President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (C) receives coach Park Hang-seo (2nd from left) and coach Mai Duc Chung (2nd from right) in Hanoi on May 28, 2022. (Photo: VNA)

The President congratulated coaches Park Hang-seo of the men’s football team, Mai Duc Chung of the women’s, and other coaches and athletes of Vietnam on their achievements at the biggest regional sports event, which took place in Hanoi and 11 nearby localities from May 12-23.

He stressed that the success by the two squads marks a milestone of Vietnamese  football.

Vietnam ranked first in the SEA Games medal standings with 205 gold, 125 silver and 116 bronze medals. 

Mr. Phuc praised the female footballers who have claimed the SEA Games championship title for seven times, and earned a berth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.

U23 Vietnam brought home golds at two consecutive editions of SEA Games, helping to affirm Vietnamese football’s position in Southeast Asia, he said.