Hanoi (VNA) - Both Vietnam and Syria co🌞nsidered their friendly match on May 31 at My Dinh Stadium to be a test for their upcoming tournaments.
Syrian coach Ayman Alhakim brought 21 athletes to Hanoi, including their best forwards, Sanharib Malki Sabah from Turkey, Ahmad Al Douni from Bahrain and Abdul Fattah Al Agha, who comes from Iraq.
Talking to reporters in Hanoi on May 30, Alhakim said the host team, Vietnam, was playing at the same level as his team.
He said experience was an advantage for his team, compared to the young Vietnamese, and perhaps Syria would play better because some of his players were sharpening their skills in other countries, though Vietnam showed great progress recently.
The Vietnam match is one of three friendlies that Syria is playing in to prepare for their World Cup campaign. Therefore, Alhakim said his team would play with their best efforts.
Speaking at the Hanoi press conference, coach Nguyen Huu Thang of Vietnam said Syria were one of the top teams in Asia, and it players had advantages of both physique and good form, compared to Vietnam.
“We can see their power as they enter the last qualification round of the 2018 World Cup. They are a strong team with advanced techniques. So, our game with them will be a good test for us,” noted Thang.
“Coach Ayman Alhakim of Syria respects us a lot, when saying Vietnam is at the same level with his team, but I know who we are and they are better than us in different fields,” said Thang.
The 44-year-old added that he and his assistants reviewed records of Syria’s matches, worked out tactics and hoped his players could block the visitors from scoring.
Further, captain striker Le Cong Vinh said this was his third time playing against Syria and he would try to do his best.
“The game will be useful, so that our team understands our current position. We will find our advantages and disadvantages in a match in which the opponents are very strong,” Vinh said.
“Vietnam first played Syria in the Asian Cup in 2009 when we were with the best-ever team that just won the AFF Cup. However, it was not an easy match before losing to them on home turf and then on away ground.
“This year, Vietnam brought together a number of young players with little experience. We are facing a powerful Middle East squad who rank 110th in the world. It will be more difficult.
“However, I think that if we learn more from this match, it will be better than winning over a worse team but learning nothing,” said Vinh.
While Syria prepares for their World Cup journey in September, Vietnam will focus on their ASEAN Football Federation Cup in November.
The match will be aired live on VTV6 channel at 6pm of May 31.-VNA
Coach Nguyen Huu Thang of Vietnam’s national team selected 24 players on May 18 for the upcoming friendly match with Syria on May 31 and a four-sided tournament in Myanmar June 3-6.
A standout feature this year is “Manga Fest 2025”, showcasing celebrated comic titles and also offering author meet-and-greets, cosplay performances, and other interactive activities.
The programme featured a range of activities, including group practice sessions of the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), Vietnamese–Indian cultural performances, a commemorative flag handover ceremony for clubs, and a beach clean-up to help protect the marine environment.
This year’s tournament has gathered over 300 coaches, athletes, and referees from 18 countries and territories, competing in 28 combat weight categories and eight performance categories. Vietnam’s team has 50 athletes, including six from Thai Nguyen province.
It is the first time that the country is to hold a G1-level tournament which is expected to lure more than 100 athletes of 15 countries and regions at Go Vap Gymnasium.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
Coach Nguyen Huu Thang of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
