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PM welcomes Vietnamese football teams home after triumph at SEA Games

PM welcomes Vietnamese football teams home after triumph at SEA Games

Thursday, December 12, 2019, 16:00 GMT+7
PM welcomes Vietnamese football teams home after triumph at SEA Games
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) honors coach Park Hang Seo (third left) of Vietnam’s under-22 men's football team, head coach Mai Duc Chung (3rd right) of the national women's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a welcome party, as well as an intimate meeting, for both the Vietnamese men’s and women’s football teams upon their return to the country on Wednesday evening after each struck gold at the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.

The under-22 men’s football team won their first-ever gold medal in SEA Games in 60 years after a 3-0 thrashing of Indonesia on Tuesday evening while the national women’s football squad defeated Thailand 1-0 in a 120-minute finale on Sunday night to clinch their sixth SEA Games gold medal.

The men’s football finale was also among the very last competitions at the Games, just one day before the closing ceremony was held at the New Clark City Athletics Stadium in the Filipino province of Tarlac, around 135 kilometers from Manila, on Wednesday evening.

Following Tuesday’s victory, PM Phuc invited both teams, their coaching staff, and leaders of relevant ministries and agencies to attend a congratulatory meeting and intimate party at the Government Office.

The prime minister was not the only one to offer a warm reception for Vietnam’s football champions. 

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Hoang Thanh Tung / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Hoang Thanh Tung / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Chi Tue / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Hoang Thanh Tung / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Hoang Thanh Tung / Tuoi Tre

As the football squads emerged from the airdrome, thousands of fans welcomed them with a storm of cheers and a sea of waving hands.

At the Government Office, the PM hailed each athlete’s courage and spirit, as well as their strong will and dedication to competition.

Earlier on Wednesday, National Assembly Chairwoman, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is currently on an official visit to Russia, sent a letter to the men’s and women’s football teams, as well as the rest of the Vietnamese sporting delegation to the Philippines, congratulating them for their achievements at the Games.

"I am very touched and proud that, though I am on an official visit to Russia, I get to hear the news that the men's football team has won the SEA Games gold medal. This is a historic moment for Vietnamese football since Vietnamese sports only became integrated with regional sports 30 years ago,” Ngan wrote in her letter.

"This result is very exciting for Vietnamese fans," she said while also congratulating all members of the Vietnamese sports delegation, especially the coaches and athletes who contributed their efforts to Vietnam’s extremely successful SEA Games campaign.

The 30th SEA Games are considered the most successful edition for Team Vietnam, as they claimed 98 gold, 85 silver, and 105 bronze medals, ranking second behind the host and outdoing third-placed Team Thailand.

At the closing ceremony, Minister Thien received a flag as a formality to take over the hosting of the Southeast Asian Games from the Philippines.

Hanoi will host the 31st Games in 2021.

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

The Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams arrive at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Nam Khanh / Tuoi Tre

Fans welcome the Vietnamese U22 men’s football and the national women's football teams home in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Hoang Thanh Tung / Tuoi Tre

Fans welcome the Vietnamese under-22 men’s football and the national women's football teams home in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Hoang Thanh Tung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the national women's football head coach Mai Duc Chung give each other a hug at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and the national women's football head coach Mai Duc Chung give each other a hug at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the U22 men's football head coach Park Hang Seo give each other a hug at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and the under-22 men's football head coach Park Hang Seo give each other a hug at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's U22 men's football head coach Park Hang Seo speaks at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's under-22 men's football head coach Park Hang Seo speaks at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the U22 men's football team member Trong Hoang shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the under-22 men's football team member Nguyen Trong Hoang shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the U22 men's football team member Tan Sinh shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the under-22 men's football team member Huynh Tan Sinh shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the U22 men's football team member Hoang Duc shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the under-22 men's football team member Nguyen Hoang Duc shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the U22 men's football team member Duc Chinh shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the under-22 men's football team member Ha Duc Chinh shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the U22 men's football team captain Hung Dung shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the under-22 men's football team captain Hung Dung shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the national women's football team member Nguyen Bich Thuy shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) and the national women's football team member Nguyen Bich Thuy shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the national women's football team member Hoang Thi Loan shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi on December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and the national women's football team member Hoang Thi Loan shake hands at the Government Office in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) honors coach Park Hang Seo (2nd left) of Vietnam’s U22 men's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) honors coach Park Hang Seo (2nd left) of Vietnam’s under-22 men's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) honors head coach Mai Duc Chung (2nd left) of the national women's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) honors head coach Mai Duc Chung (2nd left) of the national women's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) is seen with the national women's football team at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) is seen with the national women's football team at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) honors coach Park Hang Seo (third left) of Vietnam’s U22 men's football team, head coach Mai Duc Chung (3rd right) of the national women's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) honors coach Park Hang Seo (3rd left) of Vietnam’s under-22 men's football team, head coach Mai Duc Chung (3rd right) of the national women's football team and the players at a reception in Hanoi, December 11, 2019. Photo: Viet Dung / Tuoi Tre

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