In 2019, when striker Cong Phuong joined Incheon United (Korea), coach Park Hang-seo and assistant Lee Young-jin attended the debut ceremony as guests. That was the time when Mr. Park achieved many successes with the Vietnam national team. At this time, the Vietnamese team also needs to be renewed with young players.
At that time, coach Park Hang-seo shared with the Korean press: "Cong Phuong has proven himself to be the best striker in Vietnam, and now he will have to do the same in Korea. Every time I meet the players, I encourage them to play abroad. I am happy that Incheon United chose Cong Phuong. He has the ability to score well and play effectively in limited areas. Cong Phuong's mentality is very strong, and I believe he will overcome this challenge".
That was also the period when Vietnamese football had prominent faces competing abroad. Cong Phuong, after a period of playing for Incheon, moved to Sint Truidense (belgium). Xuan Truong competed in Buriram (Thailand). Van Lam played for Muangthong United (Thailand) then moved to Cerezo Osaka (Japan). Van Hau joined Heerenveen (Netherlands).
But up to now, only Dang Van Lam has stayed. Other players have returned to the V.League in different ways. Although Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, and Van Hau do not play regularly, "playing" in a professional football environment has helped the players improve both their skills and thinking in playing football.
Van Hau is a typical example of the influence of the training and competition environment in the Netherlands. He was an important factor in helping U22 Vietnam win the gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games. That was the time when Hau was joining Heerenveen.
Coach Park Hang-seo expressed his opinion: "When our players are given the opportunity to compete abroad, especially in countries with advanced and developed football, they will mature a lot because those teams manage and organize all fields very well.
Foreign clubs always have many experts from physical strength, nutrition, psychology... and of course, Vietnamese players will be supported and helped a lot. They will improve not only their professional skills but also learn a lot".
After the Vietnamese team reached the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup, players such as Quang Hai, Hoang Duc... have been targeted by many foreign teams. Opportunities were denied one by one. After the Vietnamese team failed at the AFF Cup 2020, the lesson that Thailand sent was to create conditions for players to play abroad to return to serve the national team. They once took advantage of the opportunity to enter the 3rd qualifying round of the 2018 World Cup to let the players known by the foreign scouts.
This is not a new story, but at each time it is still a current issue for Vietnamese football. Not all Vietnamese players lack opportunities to go abroad, but not everyone is given such opportunities.
