Brazilian-born striker loves Vietnam's fried bananas

Son reportedly visits the stall almost every week, except when he's away with the national team.

Vu Dat, the owner of the stall at the intersection of Nguyen Du Street, said Son has been his regular customer for the past year.

The Nam Dinh FC player usually stops by between 4 and 5 p.m.

Dat once shared a photo of Son riding on his motorbike to buy fried banana cakes on social media, which quickly gained attention, especially after the Vietnamese team advanced to the final of the 2024 ASEAN Cup.

When Dat raised his phone to take a picture, Son smiled and joked, "I won't go on Facebook anymore."

"He’s always cheerful and speaks Vietnamese quite fluently," Dat said.

Nguyen Xuan Son carries his wife and children on a motorbike to buy fried banana cakes in Nam Dinh Province. Photo by Dat Vu

Son, born Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes, made history as the first player to score more than 30 goals in a V. League season. He became a Vietnamese citizen in September, adopting the Vietnamese name as part of his naturalization process.

He made a debut for the Vietnam's national team in the group stage of the ongoing ASEAN Cup, scoring a brace and making two assists in their 5-0 victory over Myanmar on Dec. 21.

Vietnam will play Thailand in the first leg of the finals on Thursday and the second leg on Sunday.

Dat opened his banana cake stall in 2021, inspired by an acquaintance in Ho Chi Minh City. His stall operates from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., offering fried bananas, sweet potato cakes, and fried coconut cakes, all priced at VND10,000 (US$0.39) each.

According to Dat, the flavor of his banana cakes appeals to many foreign customers. He primarily uses goong bananas, known for their thin skin, golden interior, fragrant aroma, and natural sweetness.

Dat expressed his hope that Son would continue scoring in the finals to help Vietnam win the 2024 ASEAN Cup.