Vietnamese in Uzbekistan: Stop all activities, devote all hearts to U23

Just like the 90 million Vietnamese hearts that are filled with joy, the Vietnamese community in Uzbekistan in recent days has been ecstatic over the fairy tale that the U23 Vietnam team is writing in China.

In the center of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the restaurant named "Vietnam" has been filled with stories about football these past few days. The owner, Ms. Luu Thi Coi, a woman in her 40s originally from Hung Yen, said that the Vietnamese community has rarely been as lively as during the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

"All Vietnamese brothers and sisters are very happy with the recent victory. The children competed so well, making everyone here excited, happier than during Tet," Ms. Coi shared over the phone withZing.vn.

The Vietnamese community in Uzbekistan has about 30-40 people. Most of them make a living by trading or farming. Although they are busy with work, they still try to arrange time to watch the U23 Vietnam team compete. Thanks to the satellite TV system, Vietnamese people can watch most of the TV programs broadcast in the country.

Ms. Coi's Vietnamese restaurant is a gathering place for Vietnamese people in the capital city of Tashkent, and is also a place where Vietnamese delegations visiting Uzbekistan often stop by. In recent days, this address has become busier than usual. Even the locals, who prefer boxing to football, linger and enjoy the atmosphere with the Vietnamese community.

"I am very surprised by your passion for football. I never thought that there would come a day when people in Tashkent would take to the streets to celebrate something like in your country," Timur Djumabaev, a customer at a Vietnamese restaurant, expressed his surprise when seeing images of people in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City taking to the streets to celebrate the victory of U23 Vietnam over U23 Qatar.

Having lived in Uzbekistan for many years, it is natural that Vietnamese people also supported the U23 Uzbekistan team in the recent matches at the 2018 U23 Asian Cup.

"My brothers and sisters and I also watch and cheer for the U23 Uzbekistan team. This year, the Uzbekistan team plays well, with many skilled players. But now they (U23 Uzbekistan) meet our team (U23 Vietnam), of course we have to cheer for Vietnam," Le Luan, a young Vietnamese man who grew up in Uzbekistan, toldZing.vn.

Speaking to the Vietnamese Embassy in Tashkent, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Van Phao said that Vietnamese people in Uzbekistan are very passionate about football and always support their home teams. In 2016, when the Vietnamese Futsal team went to Tashkent to participate in the Asian Futsal Championship, the Vietnamese community in Tashkent came together to the stadium to cheer for the team.

"This year's pride is even greater because football is the king of sports. But I think this is not just football, it is the nucleus connecting the embassy and the people, tightening solidarity, together looking towards the homeland", Ambassador Pham Van Phao shared withZing.vn.

The Ambassador said that after the matches of the last semi-finals ended, staff from the Uzbekistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs called our embassy to send their congratulations.

"When I joked with my friend that I was confused about which team to support in the upcoming match, my Uzbek friends said: 'We know your heart supports Vietnam'. The feelings between our country and your friend are very good and strong," Ambassador Pham Van Phao shared.

The final match of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship between U23 Vietnam and U23 Uzbekistan will take place at 1:00 p.m. on January 27, Tashkent time. The Vietnamese Embassy said it has planned to organize a light party, inviting the Vietnamese community and Uzbek friends to watch the match. Many Vietnamese people confirmed withZingwill close the store, put aside work and study to go to the embassy to cheer for the U23 Vietnam team.

"The upcoming match, no matter which team wins, will be a common victory of solidarity and friendship between the people of the two countries," Ambassador Pham Van Phao told.Zing.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Uzbekistan also said that he will contact the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan to support the Vietnamese community with visa procedures in case they wish to go to Changzhou to directly cheer for the Vietnam U23 team.