Tens of thousands of fans join exchange with Vietnam’s U23 team
Around 25,000 fans holding national flags and wearing red colour T-shirts with yellow star flocked to Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM’s district 10 to join an exchange with Vietnam’s U23 team on February 4.
Vietnam’s U23 team laid a floral wreath at the statue of late President Ho Chi Minh in HCM City (Source: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Around 25,000 fansholding national flags and wearing red colour T-shirts with yellow star flockedto Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City’s district 10 to join an exchangewith Vietnam’s U23 team on February 4.
They welcomed head coach Park Hang-seo and hisplayers with excitement, cheers, hand claps when they went around the stadiumto express their gratitude to the fans for endless love and support for theteam during the three-week AFC U-23 Championship.
Park expressed his surprise at the warmestwelcome and love that Vietnamese supporters have reserved for him, othercoaches and the U23 football team, promising that he will double his efforts tobetter train the team.
Amid non-stop cheers, captain Luong Xuan Truongalso extended his thanks to Vietnamese fans for their love, saying that “as theteam captain, I always try my best to connect all players in the team. Aheadeach match in the AFC U-23 Championship, I united the team to ensure our winningdetermination for the national pride and trust of Vietnamese fans.”
During the exchange programme, Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong presented two billion VND (88,000USD) to the U23 team, 100 million VND (4,400 USD) to assistant coach Lu DinhTuan and midfielder Tran Dinh Trong each, and 50 million VND (2,200 USD) togoalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang.
Le Cong Vinh, acting President of the Ho Chi MinhCity Football Club, presented 500 million VND (22,000 USD) to the team.
Vietnam’s U23 team also received 6.8 billion VND (300,000USD) from businesses at the event.
Vietnam came second at the AFC U23 Championshipafter losing 1-2 to Uzbekistan in the final in Changzhou, China, on January 27. Earlier, the team defeated Australia 1-0 in thegroup stage. They won over Iraq in the quarterfinals and Qatar in thesemifinals with penalty shootouts.
With these achievements, Vietnam became the firstSoutheast Asian squad to compete in the AFC U23 final.-VNA
The Asian Football Confederation described Vietnam as “penalty kings” in a recent article reviewing the three-week AFC U-23 Championship in Changzhou, China, in which Vietnam became the first Southeast Asian team to enter the continental tournament’s finals.
Thailand thanks the Vietnamese government for facilitating Thai investors doing business in Vietnam, said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha told Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang who paid him a courtesy visit in Bangkok on January 31.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on February 1 handed over a ball and football shirt with signatures of the all U23 footballers for an auction to raise funds for the poor.
The Hanoi chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) on February 1 held a ceremony to honour 10 outstanding young people of the city in 2017.
New Year 2018 had a better beginning than the same period in 2017, regarding some indicators, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said at the Government meeting for January.
Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai’s goal against Uzbekistan in the final of the AFC U23 Championship was voted the best goal of the tournament by fans on the AFC website.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
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.
Vietnam’s U23 team laid a floral wreath at the statue of late President Ho Chi Minh in HCM City (Source: VNA) 
