Vietnam’s women’s volleyball team is gearing up for new milestones in 2025 following a spectacular year of success in 2024. With historic achievements on both national and club levels, the sport is poised for further breakthroughs on the international stage.
A Remarkable 2024
Building on their momentum from 2023, Vietnam’s women’s volleyball continued to shine in 2024. At the national team level, Vietnam successfully defended its title at the AVC Challenge Cup in May, defeating Kazakhstan in the final. This victory marked their growing dominance in the region.
In July, the team made history by securing third place in the FIVB Challenger Cup, a global tournament. The highlight of their campaign was a 3-1 victory over Belgium in the bronze medal match, showcasing their ability to compete with top-tier international teams.
Another major achievement came on August 30, 2024, when the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) confirmed Vietnam’s qualification for the 2025 Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand. Although Vietnam finished fourth in the 2023 Asian Championship, they secured their spot as a continental representative due to host Thailand already qualifying as champions. This marks the first time in history that Vietnam’s women’s volleyball team will compete at a World Championship.
Despite narrowly missing out on victory against regional powerhouse Thailand in the 2024 SEA V.League, Vietnam delivered a commendable performance, losing in a closely contested 2-3 match. This result reflects significant progress, as Vietnam has long struggled to challenge Thailand on the court.
Vietnam’s younger players also made strides in 2024. The U21 women’s team earned a spot in the 2025 U21 World Championship in Indonesia, signaling a bright future for the sport.
At the club level, Ninh Binh Women’s Volleyball Club secured second place in the 2024 Asian Women’s Club Volleyball Championship, earning a berth at the prestigious 2024 Club World Championship. Although they did not win any matches at the global event, their experience competing against top-tier teams, including Imoco Volley from Italy, provided invaluable lessons.
Aspirations for 2025
Following unprecedented successes in 2023 and 2024, Vietnam’s women’s volleyball enters 2025 with ambitious goals. Chief among these is to make an impact at global tournaments such as the U21 World Championship and the Women’s Volleyball World Championship. Another major target is to claim their first-ever gold medal at the SEA Games, a feat that has eluded them for decades.
Historically, Thailand has been an insurmountable challenge for Vietnam, but with a strong core of players reaching their prime and recent achievements boosting their confidence, Vietnam is optimistic about a potential upset on Thai soil at the 33rd SEA Games in late 2025.
Before that, the team will face a historic challenge at the 2025 Women’s Volleyball World Championship in Thailand, set to begin in late August. Vietnam has been drawn into a group with Poland, Germany, and Kenya. While Poland is expected to dominate, Vietnam sees opportunities to compete against Germany and Kenya, especially if they maintain peak performance.
Head coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet expressed his outlook on the upcoming championship:
“According to the draw results, Vietnam is grouped with Poland, Germany, and Kenya. Poland is a world-class team, and Germany is also very strong. However, we view this as a chance for our players to learn and gain valuable experience. We aim to deliver our best in every match, particularly against Kenya, a team we have faced before.”
Focus on Youth Development
Vietnam’s U21 women’s team will also play a pivotal role in 2025, with at least nine matches against the world’s top young talents at the U21 World Championship. These matches will serve as a platform to identify future stars for the national team, ensuring a steady pipeline of talent to sustain Vietnam’s rise in the sport.
The Path Ahead
Women’s volleyball enjoys a significant fanbase in Vietnam, and the national team is now at an unprecedented level in its history. As they aim to build on their progress in 2025, Vietnam’s women’s volleyball team is determined to achieve milestones that will solidify their position among Asia’s elite in the near future.
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