The Vietnam national team trains through Tet to prepare for the AFF tournament.

The Vietnam women's futsal team will skip Tet break to participate in a training camp in Japan for the Southeast Asian tournament.

In the days leading up to the regional campaign, the team's pace has tightened more than ever. The Vietnam women's futsal team understands that being the reigning champion brings the pressure to outperform themselves, so every training session is intensified. Although Tet is approaching, instead of preparing to go home, the players remain diligently on the court, perfecting tactical patterns and small combinations. The coaching staff recognizes this as a critical phase where even the slightest complacency could cost dearly once the official tournament begins.

Before departure, the team continues training at the Chanh Hung ward futsal club (Ho Chi Minh City). Training here provides the team with stable living conditions and facilitates organizing trial matches. Under the guidance of Nguyen Dinh Hoang, various personnel options are tested. Young players are given opportunities to play alongside key veterans, allowing coaches to assess their integration, tactical adaptability, and competitive mentality. After each match, the training plan is adjusted, and the core lineup gradually becomes clearer.

Finding domestic sparring partners is a challenging task. Teams with comparable skill levels and suitable professional characteristics for effective practice are very few. Therefore, the overseas trip during Tet is considered a crucial solution. In Japan, the team will face Urayasu, one of the top-quality women's futsal teams in the Land of the Rising Sun. These two consecutive test matches are expected to expose players to a higher speed and intensity, helping them gain valuable match experience.

According to the plan, Coach Nguyen Dinh Hoang and his team will depart on February 16th, play friendly matches on the 17th and 19th, then return to Ho Chi Minh City on February 20th. There is almost no rest time, as just a few days later, the entire team will move on to Thailand to begin their title defense journey. The tight schedule forces the coaching staff to carefully manage fitness, rotate the squad, and ensure players' recovery to maintain optimal condition when the tournament starts.

The challenge comes not only from opponents but also from the match schedule. The draw placed the team in Group B alongside Myanmar, the Philippines, and Australia. Notably, all three group matches are scheduled at 1:30 PM on three consecutive days. Playing early afternoon matches daily will undoubtedly drain players' stamina and concentration. This obstacle has been anticipated by the coaching staff, who have prepared adaptive strategies accordingly.

Nevertheless, this difficulty can also serve as motivation. Over the past two years, Coach Nguyen Dinh Hoang’s team has repeatedly overcome pressure to affirm their new status in the region. Maintaining hunger, discipline, and endurance will be crucial to the success of the upcoming campaign. If they pass the fitness test in the group stage, they have every reason to confidently aim for the top podium once again.

The Vietnam women's futsal team gathers to prepare for the AFF tournament.

Determining the champion of the 2025 Women's National Futsal Championship.