Ninh Binh defends Hoang Duc, Do Hoang Hen scores a goal dedicated to young fans, and other Vietnamese football news on April 14th.
Ninh Binh maintained their winning streak in the V-League with a strategy of protecting star player Hoang Duc, while midfielder Do Hoang Hen moved hearts with a goal dedicated to a child with cancer.
Ninh Binh's dramatic victory over Becamex Ho Chi Minh City and Do Hoang Hen's emotional celebration were the most important highlights of a day full of dramatic moments in Vietnamese football.
Ninh Binh soars high: Strategies to protect star players and the brilliance of new talents.
Ninh Binh continued to assert their dominance in the V-League after a narrow 2-1 victory over Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. However, the focus wasn't just on the result, but also on coach Vu Tien Thanh's personnel choices. Star player Hoang Duc was only brought on in the 81st minute, a clearly calculated tactical decision aimed at protecting the midfielder's overworked knee joint.
Just when the match seemed destined for a draw, the "golden boy" Le Van Thuan stepped up at the right moment with the decisive goal in injury time. The brilliance of the substitute players showed the impressive depth of the squad of the team from the ancient capital, and also proved that Ninh Binh is not overly dependent on any single individual to secure all three points.
Do Hoang Hen's promise and the humanistic values on the football field.
In Hanoi FC's 3-0 victory over Ha Tinh, Do Hoang Hen left the most memorable impression of the round. After scoring, the naturalized midfielder performed a celebration inspired by Jude Bellingham. This wasn't simply a goal celebration, but an act fulfilling a promise to Son Tung – the boy who has bravely battled leukemia for the past 9 years.
With one goal and one assist, Do Hoang Hen not only helped the Hanoi team close in on the V-League Top 3 but also spread a powerful humanitarian message. This action affirms that football always has the power of connection and sharing that goes beyond the boundaries of a purely sporting match.
Personnel changes: V.League considers increasing foreign players and losses for CAHN.
The Vietnamese professional football league system is on the verge of major changes. Currently, 8 out of 14 clubs have agreed to the proposal to increase the number of foreign players to 5 for the 2026/27 season. While teams like Dong A Thanh Hoa want to prioritize slots for Southeast Asian teams to optimize costs, Ninh Binh and 5 other teams still express concerns about the financial burden and the shrinking opportunities for domestic talent.
In other news, coach Polking praised Doan Van Hau for his consistent performance in round 18. However, CAHN will face a difficult personnel problem in round 19 as the defender is suspended due to accumulating three yellow cards. This is a significant loss for the police team's defense in the upcoming clash with CA TP.HCM, forcing the coaching staff to seek a viable replacement.
Youthful Power: Vietnam U17 team asserts its position in the regional arena.
The Vietnam U17 team had an incredibly impressive start at the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship, crushing Malaysia U17 4-0. A brace from Sy Bach, along with goals from Van Duong and Manh Cuong, opened the door for Coach Cristiano Roland's team to advance to the semi-finals. Notably, this marks the second consecutive time that Vietnamese youth football has won by the same scoreline against Malaysia.
At the women's level, the Vietnam U17 women's team is also finalizing its preparations in Hanoi after a training camp in Japan. The entire team is expected to depart for China on May 1st to participate in the Asian Championship Finals. There, the Vietnamese girls will face significant challenges from China, Thailand, and Myanmar in Group A.
