Bangkok, 10 December 2025 – Nguyen Thi Huong and Diep Thi Huong claimed Vietnam’s first gold medal of SEA Games 33 in the women’s C2 500m canoeing final — a victory rich in symbolism, perseverance, and perfect timing for Vietnamese rowing.
Vietnam celebrated its first gold medal at SEA Games 33 on the afternoon of 10 December, thanks to an outstanding performance from the duo Nguyen Thi Huong and Diep Thi Huong in the women’s C2 500m canoeing event. Their powerful, composed finish outpaced a field of strong regional rivals, marking a meaningful opening triumph for the Vietnamese delegation in Bangkok.
For Nguyen Thi Huong, the victory was the culmination of an extraordinary comeback. Once regarded as Vietnam’s most talented canoe sprinter — and the winner of five gold medals at SEA Games 31 — she unexpectedly halted training at the end of 2024 due to personal issues with her former unit in Vinh Phuc. Concerns grew that she might step away from the sport entirely.
Instead, Huong chose resilience. She continued training under the Vietnam Canoeing Federation and returned to the national team setup. From 3 February 2025, she rejoined centralized training in Hai Phong, beginning a new chapter with renewed focus and stability. With the support of her new unit, she set clear goals: defend her SEA Games C1 200m title and conquer the C2 500m event alongside her new partner.
Huong’s status in Vietnamese sports is remarkable. She is the first Vietnamese canoeist to earn a direct qualification spot for the Olympic Games, one of the top gold medalists at SEA Games 31, and the 2024 Asian Championships silver medallist. She also received the “Outstanding Young Athlete in Sports” award at the VTV Awards – VTV Impressions 2024 ceremony, as well as the “Young Athlete of the Year” title at the 2024 Victory Cup.
Her partner, Diep Thi Huong, entered SEA Games 33 in peak form. In April 2024, she stunned the Asian canoeing scene by winning C1 500m gold at the Asian Championships in Japan, defeating her Kazakh opponent by an impressive eight-second margin. That breakthrough fortified her confidence and provided the foundation for a strong, cohesive partnership with Nguyen Thi Huong in the C2 discipline.
Together, the “two Huongs” delivered a composed and synchronised performance in the SEA Games 33 final, powering through the 500m course with strength and precision. Their victory symbolises not only personal resilience but also the rising competitiveness of Vietnamese canoeing on the continental stage.
For the national team, the first gold medal arrives as a timely morale boost. It validates months of preparation and instantly eases the psychological pressure heading into the remaining events of the Games. Head coach Luu Van Hoan expressed both pride and optimism: “We still have many events ahead, especially the women’s C2 200m. This is a tough event because Thailand and Indonesia are very strong, but today’s gold medal helps the whole team relax and gain confidence.”
For Nguyen Thi Huong, it marks a powerful return after a turbulent year. For Diep Thi Huong, it reinforces her growing reputation as one of Asia’s top canoeists. And for Vietnamese sports, it is the perfect beginning — a golden spark igniting the nation’s SEA Games 33 campaign.
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