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Despite a heart-breaking last-minute defeat to Uzbekistan in the final of the AFC U23 Championship on Saturday, the Vietnamese team has returned home to a jubilant reception.
Hailed as national heroes, South Korean coach Park Hang-seo's team made history at the tournament with thrilling victories over regional powerhouses Australia, Iraq and Qatar.
It was the first time a Vietnamese national team has made it to the final of a continental championship, attracting attention from global football fans.
Thousands of supporters flocked to the streets from Noi Bai Airport to the city center to greet the team bus.
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Vietnam's U23 football team arrives at Noi Bai International Airport. Pictured here are coach Park Hang-seo who comes out first and captain Luong Xuan Truong in blue shirt. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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Coach Park Hang-seo waves as he descends from the plane at Noi Bai International Airport. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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Vietnam's best goal scorer at the AFC U23 Championship Nguyen Quang Hai said he coldn't believe the team would receive such a warm welcome. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong |
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Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung struggles to go past a sea of supporters trying to get a picture of him at Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong |
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An overhead view of Noi Bải Airport where the U23 football team are welcomed home after an incredible journey. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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The bus carrying the national U23 football team is welcomed by a sea of red in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Du |
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Vietnam's U23 football players greet euphoric fans in Hanoi. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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Fans are over the moon upon seeing their national heroes. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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Family of Nguyen Thi Cuc, 95, have been waiting by the Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi since 11:30 a.m. to welcome the U23 football team. Photo by VnExpress/Duong Tam |
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Huge crowds line up the streets of Hanoi where the bus carrying Vietnam's U23 football team is set to pass. Photo by VnExpress |
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The U23 football team's fans range from babies to seniors. Photo by VnExpress |
The team then proceeded to the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at 6:30 p.m. to pay their respects to Vietnam's revolutionary leader. Half an hour later, they made it to the office of the Government where they received accolades from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien and other high profile leaders.
"I had to wait here for over five hours," PM Phuc told the team. "Never has a prime minister had to wait for so long for anybody but I had never felt so happy waiting as I share the joy with the entire nation."
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PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) shakes hands with coach Park Hang-seo (R) at the office of the Government. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy |
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The Vietnam U23 football team poses for a photo with, second row, left to right, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam, U23 team captain Luong Xuan Truong, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, coach Park Hang-seo and head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy |
Previously, the PM personally called to congratulate the entire U23 team on their semifinal victory against Qatar, and after the victories against Iraq and Australia.
Before the final against Uzbekistan, Vietnam's President Tran Dai Quang signed a decision to grant the first class Labor Order to the entire U23 team, and third class Labor Orders to goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung and midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai for their excellent contributions at the 2018 U23 Asian Cup Championship in China.
South Korean coach Park Hang-seo was also awarded a third class Labor Order.
At 9 p.m., the team arrived for a home-coming celebration at the My Dinh National Stadium, where all 40,000 seats had already been filled and thousands more fans were still trying to get in.
"We haven't had any proper meal since morning but we're not hungry because everyone has been celebrating by our side. This is the most memorable moment of my life," the team's captain Luong Xuan Truong said.
"Bringing these emotions to our supporters is the luckiest thing we've ever managed to do. I hope our supporters would always be by our side so the team could give them even more, bigger presents."
Vietnam's Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang and Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan also sent flowers to the event to congratulate the team for their achievements in the U23 Asian Cup.
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The Vietnam U23 team walks around the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi greeting the fans. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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The smile on a supporter's face upon seeing the team. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
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Defender Vu Van Thanh (L) makes a hand heart for the team's supporters. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh |
