A large crowd of fans surrounded the Vietnam U.23 team.
On the evening of January 24th, flight QR984 departing from Qatar brought the Vietnam U23 team home, concluding a resounding three-week success at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, with a historic bronze medal.
Many fans arrived at Noi Bai International Airport early. Despite waiting for over an hour, the supporters remained patient, before erupting in cheers the moment Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team emerged from the gate. Alongside the players' families, a large crowd gathered to meet, congratulate, and express their gratitude to the heroes who had brought the flag of Vietnamese youth football back to life at the U23 Asian Championship.
Team leader Tran Anh Tu was the first member of the Vietnam U23 team to arrive. He, along with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the support staff, ensured the best possible living, training, and accommodation conditions, helping the U23 team maintain stable physical and mental condition throughout their journey, ultimately leading to this remarkable achievement.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Central defender Hieu Minh was pushed in a wheelchair by his teammates. The player, born in 2004, received a bouquet of fresh flowers from his family and fans. Hieu Minh is a key player in the U23 Vietnam defense, having started 15 matches and scored 3 goals. He is considered one of the most promising players, helping U23 Vietnam keep a clean sheet in 9 out of 16 matches played so far.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Xiaoming was warmly welcomed and encouraged by a large number of fans. Spectators hoped the 22-year-old central defender would recover soon and return to the field. Despite being in a wheelchair and having difficulty moving due to pain in his right leg, Xiaoming still smiled brightly in response to the fans' affection. His parents came to the airport to greet their son, their faces filled with worry.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
A beautiful bouquet of flowers for the hero of the Vietnam U.23 team.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Comprehensive examinations including musculoskeletal ultrasound, X-rays, and MRI revealed that Hieu Minh suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee. The VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) will take the player to the Vinmec Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center for a consultation and to agree on a treatment plan. With this type of ACL injury, the typical recovery time is expected to be between 6 and 9 months.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Fans "packed" the international terminal at Noi Bai Airport to witness the U.23 Vietnam heroes "in the flesh".
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Members of the Vietnam U.23 team were warmly welcomed.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Coach Kim Sang-sik and the players enthusiastically reciprocated the fans' heartfelt affection. Coach Kim excitedly clapped to liven up the atmosphere. The South Korean strategist radiated positive energy and love for Vietnam, which has become his second home.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
The entire team returned to the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation), then went home to rest and recover after the long journey.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Dinh Bac received special attention from the fans. The striker, born in 2004, had a tournament of a lifetime with 4 goals and 2 assists, contributing to more than half of the goals scored by the Vietnam U23 team. Dinh Bac became the Vietnamese player with the most goal contributions (6 goals) in the history of the U23 Asian Championship finals. The red card he received in the third-place match cannot erase the great mark Dinh Bac left in Saudi Arabia.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Minh Phúc, Đình Bắc's teammate at Hanoi Police FC, also had a memorable tournament. He shone on the right flank with one goal and one assist, helping the Vietnam U23 team create a dynamic attacking game down the wing.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
The players signed autographs for the fans. These are priceless mementos, helping fans preserve the beautiful memories of the generation of players who brought joy to Vietnamese football on Asia's biggest stage.
PHOTO: TUAN MINH
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hieu-minh-nhan-hoa-tren-xe-lan-u23-viet-nam-duoc-bien-nguoi-chao-don-thay-kim-tran-cam-xuc-18526012419483273.htm
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