Immediately after the national team secured their victory at 1 a.m. on Saturday, waves of supporters from across Hanoi converged on the capital’s central area.
Major streets, including Nguyen Trai and Cau Giay, were transformed into a sea of red and yellow as fans brandished national flags and chanted celebratory slogans.
At 1:30 a.m., the plaza in front of the Hanoi Opera House was densely packed with thousands of fans blowing air horns and brandishing national flags.
While the celebratory mood was reminiscent of the 33rd SEA Games title victory in December 2025, this occasion was notable for the early hours; despite the match concluding well after midnight, the intensity of the crowd's energy remained undiminished.
The Kim Lien underpass became a major bottleneck as streams of jubilant supporters caused prolonged traffic congestion at both ends.
Amidst the sea of red flags and victory chants at the Kim Lien underpass, one couple found their way to commemorate the national team's achievement.
Minh Hieu (R) and Thu Thuy capitalized on the jubilant atmosphere to conduct a special wedding photo shoot, posing for cameras as celebrating fans swirled around them.
Even as the clock struck 2:10 a.m., the fervor in the capital showed no signs of fading, with thousands of supporters still lining the thoroughfares leading to the Kim Lien underpass.
A foreign man was seen waving a Vietnamese flag with the same fervor as the local residents, enthusiastically joining in the victory chants.
Fireworks and red flares punctuated the crisp night air in the capital, where temperatures dipped to a cool 15 degrees Celsius.
The dazzling visual displays merged with the rhythmic, thunderous chorus of “Vietnam champions!”
In Ho Chi Minh City, the jubilant energy was palpable as fans occupied Nguyen Hue pedestrian street well after 1 a.m.
The city's central walking street became a vibrant theater of national pride, with supporters continuously chanting in celebration of the historic victory achieved by coach Kim Sang-sik’s U23 squad.
By nearly 2 a.m., the Ton Duc Thang and Ben Bach Dang riverside areas had become almost impassable as hundreds of supporters converged.
Saturday advancement marks only the second time in history that Vietnam has reached the AFC U23 Asian Cup semifinals, following the 2018 achievement under former coach Park Hang-seo.
The jubilant atmosphere was further energized by fans who brought along loudspeakers, while others used pots and pans to create a thunderous rhythmic backdrop to the cheers.
One of the supporters, Hoang Anh, joined the crowds immediately after the final whistle. He admitted to being "stunned" by the scale of the turnout. Comparing the night to the celebrations following the U23 team’s SEA Games gold last month, he noted that this victory felt more unexpected and carried a deeper emotional weight.
“We’ll probably celebrate until morning,” he said.
Scenes of Vietnam’s victory celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
