Foreign media praise Vietnam’s triumph in AFF Cup semi-finals
Vietnam’s 2-1 win over the Philippines in the first leg of the ASEAN Federation Football (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 semifinals on December 2 have reached the headlines of the international media.
Scene at the Vietnam - Philippines semifinal fist leg in the first leg of the ASEAN Federation Football (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s2-1 win over the Philippines in the first leg of the ASEAN Federation Football(AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 semifinals on December 2 have reached the headlines ofthe international media.
An article published on theofficial website of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) wrote: “Vietnamcontrolled the pace of the game for much of the half and were heading for thebreak with a 1-0 advantage”.
It said Doan Van Hau's floatedpass was received by striker Anh Duc, who sent a header over goalkeeper MichaelFalkesgaard making the first score for Vietnam in the 12th minute. Patrick Reicheltvolleyed past Dang Van Lam to help the Philippines make it 1-1 at half-time andend Vietnam's record of zero goals conceded in this year's competition.However, the Vietnamese, tournament winners in 2008, were back in front as PhanVan Duc controlled Nguyen Trong Hoang's ball through the Philippines defencefor another score.
Reuters, meanwhile, described thetriumph as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s first defeat as the Philippines’ head coach.Before the match, his team had attained two wins and two draws in thetournament.
According to another article onthe match by Xinhua News Agency, Sven-Goran Eriksson spoke highly of Phan VanDuc, adding that the 22-year-old striker has great potential. He said the Philippineteam will do their best in the return leg.
Vietnam and the Philippines willmeet again at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on December 6. The winners willtake on either Thailand or Malaysia in the final, with the pair playing thesecond leg of their semi-final on December 4 in Bangkok following a 0-0 draw earlierin Kuala Lumpur.
In the tournament’s history,Vietnam won the championship just once in 2008. With the leadership of coachPark Hang-seo and the current squad, both Vietnamese and Korean football fansare hopeful that the S-shaped country’s team will take the trophy for thesecond time after 10 years awaiting.-VNA
Midfielders Quang Hai and Phan Van Duc of the Vietnamese national men’s football team have made a name for themselves amongst their rivals in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup’s “Player of the Round” and “Goal of the Round” polls after the final series of the group stage matches concluded on November 25.
As many as 25,000 online tickets for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup’s second leg semi-final match between Vietnam and the Philippines have been sold out, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said.
Vietnam’s national men’s football team has climbed two spots to find itself on the list of world’s top 100 for this month, according to the latest International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) rankings released on November 29.
Vietnam beat the Philippines 2-1 in the first leg of the ASEAN Federation Football (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 semifinal, which took place at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod of the Philippines on December 2.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Scene at the Vietnam - Philippines semifinal fist leg in the first leg of the ASEAN Federation Football (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 (Photo: VNA) 
