Bangkok, 20 August 2026 – Vietnam arrived in Bangkok on the afternoon of August 20 as preparations officially began for the first leg of the ASEAN Championship 2026 final against Thailand.
With the squad facing a quick turnaround following their semifinal victory over Malaysia, head coach Kim Sang-sik and his staff will prioritize physical recovery before Vietnam hold their only training session at Rajamangala Stadium.
The national team departed Hanoi at 12:45 p.m. on August 20 and landed at Suvarnabhumi International Airport following a smooth flight to the Thai capital. With the airport particularly busy upon their arrival, the Vietnamese delegation needed almost an hour to complete immigration procedures.
Preparations for the trip had already begun before the team’s departure. Delegation official Doan Anh Tuan and members of the logistics staff traveled to Thailand in advance to arrange accommodation, meals and other essential requirements.
The advance planning is intended to provide Kim and his players with the best possible conditions during their stay in Bangkok, particularly given the limited recovery time available before the final.
Vietnam arrived in Thailand in high spirits after comfortably overcoming Malaysia in the semifinals. A pair of 2-0 victories gave the defending champions a commanding 4-0 aggregate win, securing another appearance in the regional final.
While the mood within the squad remains positive, attention has already shifted toward the next and most important objective: successfully defending the ASEAN Championship title.
Recovery will be particularly important after Vietnam played the semifinal second leg against Malaysia on the evening of August 19 before traveling to Thailand less than 24 hours later.
As a result, the coaching staff decided against holding an intensive training session immediately after arriving in Bangkok. Once the team settled into their accommodation, the players were given time to rest, recover and restore their energy following the demanding schedule.
Vietnam will have only one opportunity to train at the venue before facing Thailand. The squad are scheduled to hold their official training session at Rajamangala Stadium on the afternoon of August 21, which will also serve as their final workout before the opening leg.
The short preparation period means Kim and his coaching staff will need to carefully balance tactical work with player recovery as Vietnam prepare to face their biggest regional rivals.
The ASEAN Championship 2026 final first leg between Thailand and Vietnam will kick off at 20:00 on August 22 at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
The two sides will then meet again four days later, with the second leg scheduled for 20:00 on August 26 at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, where the 2026 Southeast Asian champions will be crowned.
VSN/RPT
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