Talented Vietnamese footballers born in the Year of the Ox.
Vietnamese football currently boasts many talented players born in 1997, who made a name for themselves at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and the 2019 SEA Games.
Bui Tien Dung
Bui Tien DungBorn on February 28, 1997, Bui Tien Dung was a hero for the Vietnam U23 team at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship. He consistently made spectacular saves, including four successful penalty saves, contributing significantly to Coach Park Hang-seo's team winning the runner-up title, only losing 1-2 to Uzbekistan in the final. However, the goalkeeper from Thanh Hoa province subsequently failed to maintain his form and lost his place in the national team at various levels. At the 2019 SEA Games, Bui Tien Dung mainly played a reserve role for his younger teammate Van Toan. Currently, he has yet to play a match for Ho Chi Minh City FC after the first two rounds of the 2021 V-League.
Nguyen Quang Hai
Quang Hai,Born on April 12, 1997, he is currently the brightest talent in Vietnamese football. He has left his mark in almost all of the successful tournaments of the Vietnamese national teams under coach Park, such as winning the runner-up title at the U23 Asian Championship, fourth place at the Asian Games, winning the 2018 AFF Cup, reaching the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, and winning the gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games. The midfielder from Dong Anh is also a key player for Hanoi FC, winning the V-League championship for two consecutive seasons in 2018 and 2019. He has won the Vietnamese Golden Ball in 2018, the Vietnamese Silver Ball in 2019, and the Vietnamese Bronze Ball in 2017.
Ha Duc Chinh
Ha Duc Chinh was born on September 22, 1997, in Phu Tho province. He has also participated in most of Vietnam's successful football tournaments, such as reaching the finals of the 2017 U20 World Cup, winning the runner-up title at the U23 Asian Championship, winning the 2018 AFF Cup, and winning the gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games. Duc Chinh is one of the two strikers most trusted by coach Park Hang-seo in the Vietnamese national team, alongside Tien Linh. He also regularly starts for Da Nang FC in the V-League.
Nguyen Tien Linh
Tien Linh was born on October 20, 1997, and currently plays for Binh Duong FC. The striker from Hai Duong province has participated in the 2017 U20 World Cup, won the 2018 AFF Cup, and won a gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games. One of Tien Linh's biggest regrets is missing the 2018 U23 Asian Championship finals due to injury; the tournament saw Vietnam's U23 team finish as runners-up. Currently, Tien Linh is Coach Park Hang-seo's first-choice center forward for the Vietnamese national team after veteran Anh Duc retired.
Tran Dinh Trong
Dinh Trong was born on April 25, 1997, in Gia Lam, Hanoi. He is considered one of the best central defenders in Vietnamese football today. Dinh Trong was a member of the Vietnam U23 team that won the runner-up title at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and the 2018 AFF Cup. However, in the last two years, his career has been seriously affected by injuries. Dinh Trong has now recovered, and fans are hoping he will regain his form in important matches for his club and the national team in 2021.
Nguyen Thanh Chung
Thành Chung was born on September 8, 1997, in Tuyên Quang province. He was part of the Vietnam U23 team that won the runner-up title at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, the 2018 AFF Cup, and the gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games. In the past season, Thành Chung regularly started for Hanoi FC due to injuries to Duy Mạnh and Đình Trọng. The center-back, usually wearing number 18, not only defended well but also frequently scored goals for the capital city team.
Ho Tan Tai
Ho Tan Tai was born on November 6, 1997, in Binh Dinh province. He is emerging as one of the best right-backs in Vietnam today. He participated in the 2017 U20 World Cup finals and won the gold medal with the Vietnam U22 team at the 2019 SEA Games. Not only is he a good defender, Tan Tai is also very dangerous when pushing forward in attack. In the 2020 V-League season, he scored three goals and provided three assists for Binh Duong. This season, Tan Tai returned to play for his hometown team, Binh Dinh.
Nguyen Trong Dai
Trong Dai was born on April 7, 1997, in Hai Duong province. He was once considered one of the most promising young talents of the Vietnamese U19 team that reached the semi-finals of the 2016 Asian U19 Championship. However, his form declined since the 2017 U20 World Cup and he gradually "disappeared" from the national teams at all levels under coach Park Hang-seo. Trong Dai is now striving to rediscover himself playing for Viettel FC. He has regularly featured under coach Truong Viet Hoang since the second half of the 2020 V-League season and the beginning of the 2021 season.
Truong Van Thai Quy
Truong Van Thai Quy was born on August 22, 1997, in Quang Tri province. He was part of the Vietnam U23 team that won the runner-up title at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and also won the gold medal with the Vietnam U22 team at the 2019 SEA Games. Thai Quy hasn't secured a starting position at Hanoi FC, but coach Chu Dinh Nghiem frequently brings him on as a substitute to create attacking opportunities. However, he hasn't played a single match for Hanoi FC this season due to injury.
Tran Thanh Son
Tran Thanh Son was born on December 30, 1997, and is a product of the HAGL youth academy. The player from Ho Chi Minh City was a member of the Vietnam U22 team that won the gold medal at the 19th SEA Games. Since the 2020 season, Thanh Son has been loaned by HAGL to the CAND Club, playing in the First Division.
Nguyen Trong Hung
Nguyen Trong Hung was born on October 3, 1997, in Thanh Hoa province. He was part of the Vietnam U22 team that won the gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games. Trong Hung's preferred position is attacking midfielder, and he was once considered the "second Phan Van Duc". However, in the last two seasons, his career has been severely affected by injuries. This season, Trong Hung has yet to play a single match for Thanh Hoa FC.
