Hanoi, 3rd July 2026 – When Nguyen Quang Hai inspired Vietnam to the 2018 ASEAN Championship title and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, he joined an elite group of Southeast Asian football icons.
He became only the second Vietnamese player to win the award after goalkeeper Nguyen Hong Son in 1998. He also matched Thailand star Chanathip Songkrasin as one of the rare players to claim the MVP honor at just 21 years old.
Quang Hai first made his mark with Vietnam’s senior team during the qualifiers for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, featuring in a goalless draw against Jordan before scoring his first international goal in a 2-1 win over Cambodia.
Before that, he had already impressed at youth level. He helped Vietnam reach the semi-finals of the 2016 AFC U-19 Asian Cup before playing a starring role at the 2018 AFC U-23 Asian Cup in China. There, he scored five goals, including the unforgettable free-kick in the snow during the final against Uzbekistan, as Vietnam finished runners-up.
Later that year, Quang Hai carried that momentum into the 2018 ASEAN Championship. He scored in Vietnam’s opening 3-0 win over Laos, then added another goal and an assist in a 3-0 victory over Cambodia as Vietnam advanced through the group stage unbeaten.
In the semi-finals, he scored against the Philippines to help Park Hang Seo’s side reach the final. Against Malaysia, after a 2-2 draw in the first leg at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Quang Hai delivered the decisive assist in Hanoi, setting up Nguyen Anh Duc to score the only goal of the second leg. Vietnam won 3-2 on aggregate to claim their second regional title, ten years after their first triumph.
Quang Hai continued to shine after that success, helping Vietnam reach the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, the country’s best-ever result in the tournament. He later captained Vietnam under Kim Sang Sik as the team won the ASEAN Championship for a third time two years ago.
With the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026 set to take place from July 24 to August 26, the Cong An Ha Noi FC midfielder is once again expected to play a key role as Vietnam begin their title defense.
First launched in 1996, the tournament will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year.
VSN/RPT
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