Why is Stand B completely empty despite the Vietnam National Team playing?

Stand B at Thong Nhat Stadium is empty tonight, but the cause is not related to the attraction of the Vietnam – Nepal match, but comes from an unforeseen reason.

Recently, many fans have wondered why Stand B at Thong Nhat Stadium is always vacant during matches, especially when the Vietnam national team plays. However, the reason is not due to audience indifference, but rather for safety concerns.

According to management, Stand B has been closed since 2023 after being identified as severely deteriorated, posing a risk of collapse if continued to be used. Therefore, the organizers of matches here, including V-League and international games, have had to stop selling tickets for this area to ensure fan safety.

Currently, Thong Nhat Stadium only uses stands A, C, and D, reducing its capacity from around 15,000–19,000 seats to approximately 10,000–11,500 seats. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm for Vietnamese football remains strong. In the friendly match between Nepal and Vietnam, nearly 10,000 spectators filled the remaining stands, including about 2,000 invited tickets. The vibrant red in Stand A demonstrates the enduring passion for football in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to plans, Thong Nhat Stadium will be renovated with a budget of about 149 billion VND, starting construction at the end of 2025. The key project is to build a new three-tier Stand B, increasing the stadium’s capacity to nearly 18,000 seats. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, restoring the stadium’s status as one of Vietnam’s top “hotbeds” and meeting standards for hosting international matches.

Also on the evening of October 14, the match between Vietnam and Nepal had to be temporarily postponed due to heavy rain in Ho Chi Minh City. Originally scheduled to start at 7:30 PM, the prolonged rain caused waterlogging on the pitch, making ball movement difficult, forcing organizers to delay kickoff by 30 minutes to 8:00 PM. This postponement caused Vietnam to play simultaneously with Malaysia, who were hosting Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The emptiness of Stand B is not a sign of fans’ disinterest but a result of safety measures. Along with the upcoming renovation plan and the fans’ ever-burning love for football, Thong Nhat Stadium promises to soon return with a modern look, worthy of its familiar role as a passionate “cauldron” of Vietnamese football.