The 'Explosive Medicine' in Vietnamese volleyball has officially found a new home at age 33.

The Ho Chi Minh City men's volleyball team has officially reached an agreement with experienced hitter Tu Thanh Thuan to strengthen their lineup for the first round of the 2026 National Club Championship.

The appearance of the former national team player is considered an important move for the city team in its first season participating in the top-tier competition of Vietnamese volleyball.

According to the coaching staff's sharing, head coach Huynh Van Tuan places high expectations on Tu Thanh Thuan's experience and competitive spirit. In the context of the Ho Chi Minh City team being relatively young and lacking extensive experience in major tournaments, the addition of a hitter who has competed for many years at the highest level is hoped to provide both technical support and morale for the entire team. The coaching staff believes that Thuan's scoring ability and tactical thinking will help the team achieve positive results even in the early stages of the season.

After the 2025 season concluded, Tu Thanh Thuan's future became a topic of interest among experts and fans. Many sources speculated that this veteran hitter would join another ambitious club. However, he ultimately chose to sign with the Ho Chi Minh City men's team, opening a new chapter in his playing career.

Tu Thanh Thuan plays as an opposite hitter, a position typically responsible for being the main scoring force on offense. During his peak performance period, he was one of the most outstanding hitters in Vietnamese volleyball. His career is marked by notable achievements while playing for strong teams like Vinh Long and Sanest Khanh Hoa. Not only shining at the club level, he was also a crucial attacking weapon for the Vietnamese national men's volleyball team for many years.

At the national team level, Tu Thanh Thuan participated in two SEA Games finals with the Vietnamese team at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (held in 2022). Although the Vietnamese team stopped with silver medals in both finals, Thuan's impact was clearly evident as the main scoring force on offense.

After concluding the 2024 season, Tu Thanh Thuan parted ways with Sanest Khanh Hoa, where he spent many years and won numerous titles. Moving into the 2025 season, the hitter born in 1991 joined the The Cong Tan Cang men's team. In the colors of the military-affiliated club, Thuan continued to prove his value by helping the team secure a runner-up position in the National Championship.

Currently, at age 34, Tu Thanh Thuan no longer possesses the explosive jump and peak physical condition of his prime. Nevertheless, he is still highly regarded by experts for his extensive competitive experience, serious training attitude, and tactical discipline. These factors are considered very necessary for a team like Ho Chi Minh City, which is in the process of building its squad.

In the 2026 season, the Ho Chi Minh City men's volleyball team will make its debut in the National Championship as a newcomer. Before the official competition begins, the team will start the season by participating in the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup 2026 held in Ninh Binh. This is seen as an important opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the squad and test the lineup.

According to the preliminary registration list for the tournament, the Ho Chi Minh City team features several notable players such as Che Quoc Lo Vit, Pham Thai Khương, Nguyen Trung Hieu, Chau Thanh Phu, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Quoc Doan, Tu Thanh Thuan, Tran Ho Minh Hieu, Nguyen Gia Huy, Doan Trung Hieu, Phan Chi Thanh, Nguyen Anh Hong Hoang, and Le Quang Hop. Among them, setters Che Quoc Lo Vit and Pham Thai Khương previously played for Ho Chi Minh City Public Security in the national championship. Notably, for this season, Pham Thai Khương has been appointed as the team captain.

The Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from March 18 to 23 in Ninh Binh. This is not only a preseason tournament but also an occasion for the Ho Chi Minh City men's volleyball team to gauge its strength before entering the fierce competition of the 2026 National Championship. With the addition of Tu Thanh Thuan, the city team is expected to create interesting surprises even in its first season at the top level.