Vietnamese football: how a nation fell for the game
If you want to instantly bond with a Vietnamese person, talk about football. It is the country's undisputed number-one sport: national-team matches glue tens of millions to their screens, and after a win whole cities erupt with joy. Here is the story of Vietnamese football — its rise, its heroes and how the country celebrates.
Football — the number-one sport
If you want to win over a Vietnamese right away, talk football. It is the undisputed number-one sport here: national-team games keep tens of millions glued to their screens, and a win gets entire cities on their feet.
When the team wins, Nha Trang and other cities break into 'đi bão' — 'riding the storm': thousands of motorbikes with red flags ride around town until late at night, honking and chanting 'Việt Nam vô địch!' (Vietnam are champions).
The Park Hang-seo era: how a Korean changed everything
Vietnam's modern football boom is tied to the name of Korean coach Park Hang-seo. He took over the national team in 2017 and in six years turned it from a Southeast Asian mid-table side into one of the strongest teams in the region.
Fans nicknamed him 'Papa Park' and almost worship him. After his time in Vietnam he became a genuine national hero — a rare case of a foreign coach loved as one of their own.
The 2018 sensation in the snow
It all began in January 2018: the under-23 team reached the final of the AFC U-23 Championship — the first time ever for the country. The final in Changzhou, China was played in falling snow, and although Vietnam lost 1-2 to Uzbekistan in extra time, the nation fell in love with this team. Nguyen Quang Hai's free kick through the blizzard was dubbed the 'Rainbow in the Snow'.
Trophies: AFF Cup, SEA Games gold, the Asian stage
Then came the trophies. In December 2018 Vietnam won the AFF Championship, beating Malaysia. In 2019 the team took, for the first time in the history of the unified country, the gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games.
And in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup, Vietnam reached the decisive third round of Asian qualification for the first time ever — facing Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Kim Sang-sik and the 2024 ASEAN Cup title
In 2024 the team got another Korean coach — Kim Sang-sik. He led them straight to a new triumph: in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final Vietnam beat Thailand (5-3 on aggregate) to claim a third Southeast Asian title. In the FIFA ranking the team sits around 100th.
Stars of Vietnamese football
The main star is midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, the hero of 2018 and a fan favourite (and, by the way, a Cristiano Ronaldo fan). He even spent time at the French club Pau FC.
Other famous names include striker Nguyen Tien Linh, defender Doan Van Hau and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam (half-Russian, born in Moscow). Their faces are known across the country, and the national-team shirt is worn as fashion.
Women's football: a World Cup debut
Vietnam's women's football is keeping pace. In 2023 the women's team played at a World Cup for the first time in the country's history — in fact the first time any Vietnamese team, men's or women's, reached a World Cup. Captain Huynh Nhu became an icon, and the women regularly win gold at the regional games.
V.League: the domestic championship
Vietnam has its own professional league too — V.League 1. Clubs like Hanoi FC, Viettel and Hoang Anh Gia Lai fill their stands, and tickets are cheap. If you catch a match, it's a loud, colourful experience quite unlike European football.
Where to watch football in Nha Trang
In Nha Trang national-team matches are shown in almost every cafe, bar and restaurant — with big screens and passionate fans. On match days the city lives and breathes football. Ask locals 'where to watch bóng đá?' and they'll happily invite you to join.
Celebration, flowers and congratulations
A national-team win in Vietnam is a celebration for everyone. Fans congratulate one another, give gifts and flowers, and decorate their homes with red flags.
If you'd like to congratulate a Vietnamese friend, partner or loved one — on a team win or just to lift the mood — we'll deliver a fresh bouquet or helium balloons to a hotel or office the same day. Message us on WhatsApp, Telegram or KakaoTalk.
