Chonburi, 4 December 2025 – With women’s football in Southeast Asia improving rapidly, Coach Mai Duc Chung believes Vietnam will face significant challenges in defending their crown at SEA Games 33, despite thorough preparation and strong team spirit.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on 4 December in Chonburi, Coach Mai Duc Chung acknowledged that women’s football across Southeast Asia is experiencing major investment and noticeable improvement. This progress makes Vietnam’s mission of defending their SEA Games women’s football title more challenging than ever. Vietnam will open their SEA Games 33 campaign at 18:30 on 5 December against Malaysia in Group B, which also includes strong opponents Myanmar and the Philippines.
According to Coach Chung, the team have undergone six weeks of serious preparation, including high-quality friendly matches in Japan that boosted confidence and enhanced tactical cohesion. He noted that Myanmar and the Philippines remain familiar foes, but the coaching staff have not been able to fully assess the current strength of the Philippines due to the lack of recent encounters. Myanmar, meanwhile, impressed at the 2025 AFF Women’s Championship, and Vietnam have already analysed their match footage closely.
The veteran coach highlighted that the gap in women’s football across the region is narrowing quickly. “All Southeast Asian teams are improving. Even U22 Laos created many difficulties for the Vietnam U22 team yesterday. Investment in women’s football has increased significantly, and with that, the level among teams is becoming more equal,” he explained. Coach Chung warned that Malaysia, in particular, cannot be underestimated, having made rapid progress in recent years. “We respect all opponents and will approach each match step by step, with the ultimate goal of reaching the final,” he added.
Vietnam are chasing their fifth consecutive SEA Games women’s football gold medal. However, the path this year appears steeper. Not only will Vietnam compete on Thai soil—the home of their biggest regional rival—they also face a tough group and a younger squad. Key veterans such as Chuong Thi Kieu and Duong Thi Van miss the tournament due to long-term injuries, while former star Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung has retired. The team’s midfield, once one of Vietnam’s strongest areas, has been reshaped significantly.
Coach Chung acknowledged the dual challenge of competing for gold while also developing a new generation of players. “Our strength has always been unity and spirit. The difficulty now lies in integrating younger players while missing several leaders from past tournaments. Players like Huynh Nhu and Pham Hai Yen are different now compared to six years ago when we played in Chonburi at the 2019 AFF Championship. Some pillars are absent, which is a loss, but we compensate with collective strength. The younger players have improved well, and that’s why they are here at the SEA Games. I hope they continue progressing so Vietnam women’s football will have more depth.”
The head coach also expressed full confidence in captain Huynh Nhu, whom he praised for her professionalism, discipline, and leadership both on and off the pitch. As Vietnam begin their SEA Games 33 journey, the team will rely on the blend of experience, youthful energy, and trademark resilience that has helped them dominate Southeast Asian women’s football in recent years.
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