After travelling from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, the team reached the Shenzhen Youth Football Training Centre at around 3:00 p.m. local time. Shortly after settling into their accommodation, the team planned its first training session to adapt quickly to local weather and pitch conditions.

During the camp, Vietnam are set to play two international friendlies against the Chinese women’s national team on February 10 and 13. The matches are expected to provide valuable tests for the coaching staff to assess personnel, review tactical options and fine-tune preparations ahead of the continental tournament.

China are the reigning Asian Cup champions and, alongside Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, form a group of Asia’s traditional powerhouses that have dominated the competition and regularly qualified for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. Vietnam, meanwhile, are among the chasing group seeking to narrow the gap with the region’s elite.

As a result, the upcoming fixtures against China are regarded as a high-level benchmark for the Vietnamese side. Following the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnam resumed training at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre in Hanoi and recorded a 1-0 friendly win over Uzbekistan, showing improvements in ball control, attacking organisation and tactical variety.

While Vietnam’s attacking play has shown encouraging signs, the matches against China will be a more demanding test of their defensive resilience. Since the decline of former midfielder Chuong Thi Kieu, the team’s back line has undergone a period of transition, with players such as Diem My and Tran Thi Thu carrying key responsibilities alongside younger teammates still gaining experience.

Coach Mai Duc Chung has focused on improving physical conditioning, strength and defensive coordination, emphasising quick passing, reduced ball retention and collective pressing. With no single standout star, Vietnam continue to rely on teamwork and tactical discipline as the foundation of their approach.

China, by contrast, boast a squad with strong physical attributes and technical quality. In 2025, they recorded convincing wins over Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan and Thailand, while drawing with Japan, the Republic of korea and Canada, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists. Regular exposure to high-level opposition has helped maintain China’s competitive edge in Asia.

“We believe the team will learn a great deal from these matches against China,” coach Mai Duc Chung said. At the 2022 Asian Cup, Vietnam lost 3-1 to China in the quarter-finals but took an early lead and missed a penalty that could have changed the course of the match, underlining that opportunities can still be created against stronger opponents.

Vietnam have gained valuable international experience in recent years, including appearances at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and matches against top teams such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, the United States, Japan and Australia. Those encounters have contributed to the team’s growing resilience and competitive mindset.

At the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Vietnam have been drawn into Group C alongside Japan, India and Chinese Taipei. The tournament will take place from March 1 to 21 in Sydney, Perth and the Gold Coast, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed sides advancing to the quarter-finals.

Vietnam will play their group-stage matches in Perth, facing India on March 4, Chinese Taipei on March 7 and Japan on March 10 at Perth Rectangular Stadium. They aim to progress deep into the tournament and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Vietnam women step up preparations for AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026

VOV.VN - Women’s national team has entered an intensified phase of preparations for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, the first major tournament of 2026 for head coach Mai Duc Chung and his players.