Do Hoang Hen - class is forever

After months of silence in the stands, Brazilian midfielder Do Hoang Hen returned as proof that true class is never lost.

Hoang Hen scored his first goal for Hanoi FC in his second registered match. Photo: Hanoi Football Club .

And perhaps, Hoang Hen is writing a new chapter for both his career and the naturalization journey of Vietnamese football.

From Hendrio to Do Hoang Hen: a journey of will

Vietnamese football has seen many naturalized players, but few have had a journey as full of twists and turns as Hendrio. Now, with the new name Do Hoang Hen, he has not only changed his nationality, but has been reborn.

Hendrio and Rafaelson were once a storming duo in V.League 2023/24, contributing greatly to Nam Dinh winning the championship for the first time. Rafaelson set a record of scoring 31 goals, but behind him was the master "trigger" - Hendrio, with 10 goals and countless lethal assists. At that time, they were symbols of strength and efficiency.

However, after that peak came the storm. Hendrio left Nam Dinh quietly, but also with many hidden secrets. The Southern team only terminated his contract after the mid-season registration period ended - a move that prevented him from joining any club. The reason, according to insiders, was because the Brazilian player no longer felt suitable for the environment here.

For half a year, Hendrio was just a spectator. For many players, that is a period of silence that can slow down their performance. But for him, it was a time to renew himself - and to become Do Hoang Hen, a true Vietnamese citizen.

Hoang Hen immediately showed his worth when he returned to the field.

When he was registered to play for Hanoi FC from round 7 of V.League 2025/26, Hoang Hen immediately proved that the months of waiting were not in vain. At the age of 31, he still retains his finesse, ability to read the game and the right foot that knows how to "draw" opportunities from any position.

The debut match against Ninh Binh was just a warm-up step to regain the feeling of the ball and integrate into the playing style of coach Harry Kewell. But it was in the second match - against Becamex TP.HCM - that Hoang Hen truly "found himself again".

Not only did he score from the 11m mark to help Hanoi take a 2-1 lead, his mark also lay in his "artistic" handling: from passes that tore through the defense, to a corner kick that forced goalkeeper Minh Toan to punch the ball out - and immediately after that, a precise cross that helped Daniel Passira head in the equalizer.

That is the kind of football that Hanoi has been missing for a long time: creativity, the ability to control the tempo and the passes that “unlock” the opponent’s defense. When Hoang Hen is present in the midfield, Hanoi seems to return to their best version - confident, diverse in attack and knowing how to impose the game.

Game-changer

It is no coincidence that since Hoang Hen entered the field, Hanoi has been statistically superior. Against Ninh Binh, the capital team had 19 shots, twice as many as their opponents. Against Becamex TP.HCM, that number was 16, while the home team had only half. That is not only a graph of attacking power - but also the mark of a midfielder who knows how to create rhythm for the whole team.

With his ability to control, accurate long passes and skillful individual techniques, Hoang Hen makes Hanoi play "softer", more flexible, but also much more dangerous. He does not need to score many goals - just needs to be present, to give his teammates space and inspiration.

For Do Hoang Hen, adversity does not make him falter - it only strengthens him.

In coach Harry Kewell's scheme, Hoang Hen is becoming a strategic piece - a bridge between the defense and the attack, between the physical strength of foreign players and the discipline of Vietnamese players.

What makes fans excited is not only his performance, but also his ability to contribute to the Vietnamese team. Vietnamese football is in the process of rebuilding, and coach Kim Sang-sik needs players who are both classy and understand Asian competition culture.

Hoang Hen has both. He has experience playing in Europe and South America, and understands modern tactical movements. But more importantly, Hoang Hen integrates, speaks Vietnamese, understands his teammates, and respects the new flag and colors.

If he continues to maintain this form, the door to the national team will almost certainly open for him. And then, Vietnamese football will have a new “conductor” - a midfielder who is both creative and effective, something we have lacked for many years.

People often say that true talent is only revealed after going through storms. For Do Hoang Hen, adversity did not make him falter - it only made him stronger. From a forgotten person in the stands, he returned to the field with the demeanor of an experienced person and a desire to contribute.

Hoang Hen is now not only a valuable contract for Hanoi FC. He is also a symbol of the belief that Vietnamese football can make smart use of naturalized resources - not just for strength, but for quality and spirit.

If Hoang Hen continues to play with that form, Hanoi will be stronger - and so will the Vietnamese team. Because true class, no matter how long it is tested, will always shine in the end.

Source: https://znews.vn/do-hoang-hen-dang-cap-van-la-mai-mai-post1597619.html