Hanoi, 1 December 2025 – Head coach Mai Duc Chung has officially confirmed Vietnam’s 20-player squad for SEA Games 33, with the unexpected omission of key midfielder Duong Thi Van due to lingering injuries. The team will depart for Bangkok and then Chonburi on December 1 as they target a historic fifth consecutive SEA Games gold medal.
On the afternoon of December 1, Vietnam women finalised their squad for SEA Games 33, with the biggest surprise being the absence of midfielder Duong Thi Van. The 1994-born midfielder has been a constant presence since SEA Games 30 in 2019 and a vital backbone of the national team across three consecutive SEA Games. She also played a key role during Vietnam’s World Cup 2023 qualification and at numerous other major tournaments.
However, persistent injuries at club level have affected her form for nearly a year. Playing as a central midfielder—a position that demands high physical output and strong duels—while not fully recovered made it difficult for her to perform at her best. After nearly a month of monitoring her condition in training, coach Mai Duc Chung decided not to take the Than Khoang San Vietnam midfielder to Thailand. She will instead return to her club for further treatment and rehabilitation. This is a notable loss for Vietnam, especially as another midfielder from the same club, Nguyen Thi Van, had already been ruled out of SEA Games 33 due to injury. In midfield, Vietnam now rely heavily on experienced names such as Tran Thi Hai Linh and Thai Thi Thao.
Two other players dropped from the final list are young talents Ngan Thi Thanh Hieu and Vu Thi Hoa, who have yet to meet the competitive standards required at SEA Games level.
The final squad chosen by coach Chung features a blend of experience and youth. Familiar faces from the World Cup 2023 campaign—such as goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh, defenders Hoang Thi Loan and Le Thi Diem My, winger Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, striker Pham Hai Yen, and captain Huynh Nhu—will continue to serve as the team’s core. At the same time, a new generation is gradually being ushered in, with players born in 2000 and later such as Tran Thi Duyen, Tran Thi Hai Linh, Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha, and Ngoc Minh Chuyen given more prominent roles.
One special highlight is striker Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang, who at 28 years old will be making her SEA Games debut. Despite competing at the 2018 and 2022 ASIAD tournaments and the 2023 World Cup, she had repeatedly missed the Southeast Asian Games, making this her long-awaited first appearance at the regional stage.
Vietnam have won gold in the past four SEA Games under the guidance of coach Mai Duc Chung, who now aims to lead the team to a historic fifth consecutive title. According to plan, the squad will depart for Bangkok at 8:40 AM on December 1 before moving on to Chonburi, where women’s football matches will take place. Vietnam are drawn into a challenging group featuring Myanmar, the Philippines, and Malaysia. Both Myanmar and the Philippines are considered difficult opponents, with the latter continuing to strengthen through naturalised players.
Coach Mai Duc Chung acknowledged the rising competitiveness within ASEAN women’s football, saying: “Many countries are investing heavily, especially through naturalising athletes, creating real challenges for us. Physically we may be smaller, but our strengths lie in spirit, agility, and skill.”
He added that the recent training camp in Japan, including several friendly matches, has helped the team sharpen their tactics and confidence as they head into SEA Games 33 with the highest ambition.
Vietnam’s journey begins with the clear target of reaching the semifinals and defending their regional crown once again.
VSN collaborator writer
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