As expected, Vietnam defeated the Philippines in four sets in their tournament opener. Head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet fielded his strongest lineup in the first two sets before rotating the squad to give younger players valuable experience and allow key starters to conserve energy for the tougher matches ahead.

Room for improvement

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Vietnam's women's volleyball team celebrate their opening victory over the Philippines at the 2026 SEA V.League. Photo: Vietcontent.

The Philippines put up a determined fight in the opening set and caused the hosts several problems. Their only set victory came in the third, after Nguyen rested a number of Vietnam's leading players.

Although Vietnam secured a 3-1 victory, the performance exposed areas that still require improvement, particularly in serve reception and setting.

At the same time, captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy once again demonstrated her importance, delivering crucial points while continuing to impress with her defensive play.

The coaching staff will be hoping to address those issues before facing Indonesia, a team widely regarded as a more challenging opponent than the Philippines.

A key match in the title race

Indonesia opened their campaign with a 1-3 defeat to Thailand but pushed the defending champions hard for long stretches of the match.

Indonesia are a familiar opponent for Vietnam, and Saturday's contest is expected to play a significant role in determining which teams remain in contention for the opening-leg title.

The match between Vietnam and Indonesia will begin at 7 p.m. on August 1 at Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi.

Dai Nam