A 45-seat coach and more than 1,400 km to Bangkok

Determined to support Vietnam in the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final at Bangkok’s Rajamangala Stadium, Dinh Duc Thang, 44, vice president of the Nam Dinh Supporters’ Association, known as FC Han Thuyen, and 39 fellow members hired a 45-seat coach and set off overland for Thailand.

The group departed Nam Dinh Ward in Ninh Binh Province on the morning of Aug. 20, crossed the border through a checkpoint in Nghe An Province and traveled continuously for 12 hours before reaching Vientiane, the capital of Laos near the Thai border.

From there, they divided into two groups. Twenty members boarded a train bound for Bangkok’s Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, while the others continued by road.

“We chose to combine coach and train travel because many members wanted different experiences along the nearly 3,000-kilometer round trip,” Thang said. “Although this isn’t the first time we’ve traveled abroad to support Vietnam, everyone is still excited. We talked enthusiastically throughout the journey.”

The supporters’ group has been together for decades, Thang said, traveling to numerous tournaments to support both their local club and the Vietnamese national team.

Its members have made several overseas trips to follow Vietnam, particularly to countries where Vietnamese citizens do not need to obtain visas in advance.

Most recently, they traveled together to Laos in November 2025 to support their hometown team in an Asian Cup qualifying match.

“Members of our group have traveled the overland route from Ninh Binh to Thailand many times to support both the Vietnamese national team and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC,” Thang said. “On those trips, we traveled by road.”

The idea of hiring a coach and making the overland journey to Thailand for the ASEAN Cup 2026 final first emerged after the ASEAN Football Federation conducted the tournament’s group-stage draw, he added.

Once Vietnam made it through the semifinals, the group quickly put its plan into action, arranging transportation, tickets, accommodation and places to eat.

“We had only about 10 days to prepare everything before departure,” Thang said. “I personally drew up the entire plan. Everyone then contributed their ideas before we reached a final agreement.”

Having known one another for years made organizing such a journey considerably easier.

“Fortunately, the members have been together for a long time, so we understand one another and are always united in making sure the trip runs as smoothly as possible,” he said. “We all share the same goal: to give Vietnam our support and help inspire them to victory.”

A memorable journey to rally behind Vietnam

The trip lasts five days and four nights, from Aug. 20 to 24.

Depending on individual preferences for accommodation, food and other services, each member is contributing between VND5 million and VND6.5 million ($190-$247).

The overall expenses are divided into two parts. Travel, food and accommodation between Vietnam and Laos cost about VND3 million ($114), with the remainder covering expenses in Thailand.

Those traveling by train are paying an additional VND500,000 ($19) each for a round-trip ticket between Vientiane and Bangkok.

According to Thang, members traveling on a budget of around VND5 million ($190) are opting for modest services, including hotel rooms costing approximately VND400,000 ($15) per person per night and meals of around VND70,000-80,000 ($2.70-$3) per person.

Those contributing closer to VND6.5 million ($247) have greater flexibility in choosing accommodation and dining options in Thailand.

“Many members have already traveled by car on previous supporter trips, so this time they tried to arrange their schedules carefully so they could enjoy some new and meaningful experiences without affecting the group’s overall itinerary,” Thang said.

On the morning of Aug. 22, the two groups traveling by coach and train reunited in Pattaya, the Thai resort city about 165 km from Bangkok.

Thang said the group planned to rest and spend some time sightseeing there before heading to Bangkok in the early afternoon ahead of Vietnam’s match at 8 p.m.

In Bangkok, they booked a hotel about two kilometers from Rajamangala Stadium, making it easier to reach the venue, particularly during rush hour.

Thang secured match tickets through several channels a few days before the game, paying around 500 baht ($15) each. The Vietnamese supporters are expected to sit on the first level of Stand A at Rajamangala Stadium.

Along with their distinctive supporters’ outfits, the group brought banners, Vietnamese national flags and flags of Thep Xanh Nam Dinh FC to the stadium.

“After the first leg of the final, we’ll stay in Bangkok and begin the journey back to Ninh Binh the following morning,” Thang said.

Thao Trinh