Football star awarded $39,000 for Vietnam's ASEAN Cup triumph

Duc attended the 2024 ASEAN Cup victory award ceremony organized by Loc Phat Vietnam Bank (LPBank) in Hanoi on Tuesday. The midfielder was personally awarded VND1 billion by the bank's chairman Nguyen Duc Thuy for his major contribution to Vietnam's championship.

Nguyen Hoang Duc (L) receives VND1 billion award from LPBank chairman Nguyen Duc Thuy, March 11, 2025. Photo courtesy of Hoang Duc's Facebook page

Expressing his gratitude, Duc stated that the reward provides additional motivation and strength for him to conquer future challenges.

Duc played all of Vietnam’s eight matches at the 2024 ASEAN Cup, making seven starts and one appearance as a substitute. The 1998-born midfielder consistently played the role of a conductor thanks to his ability to control the tempo of the game and provide many favorable passes to his teammates.

After the ASEAN Cup, Duc continued to display impressive form at Phu Dong Ninh Binh Club in the 2024-2025 National First Division. He scored three goals, helping the team sit comfortably at the top with 33 absolute points after 11 rounds, 9 points ahead of runner-up Binh Phuoc.

Duc won the 2024 Vietnam Silver Ball award, finishing after striker Nguyen Tien Linh, thanks to his consistently solid performances for the national team and Viettel FC last season. This marks the fourth consecutive year he has been in the top three of the Vietnam Golden Ball award. He had previously won the Golden Ball twice (2021, 2023) and the Bronze Ball once (2022).

Duc is among the 26 players called up by coach Kim Sang-sik to the Vietnam national team to prepare for the third qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. He planned to join his teammates in Binh Duong Province on Tuesday.

Kim Sang-sik's team will have a friendly against Cambodia at Binh Duong's Go Dau Stadium on March 19, before facing Laos on March 25.