Cannot live by the old formula
Over the past 3 years, Vietnamese women's volleyball has gone through a fairly successful cycle. The team has continuously achieved good results in regional and continental tournaments. However, success also creates new pressure.
When a team maintains a stable framework and playing style for a long time, opponents will have enough data to study, read and prepare response plans.
Relying on a few individuals also makes it difficult for the team when they lose physical strength, get injured or are read by the opponent. In tournaments with high competition density, this weakness is even more obvious.
To go the long way, the Vietnamese team needs to get rid of the mindset "the strongest squad is the most familiar squad". A strong team not only has 6-7 good players, but must have enough depth to rotate, change and adapt to each opponent.
Rejuvenation must be substantial
Rejuvenation is a mandatory requirement, but it cannot stop at naming a few young players to the national team. The important thing is how they are used, how many opportunities are given and whether they are put under real pressure or not.
In many stages, young faces usually only appear at safe times, when the game situation is clear or against opponents that are not too strong.
SEA V.League, VTV Cup or international tournaments in the coming time need to be seen as opportunities to check forces, not just places to protect achievements.
If every tournament places heavy emphasis on results, the coaching staff will find it very difficult to boldly experiment. Conversely, if there is a clear plan, these will be important playgrounds to find more options for the main attacker, opposite hitter, setter, middle blocker and libero positions.
Rejuvenation does not mean removing the role of key players. Experienced players are still the foundation of the team. But they need to be placed in a shared system, instead of constantly having to bear responsibility through many tournaments.
Renew tactics, increase competitiveness
Another issue of the Vietnamese women's volleyball team is the diversity in playing style. In many matches, the team still clearly depends on the scoring ability of key attacking spearheads such as Thanh Thuy, Bich Tuyen or Kim Thanh...
The Vietnamese team needs a more unpredictable attacking system. Middle blockers must be exploited more effectively, quick attacks need to have higher speed and stability, while attacking behind the 3m line must become a substantive option, not just a temporary solution.
The setter also needs more options to distribute the ball flexibly, instead of putting pressure on a few familiar attacks.
Step one and defense also need to be upgraded. In matches against opponents with good serving ability, if step one is unstable, the entire tactical system will be shifted. At that time, the setter cannot organize the ball diversely, and the hitters are forced to handle it in difficult positions.
Defense also needs to be seen as a competitive weapon, not just a defensive task. Against teams with superior physique and strength, Vietnam is unlikely to win by simply counter-attacking. The team needs to pull the opponent into long balls, maintain resilience, take advantage of counter-attack opportunities and force the opponent to make mistakes.
For example, in the 0-3 defeat to South Korea in the semi-finals of the AVC Nations Cup 2026, when the opponent continuously served with difficult drop points, the Vietnamese team repeatedly fell into an unfavorable first pass position.
The first-footed ball went off target, making it difficult for the setter to deploy quick attacks, the middle blocker had few opportunities to participate in attack, while the wing attackers had to handle high balls, easily being read by the opponent's blocks.
In matches where the Vietnamese team plays well against Thailand or strong opponents in the region, the difference often comes from the ability to save the ball persistently, persistently mark and quickly switch from defense to counter-attack.
The plays where libero Nguyen Khanh Dang or the back row saved the first spike often open up opportunities for Thanh Thuy, Nhu Quynh or the wing attackers to score points in the next rhythm.
Conversely, when the rear defense is not strong enough, the Vietnamese team can easily lose points quickly against teams with high attacking range, strong striking power and diverse attacking capabilities.
After 3 years of success, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team has a good foundation, but that foundation is not enough to ensure success in the new period.
If they want to maintain their position in Southeast Asia and go further in the continent, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team needs a new cycle that is more drastic, more substantive and less dependent on familiar formulas.
