Stepping out of a bar in HCMC Englishman Warren Bisset was immediately struck by the rip-roaring celebrations on the streets for Vietnam’s ASEAN Cup victory.
“It seemed as though the entire city had poured into the streets,” the 29-year-old said.
Throngs of people chanting “Vietnam vo dich!” (Vietnam are champions) passed by him at an intersection in Thao Dien, Thu Duc City on Sunday night after the championship’s final match between Vietnam and Thailand, offering high-fives to celebrate their national team’s victory. Amid the revelry, some fans distributed whistles and banners, while others danced joyously hand in hand.
Bisset, who has lived in 15 different countries, is taken by the unique Vietnamese communal celebration.
“It’s truly remarkable how the Vietnamese embrace their pride and eagerly Unlike the solitary celebrations that he notes is the norm back in England, Vietnamese celebrations are communal and exuberant, and feature large gatherings and the use of vehicles.
“Everyone is friendly and joyful, with no signs of extreme behavior,” he added.
In England football victories often lead to heavy drinking and prolonged partying, but the Vietnamese tend to remain sober and their celebrations, while intense, usually end before midnight, he says.
“It was surprising to see friends party all night yet turn up for work the next day completely sober,” he says, adding that he found himself walking 4.5 kilometers home as no motorcycle taxis or cabs were available.
Vietnam scored a 3-2 win over Thailand in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup final, culminating in a 5-3 aggregate win and marking the first time Thailand has ever lost both legs of an ASEAN Cup final.
Vietnam’s unbeaten path to the title featured seven wins and a draw, a feat unmatched in the competition’s 29-year history, as they finished with a record 21 goals and their highest goal difference ever.
Tony Abbey, who moved to Vietnam from England eight years ago, admits he was initially doubtful he would find football passion comparable to that of his home country. But the zealous football culture in Vietnam, especially evident during the 2018 AFC U23 Championship final played in a snowstorm in Changzhou, China, changed his opinion.
“Football is an essential part of life and a source of national pride here,” he reflects.
He has seen people celebrate wins–sometimes even losses–as an expression of their patriotism. He describes with surprise scenes of families, friends and even entire offices sit together to watch games in public spaces, setting up televisions in alleys or large screens at workplaces.
“The Vietnamese habit of congregating to celebrate makes their love for football contagious,” he says.
Despite not regularly following the V. League, Abbey keeps up with the national team’s performances and speaks about the enthusiasm of European tourists who participate eagerly in the local celebrations. When he went to a bar in Thu Duc City on Sunday he found that foreigners made up 70% of the audience, all keenly discussing and analyzing the game.
Richard Harcus, a Scottish football consultant with over a decade of experience in Vietnam, also refers to Vietnam’s deep-rooted football culture. According to him, the Vietnamese love for football and country is palpable in the stadium stands and even more so on the streets of HCMC.
share iHe highlights the recent victories over Thailand as a significant milestone for Vietnam, establishing the nation as a formidable team in the region.
“The team doesn’t rely on just one star player as many might think, but performs cohesively,” he says. “It’s a joy to see [Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen] Quang Hai making a comeback and playing as outstandingly as he did in the past.”
