Vung Tau, 24 November 2025 – U22 Vietnam held their first training session in Ba Ria on November 24 as preparations for SEA Games 33 begin. Striker Bui Vi Hao expressed his joy to return after eight months out through injury, while affirming his determination to regain top form and fight for a place in the final squad.
U22 Vietnam conducted their first training session in Ba Ria on November 24 as the team officially began their preparation phase for SEA Games 33. Before the session, striker Bui Vi Hao – winner of the Best Young Player award at the 2024 Vietnam Golden Ball – shared his emotions with the media as he returned to national duties after a long injury layoff. The 21-year-old suffered a serious injury while playing for Becamex Binh Duong in the V.League 1 2024-2025 season, forcing him to miss nearly eight months of action. His timely recovery ahead of the U23 Vietnam training camp for the Panda Cup 2025 was a positive sign that allowed him to reunite with the squad in November.
Speaking about his comeback, Vi Hao said he felt extremely happy to rejoin U22 Vietnam after such a long absence, but acknowledged that he still needs to work harder to regain his best form. The young striker admitted that the long injury period has left lingering effects, requiring more time and effort to return to his peak condition. With two previous SEA Games campaigns ending in disappointment as he missed out on the final roster, Vi Hao hopes that this year will finally bring him his first opportunity to compete at the regional multi-sport event. He emphasised that he will not set unrealistic expectations for himself but will give everything to convince the coaching staff.
An interesting coincidence lies in the fact that both Vi Hao and naturalised striker Xuan Son made their official returns to the national teams at roughly the same time. While Xuan Son marked his comeback after nearly 10 months by scoring for the senior national team against Laos, Vi Hao was given minutes by interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh at the Panda Cup to rebuild confidence and regain his rhythm. The striker shared that he felt relatively confident thanks to previous training sessions and internal practice matches with his club before joining the national team.
Reflecting on the Panda Cup performance, Vi Hao praised the collective spirit and determination of the squad but admitted that U22 Vietnam still have weaknesses to address. He stressed that the current training period is crucial for refining the team’s playing style and building stronger cohesion before travelling to Thailand for SEA Games 33. With intense competition for places and limited time left, Vi Hao is determined to seize every opportunity to prove himself and contribute to Vietnam’s ambition of reclaiming the regional crown.
Tung Quan
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