Hanoi, 25 September, 2025 – On the morning of September 25, veteran coach Mai Duc Chung was officially conferred the title of Labor Hero during the fourth National Patriotic Emulation Congress of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST), held in Hanoi.
At the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung presented the prestigious award and flowers to the head coach of the Vietnam women’s national football team. This honor represents the highest recognition of contributions to the nation, highlighting Mai Duc Chung’s decades of dedication to Vietnamese football.
Expressing his emotions, the 73-year-old coach said: “Today is a historic day in my life. I never dared to imagine receiving the country’s most honorable recognition for myself. I am truly touched. I am deeply grateful to the Party, the Government, ministries and agencies, the MoCST, the Vietnam Sports Administration, the Vietnam Football Federation, as well as all football fans at home and abroad. Above all, I must thank the Vietnam women’s national team for supporting me throughout this journey.”
He added: “Although my health is not the same as before, I always remind myself to stay positive and give my best. Together with the team, I will strive to achieve even greater success, worthy of this title.”
Mai Duc Chung is widely regarded as a legend of Vietnamese football. He has guided the women’s national team to a record eight SEA Games gold medals (1997, 2003, 2005, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023), the 2019 AFF Women’s Championship, fourth place at the 2014 Asian Games, and fifth place at the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup. Under his leadership, Vietnam made history by qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 for the first time.
Beyond achievements on the pitch, Mai Duc Chung has been praised for his leadership style, humility, and commitment to developing women’s football despite many challenges. He has also been a mentor to generations of players, many of whom credit him for shaping their careers and inspiring belief in Vietnamese women’s football.
Currently, despite announcing plans to gradually step back, Mai Duc Chung continues to devote himself to the game. He has been actively attending matches in the ongoing National Women’s Football Championship 2025 to scout and nurture young talent for the national team. The immediate goal is to prepare a strong squad for the upcoming SEA Games at the end of this year, where Vietnam aims to continue its dominance in regional women’s football.
The conferment of the Labor Hero title is not only a personal milestone for Mai Duc Chung but also a proud moment for Vietnamese football, reflecting the recognition of women’s football as an integral part of the nation’s sporting achievements.
Thanh Tung
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