The competition opened on June 21 and will run for four days, bringing together participants from Qatar, China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand.
The Asian Schools Debating Championship (ASDC) is one of Asia's most prominent annual debating competitions for secondary school students.
First launched in 2009, the tournament has grown into a major platform for talented young debaters from across the region to develop their skills and compete at an international level.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vu Anh Tuan, founder of the Vietnam Academy of Debate and Public Speaking (VADP) and head of the ASDC 2026 organising committee, highlighted the role of debating in fostering critical thinking, leadership skills and constructive dialogue among young people in an increasingly interconnected world.
He said debating equips students with the ability to analyse complex issues, communicate effectively and engage respectfully with differing viewpoints, skills that are becoming increasingly important in the era of globalisation.
The opening ceremony also welcomed members of the tournament's adjudication team, led by chief adjudicator Banun Sabri.
Deputy chief adjudicators include Asid Mehedi Adi from Bangladesh, Lia Denise Tan from the Philippines, Raymond Kimura from Malaysia and Yang Sim Ming from Australia.
Organisers said the championship aims not only to identify outstanding debaters but also to strengthen educational and cultural exchanges among students from across Asia.