Fans welcome Nguyen Dinh Bac (right) and teammates after winning the U23 Asia 2026 bronze medal at Noi Bai airport on 24/1. *Hoang Giang*.

Cong an Ha Noi (CAHN) Club is actively working to keep young star Nguyen Dinh Bac grounded amidst his surging popularity. Assistant coach Pham Thanh Luong emphasized that the club is not concerned about the significant attention the forward has garnered after his achievements with Vietnam U23.

Dinh Bac's recent success, including a SEA Games 33 gold medal and a U23 Asia 2026 bronze medal, has propelled him to a new level of stardom. Since returning to Vietnam from Saudi Arabia, he has been approached by many brands and followed by numerous fans, whether at airports, events in Ha Noi, or his hometown of Nghe An. This rise in popularity is evident on social media, with his personal Facebook page seeing its followers nearly triple to approximately 570,000 after two tournaments with the U23 team.

His impact was clear during the pivotal V-League 2025-2026 round 12 match between CAHN and Ninh Binh on the evening of 1/2. Despite not starting, Dinh Bac remained a focal point. When he entered in the 76th minute, substituting for Alan Sebastiao—who scored a hat-trick in CAHN's 3-2 victory—Dinh Bac received applause and cheers. Six minutes later, he nearly scored a goal, a close-range tap-in past Dang Van Lam, but it was disallowed due to an offside teammate. After the match, fans lingered at Hang Day stadium, crowding the exit, hoping to meet the U23 forward.

The CAHN coaching staff acknowledges the changes surrounding Dinh Bac, a talented but strong-willed player who faced some controversy during his time with Quang Nam Club. However, they express no major concerns. "We are the closest to Dinh Bac and understand him best," Pham Thanh Luong stated after the Ninh Binh match. "The team always has a plan to help the player maintain balance, enabling him to improve further." The former midfielder, a four-time Vietnamese Golden Ball winner, highlighted Dinh Bac's significant progress since joining CAHN and working with coach Mano Polking. He also noted that the team possesses experienced individuals capable of "protecting the player and guiding him correctly."

Nguyen Dinh Bac during Cong an Ha Noi's 3-2 victory over Ninh Binh in V-League 2025-2026 round 12 at Hang Day stadium in Ha Noi on 1/2. *VPF*.

Dinh Bac himself remains focused, stating he will not let his current fame distract him. "After the U23 Asia finals, I put everything behind me," Dinh Bac affirmed yesterday after the match at Hang Day. "I played in an important match and will dedicate myself to CAHN for the rest of the season." The forward from Nghe An believes he, like every U23 teammate, is fighting for competition in the V-League. He thanked fans for creating a great atmosphere during the tense game.

Despite his U23 national team stardom, Dinh Bac faces intense competition at CAHN from high-quality players in his position, such as Alan Sebastiao and Leonardo Artur. Since joining in 8/2024, he has played 36 matches, totaling 2,458 minutes, averaging approximately 68 minutes per game. He has scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists, with one goal and one assist recorded in the 2025-2026 season.

CAHN's "first leg final" victory against Ninh Binh propelled them to the top of the V-League with 29 points, two points ahead of their rivals and with one game in hand. "It's too early to talk about the championship. We are just focusing on each match," Dinh Bac stated.

Dinh Bac's next match with CAHN is against Singapore's Tampines Rovers in the final group A fixture of the Southeast Asia Club Cup 2025-2026, at home at Hang Day stadium on 4/2. Although the team has already been eliminated, this presents an opportunity for players with less playing time or those needing goals, like Dinh Bac, to prove themselves. This match also serves as a warm-up before CAHN faces the same opponent in the AFC Champions League Two round of 16, on 11/2 (home) and 18/2 (away). Dinh Bac and his teammates will likely celebrate Tet Binh Ngo (Lunar New Year of the Horse) in Singapore.

Hieu Luong