Do Hoang Hen's Lucky Spring

The Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 will be the most special one for Do Hoang Hen after 5 years living in Vietnam, because this is the first time the talented Brazilian midfielder will celebrate the New Year as a Vietnamese citizen.

Báo Thanh niên•17/02/2026

From Hendrio to Do Hoang Hen

Do Hoang Hen (birth name Hendrio Araujo da Silva) vividly remembers October 17, 2025, the day he received his Vietnamese citizenship certificate at the Hanoi Department of Justice. Hoang Hen wore a beautiful white ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) and sang the Vietnamese national anthem as he entered a new chapter in his life. The image of Hendrio at 26, a stranger in a foreign land, is now a story of the past. Today, he is Do Hoang Hen.

Mùa xuân may mắn của Đỗ Hoàng Hên- Ảnh 1. — Do Hoang Hen receiving Vietnamese citizenship: a significant turning point in his life.

"For me, it's a dream come true. I'm honored to have the opportunity to repay the love and support I've received since I came to Vietnam. I've felt like this place is my home from the very beginning. After 5 years, I'm still enjoying life and feeling fulfilled every single moment," Hoang Hen shared.

Born in Brazil, Hoang Hen moved to Spain at the age of 10. While playing football in Spain, the handsome midfielder was always curious about Asian football. "How do they play football here? What's their philosophy? I kept wondering," he recalled.

Years ago, Hoang Hen received an offer to leave Spain and try his luck in a new environment. However, aside from a few brief experiences in Portugal and Georgia, he remained hesitant about his career destination. He told himself that if he were to leave Spain, it would be to a place truly worth going, and Vietnam was that place. As if by fate, at the end of 2020, he decided to pack his bags and leave without hesitation or second thoughts.

"I used to wonder why I didn't dare to take risks, why I didn't dare to try my luck in a new horizon. Now, I have a definitive answer in my heart. Yes, I have absolutely no regrets about my courageous decision," he shared. A new journey unfolds, with all the belief and aspirations of the Brazilian boy who chose Vietnam as the place to continue writing his football dream.

From Binh Dinh FC, Nam Dinh FC, and Hanoi FC, Hoang Hen has had an incredibly memorable journey. His class doesn't stop at the two V-League championships in 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 with Nam Dinh FC, along with 28 goals and numerous assists; he also showcases a different level of play. His skillful left foot, sharp vision, and smooth ball control are the hallmarks of one of the most successful and aesthetically pleasing foreign players in V-League history.

Hoang Hen embodies beautiful football, a style of football that operates with genuine intelligence and strategic thinking. And while he was contemplating applying for Vietnamese citizenship, throughout the lengthy application process, he harbored a grand "project": if granted Vietnamese citizenship, he would take the name Do Hoang Hen.

"Hên means luck. I hope my journey will be blessed with good fortune. For me, perhaps the greatest stroke of luck so far is that after 5 years in Vietnam, a very different version of Hoàng Hên has emerged. Both on and off the field, I've improved myself and progressed every day. I play better, I read the game more quickly. I have to be better today than yesterday, and better tomorrow than today – that's my mindset," Hoàng Hên said with a smile.

A burning desire to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey.

After obtaining Vietnamese citizenship and being licensed by the International Football Federation (FIFA), Hoang Hen will be eligible to play for the Vietnamese national team in early 2026. He may be called up by coach Kim Sang-sik to face Malaysia in the final match of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers at the end of March 2026.

Mùa xuân may mắn của Đỗ Hoàng Hên- Ảnh 2. — Life in Vietnam with Hoang Hen is wonderful.

"I've been watching the Vietnamese national team's matches. Coach Kim always demands that his players play with passion and dedication. The Vietnamese national team must be a unified team, emphasizing teamwork, constantly moving, and aiming for victory. The positive results of the Vietnamese national team speak volumes about Coach Kim's capabilities. He understands football and reads the game well. I'm confident that I fit Coach Kim's style and can fully meet his requirements. I like challenges, pressure, and playing in highly competitive matches to improve. I will train hard and wait for my opportunity. If I play against Malaysia, it will be a crucial moment. I have to prepare thoroughly," Hoang Hen said confidently.

Hoang Hen arrived at the right time, as the Vietnamese national team was looking for new ideas and needed a top-class midfielder to lead the attack. The only obstacle is his age, at 32, but he doesn't see this as a challenge, because: "I still feel my body and stamina are good. I still enjoy football every day, giving 100% of my ability on the field in every match. My career is still long. I'm reaching my best form since I started playing, as I think about the game better. The future is unpredictable, but I'm confident and cherish the present moment."

New Year's wish

This isn't Hoàng Hên's first time celebrating Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year) in Vietnam, but the Year of the Horse 2026 is very special for him. He's chosen several traditional Vietnamese ao dai outfits to wear during Tet, to meet friends and colleagues, and to welcome the spring weather. He plans to bring his mother to Vietnam, then take her and his girlfriend sightseeing, enjoying Vietnamese food, and shopping for peach blossoms and kumquats at the market.

At 32, Hoang Hen uses peace to heal. He loves the tranquil atmosphere at the beginning of the year, when he can slow down, reflect on the past, and calmly look towards the future.

"I had a difficult 2025 without playing regularly. But after all, the old year ended beautifully. I returned to playing, scored goals, and obtained Vietnamese citizenship. 2026 will bring me a new beginning. I hope it will be a happy year. My first wish is to win the V-League with Hanoi FC. After that, I want to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey. That's my biggest aspiration. Finally, I wish everyone happiness, and I wish for Vietnam to always be peaceful and prosperous," he shared, under the pale golden sunlight punctuated by the familiar chill that heralded the arrival of Tet (Vietnamese New Year).

Hopefully, after this period of silence, Hoang Hen will return stronger, continue to contribute his passionate style of play, and add another sweet flavor to the Vietnamese football feast.

"Xuan Son and I understand each other very well."

Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper , Hoang Hen expressed his excitement about the opportunity to play alongside Xuan Son in the Vietnamese national team: "On the field, we don't need to speak; we just need to glance at each other to understand what to do. Who makes runs to draw defenders, who passes, or who acts as a wall for the other to shoot – Son and I understand each other very well. From the very first day we wore the same jersey, Son and I spoke the same 'football language' and found harmony. Off the field, we are also close friends. Although we are no longer affiliated with the club, I always follow and wish Son and his family much luck."