It is likely to be the last time the 33-year-old competes in the tournament, part of the BWF Grand Prix series, which began with qualification today.

He will be hoping to give the supporters something to cheer about one last time before he departs for next month's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The sixth seed has won the Vietnam Open on four occasions - 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012 - and will be confident he can end his love affair with the tournament on a high. 

“Nguyen Tien Minh is 33 years old and it might be his last Vietnam Open,” HCM City Badminton Federation’s deputy president Huynh Ngoc Lien said.

“Minh is not at his peak now. 

"He recently withdrew from the Canada Open and the US Open to maintain perfect strength for the Brazil Olympics. 

"However, he will do his best at the coming Open in his home town."

Around 300 players are expected to participate in the competition over the coming week, with the tournament due to conclude on June 24.

It will offer some of the sport's top names the chance to signal their intentions ahead of Rio 2016, with the Olympic badminton event due to be held from August 11 to 20 at Riocentro Pavilion 4.

World number 32 Hsu Ya Ching is the highest-ranked player in the women's draw and she could face stern competition from Yip Pui Yin of Hong Kong, who is one place below her in the world standings.

Qualification for the main Vietnam Open tournament in men's singles got underway today as Xu Yiming of China overcame Indonesia's Henry Jans Wimbowo in comfortable fashion 21-8, 21-8.

Elsewhere, Yu Igarashi of Japan beat Li-Wei Po of Chinese Taipei 21-9, 21-12.

The main draw begins tomorrow.