Bangkok, 6 December 2025 – As a reporter covering SEA Games 33 in Thailand, it didn’t take long for me to understand one of Bangkok’s most notorious “specialties”: traffic jams. The city’s vibrant rhythm comes with endless lines of cars, honking scooters, and a sense that time moves differently once you step onto the road. And just like us, U22 Vietnam experienced this reality immediately upon arrival.
On their first day in Bangkok, the team faced the harsh truth of the city’s traffic. Their hotel was located less than six kilometers from the training ground—a distance that should have taken no more than fifteen minutes. Yet, as shared by members of U22 Vietnam, the team consistently spent 35 to 40 minutes just to reach training sessions. For them, navigating Bangkok’s traffic became an unexpected part of preparation, a small test of patience and adaptability before even stepping onto the field.
Interestingly, this challenge only appeared during regular training trips. On official match days, the bus carrying coach Kim Sang Sik and his players was escorted by motorcycles arranged by the organizing committee. I witnessed one Thai police officer guiding the team’s vehicle into the stadium; he parked his bike, put down its stand, and greeted us with a friendly “xin chào” in Vietnamese. He later shared, “These days we’re very busy. One of my most important duties is making sure athlete delegations travel safely and smoothly.”
Leaving Bangkok behind and traveling nearly 100 kilometers to Chonburi—where the Vietnamese women’s national team is based—felt like entering a different world. The suffocating congestion of the capital faded into peaceful streets, open spaces, and a calmer pace of life. Here, the team led by coach Mai Duc Chung faced none of the transportation obstacles that U22 Vietnam encountered. Their trips to training grounds and Chonburi Daikin Stadium were smooth, quick, and worry-free.
From Bangkok’s signature traffic jams to Chonburi’s gentle breeze, the contrast captured a unique part of Thailand’s character during SEA Games 33. And for both Vietnamese squads, the journey off the pitch became just as memorable as the battles awaiting them on it.
Thanh Tung
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