At around 11 p.m. on July 7, a pub on Hang Buom Street was packed with hundreds of fans who gathered to dine and watch Argentina-Egypt match in the World Cup round of 16 on a giant screen.
The crowd, made up largely of expatriates and international tourists, trigger a vibrant World Cup atmosphere in the heart of Hanoi's Old Quarter.
A representative of SportivO pub said the venue serves more than 1,000 customers a day during the World Cup season, despite many matches kicking off late at night or in the early hours.
Most patrons were expatriates living in Hanoi and international tourists, who typically arrived in groups to watch and cheer for their teams.
To enhance the viewing experience, the venue has invested in a large high-resolution LED screen and secured broadcasting rights for sports channels showing the tournament.
Fans cheered continuously and chanted their teams' names, creating a vibrant atmosphere from kickoff to the final whistle.
Sabrina, 33, an Argentine living in Dubai, said she arrived in Hanoi a day earlier to spend her vacation and soak up the World Cup atmosphere.
After Argentina's victory, she could barely contain her excitement, saying the match had been an emotional roller coaster.
"I was very nervous but always believed in Argentina. Even though we were trailing, I knew we would win. And in the end, it happened," she said before breaking into joyful cheers and dancing the tango in celebration.
Around 11 p.m., 21-year-old Ethan Regan, carrying an England flag, arrived at a bar on Ta Hien Street to watch the match.
He said he had postponed his flight to Thailand to stay in Hanoi and experience the city's World Cup atmosphere.
"I got to stand and cheer alongside international tourists," Ethan said.
Ethan said football fans in England also watch matches in pubs and bars, but he was surprised to see so many businesses in Hanoi setting up big screens for the World Cup.
"The festive atmosphere spread throughout the streets. People were willing to stay up late or wake up early to watch football and enjoy it together, no matter which team they supported," he said.
Hazem, 36, from Egypt, arrived early at a bar on Ta Hien Street to cheer on his national team. He said he had come to Hanoi in late June and felt fortunate to experience the city's vibrant World Cup atmosphere.
"Football fans in Egypt are just as passionate, but I usually watch matches alone at home. In Vietnam, the excitement and shared love of football made me want to go out and join the crowd," Hazem said.
He stayed up through the night in the Old Quarter to watch the entire Argentina-Egypt match.
Fans are left disappointed that Lionel Messi missed a penalty, his second in the tournament.
The Argentine striker has scored from only four of his eight World Cup penalty attempts.
Egyptian fans erupted in cheers when Zico extended Egypt's lead to 2-0 in the 67th minute.
Following a counter-attack after an Argentina corner kick, Salah and Hassan combined for Zico to finish from close range, beating goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
In a stunning comeback at the World Cup, Argentina stormed back late in their match with Egypt, scoring three goals in just 13 minutes.
Argentinian fans erupted in celebration after their 3-2 comeback victory against Egypt.
Messi finished the match with a goal, an assist and a missed penalty, while Lautaro Martinez contributed two assists in the second-half comeback.
