In Yen Trung commune, the hometown of national football player Nguyen Dinh Bac, nearly 1,000 residents flooded the streets surrounding Chua Hen stadium. After the final whistle, the area was a sea of red and yellow star flags, alive with car horns and celebratory songs.

The festivities were meticulously planned. Nguyen Dinh Hien, a cultural official for Yen Trung commune and a relative of Dinh Bac, spearheaded efforts to organize a live screening of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final's second leg at Chua Hen stadium. Dinh Bac's family, friends, and neighbors contributed both time and funds, ranging from hundreds of thousands to over one million dong, to secure a 15 square meter screen and arrange seating. From early evening, locals and those from nearby areas arrived, carrying national flags, red shirts, horns, and drums.

Following the match, any initial disappointment over Dinh Bac not scoring quickly transformed into immense joy as the Vietnam team successfully defended their championship. The community's excitement grew further with the announcement that their hometown hero had been named the best player of the ASEAN Cup 2026. "Even at midnight, everyone is still out celebrating. It's truly a moment of great happiness," Hien remarked.

Meanwhile, in Pham Xuan Manh's hometown, Yen Thong hamlet, Van Du commune, the player's family hosted a grand viewing party. They prepared more than 10 trays of food for relatives and neighbors. A large tent and screen were erected in the yard, with children seated on mats in front and adults on chairs behind. The crowd steadily grew as kick-off approached.

Each time Vietnam scored, the area in front of Xuan Manh's house erupted. Spectators waved national flags and images of President Ho Chi Minh, their cheers filling the air.

Player Xuan Manh's relatives cheer for the national team in his hometown. Photo: Thunghia Pham

As the final whistle blew, countless people poured onto the streets, filling the village with the joyous sounds of car horns, shouts, and victory songs. Pham Thu Nghia, Xuan Manh's sister, observed, "While the crowd wasn't as large as at My Dinh National Stadium, the atmosphere and excitement here were just as intense."

The celebration followed Vietnam's 2-2 draw with Thailand in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final on August 26. This result secured a 4-2 aggregate victory for Vietnam, allowing them to successfully defend their championship title.

Pham Nga