The UEFA Champions League trophy will visit Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa province) from April 8 to 13 on its second trip to Vietnam so far.  

The biggest prize in club football is going to be accompanied by former Barcelona defender Carles Puyol and Dutch football legend Ruud Gullit, as part of its world tour jointly held by the UEFA and Heineken.

This is the 11th consecutive year the trophy has been brought to fans around the world. Vietnam is one of the three Asian countries given the honour of greeting this prestigious prize.

The Champions League trophy had initially been intended for tours to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City only; however, the organising board then changed the plan deciding to also take it to Nha Trang and Da Nang in response to the sincerity and enthusiasm of Vietnamese football lovers.

The trophy will arrive and stay in Ho Chi Minh City on April 8 before heading to Da Nang on April 9, Nha Trang on April 10 and Hanoi on April 11.

On its first visit to Vietnam in 2014, the trophy, accompanied by former Manchester United FC and Real Madrid CF striker Van Nistelrooy and Robert Pirès, who won the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA EURO 2000 with France, was given a warm and enthusiastic reception in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The UEFA Champions League is the world’s most popular football competition at the club level, with its history of gathering the greatest legends in world football. The final match for the Champions League trophy always remains one of the year’s most anticipated sporting event. This year’s final is scheduled to be held at San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy.

Nhan Dan