickle News Asia also notes that "the earliest bookings are scheduled in October, with Costa Rica as the destination" in its overview of the operator's lineup.

Source materials contain multiple inconsistencies that remain on the record: Pickle News Asia reports PPA Tour standings for Dekel Bar, while PickleGetaways uses broader ranking claims such as "top 10" and "ranked among the top 6 pickleball players in the world"; the PickleGetaways product page displays both a "From $2,980.00" price and a separate $3,680.00 to $5,960.00 price range; and the PickleGetaways listing pairs Ben Johns' hometown of Austin, TX with an education line naming IDC Herzliya. Those discrepancies appear in the supplied sources and are noted alongside the tour details for Feb 24 to Mar 3, 2026 as the company expands into Asia.