New options

A wave of young Vietnamese-origin players has returned to play in Vietnam, promising fresh energy for the national setup. Among them are Chung Nguyen Do, Brando Ly, and Vadim Nguyen – all young talents considered potential options for U23 Vietnam and even the senior national team.

Trained in professional football environments abroad, they bring valuable qualities such as modern tactical thinking, excellent physical fitness, and strong discipline. It is certain that Coach Kim Sang Sik will consider them for upcoming tournaments, including the AFC U23 qualifiers and the SEA Games later this year.

But will it be easy?

Turning potential into success is a long journey. The case of Viktor Le at the recent ASEAN U23 Championship is telling – despite high expectations, he delivered a muted performance and failed to make a strong impact.

Even seasoned players like Van Lam and Nguyen Filip struggled to adapt when they first returned to Vietnam. While individual skills are important, integrating into the team’s playing style and adjusting to the environment is a major challenge.

The latest example is Chung Nguyen Do. Although technically skilled with sharp tactical vision, he has yet to adapt while playing for Ninh Binh. Similarly, recent call-ups such as Bui Alex and Andrej An Khanh could not remain in the squad due to large differences in football philosophy, language, and daily routines compared to Vietnamese football culture.

These examples underline that breaking into the U23 Vietnam squad requires more than the “overseas Vietnamese” label or foreign training. Players must prove themselves superior to domestic peers in both playing time and performance.

The door is always open, but to step through, talents like Viktor Le, Chung Nguyen Do, Brando Ly, and Vadim Nguyen need more than technical ability – they must show patience, adapt culturally and tactically, and convince both the coach and fans of their value.

Duy Nguyen