Coach Kim Sang-sik did not go to China with U.23 Vietnam, 10 players left on the morning of November 10.

At 5:30 a.m. in Hanoi, more than 10 U23 Vietnam players and the coaching staff departed for Noi Bai airport, before departing for China to participate in the Panda Cup 2025 friendly tournament, preparing for the 33rd SEA Games.

Why does U.23 Vietnam have to divide into groups?

The U.23 Vietnam team includes goalkeeper Cao Van Binh; defenders include Vo Anh Quan, central defenders Nguyen Hieu Minh, Dang Tuan Phong, Nguyen Duc Anh, and Nguyen Nhat Minh.

The midfielders include Nguyen Xuan Bac, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Phi Hoang. The strikers, Nguyen Thanh Nhan and Bui Vi Hao are the remaining players who traveled from Hanoi to Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Bui Vi Hao and his U.23 Vietnam teammates

Photo: Hanh An

Young players have an important training trip in China

According to the coaching staff of U.23 Vietnam, the reason why U.23 Vietnam only has 12 players traveling from Hanoi is because some of them have just played in the V-League in Ho Chi Minh City. Not to mention, the players of the Hanoi Police Club, Nam Dinh , Ha Tinh and Hanoi will compete in round 11 tonight. Coach Kim Sang-sik will not be present at the training and friendly match in China, but he will gather with the Vietnam team, preparing for the rematch against Laos in the Asian Cup qualifiers on November 19.

It is known that the group of players including Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Tan, Le Van Thuan, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong, Nguyen Ngoc My, Nguyen Quoc Viet will move from Ho Chi Minh City to China to join the U.23 Vietnam team today.

Meanwhile, right after completing their mission in V-League, players from Hanoi, Hanoi Police or Hong Linh Ha Tinh including: Pham Minh Phuc, Viktor Le, Nguyen Van Truong, Pham Ly Duc, Le Van Ha, Vo Anh Quan and Nguyen Dinh Bac will move to China tomorrow.

In the list of U.23 Vietnam, the most notable is the return of striker Bui Vi Hao since his ankle injury in the training session before the National Cup last season. The striker of Becamex TP.HCM received special treatment and returned 1 month earlier than expected.

According to the match schedule, U.23 Vietnam will face strong teams such as U.23 China (November 12), U.23 Uzbekistan (November 15) and U.23 Korea (November 18).

After returning from China, the U.23 Vietnam team will have a few days off before regrouping for a training session in Vung Tau ward from November 23 to November 29, then moving to Ho Chi Minh City and leaving for Thailand on December 2 to attend the 33rd SEA Games. At that time, the team will also change its name to U.22 Vietnam according to the regulations of the congress. In the group stage, the U.22 team will meet the U.22 Laos team on December 4 and U.22 Malaysia on December 11, 2025, both in Songkhla.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-khong-cung-u23-viet-nam-sang-trung-quoc-10-cau-thu-da-di-chuyen-sang-1011-185251110072417099.htm