Vietnam’s national under-23 football team have left Changzhou, China and headed back to their home country after finishing second at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship on Saturday.

The players and coaching staff arrived at the Changzhou airport at 7:00 am on Sunday (Vietnam time) to prepare for their fight to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Vietnam are the runners-up of this year’s AFC U23 Championship following a narrow 1-2 defeat against Uzbekistan in the final game, which began at 3: 00 pm on Saturday.

The players were still happy as they talked and took photos with their fans, as well as signing their T-shirts and soccer balls at the airport.

“All of my players did their best and throughout this tournament they proved that they have great ability. Maybe in the future Vietnamese football will have more success at Asian level,” head coach Park Hang-seo told AFC.

The plane carrying Vietnam U23s is expected to touch down in Hanoi at noon, when an official welcome ceremony commences.

The players get off the bus after arriving at the airport in Changzhou, China on the morning of January 28, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

According to Nguyen Thai Binh, head of the office of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the players will be traveling from the airport to the Government Office on an open top double-deck bus.

The team will be formally welcomed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm the same day, before heading to a five-star hotel near My Dinh Stadium in the capital.

The coaching staff at the airport. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A special gala will be organized at My Dinh, located on Le Duc Tho Street in Nam Tu Lien District, at 8:00 pm, where the players will meet local supporters.

Popular Vietnamese singers including Dam Vinh Hung, Son Tung-MTP, My Dung, Duong Hoang Yen, will perform the event.

VTV6 will be live-streaming the welcome ceremony at 11:45 am and the gala at 7:00 pm.

A press meeting with Coach Park is also scheduled to be convened on Monday evening.

Captain Luong Xuan Truong. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung smiles at the camera. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong (R) signs a ball at the airport in Changzhou. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Head coach Park Hang-seo signs T-shirts for fans at the airport. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!