The Vietnamese women's volleyball team has arrived in Japan, determined to make an impact at ASIAD 2026.

Late on the evening of September 13, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team departed for Japan, officially beginning their journey to conquer ASIAD 2026. With 12 players in the squad, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his team aim to advance past the group stage, reach the quarterfinals, and target a fourth-place finish at the Games.

Before departure, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team received encouragement from the leaders of the Vietnam Volleyball Federation. Federation President Duong Manh Tien and Vice President cum General Secretary Le Tri Truong met with the coaching staff and players to motivate them ahead of their trip to Japan for the ASIAD 2026.

According to the team, the 12 athletes participating in ASIAD 20 are all in good health, ready to step into the important competition days ahead.

After a period of preparation at home, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet and his students set off with the highest spirit. The team's goal is quite clear: to qualify for the quarterfinals and compete for a spot among the top four strongest teams in Asia.

The Vietnamese women's volleyball squad for ASIAD 2026 includes experienced faces along with young players who have made significant progress.

In the setter position, Vo Thi Kim Thoa and Vi Thi Yen Nhi are expected to play the role of organizing the game. The outside hitters include Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Bui Thi Anh Thao, and Pham Quynh Huong. Among them, Thanh Thuy continues to be one of the most important players of the team thanks to her international experience and ability to create breakthroughs in difficult moments. Nguyen Thi Tra My takes the opposite hitter position, while the middle blockers include Le Thanh Thuy, Luu Thi Hue, Le Nhu Anh, and Tran Thi Bich Thuy. The two libero positions belong to Nguyen Khanh Dang and Le Thi Yen.

Notably, middle blocker Le Thanh Thuy will be entrusted with the flag-bearer role for the Vietnamese sports delegation for the second consecutive time. This is not only a personal honor but also reflects her role and position within the Vietnamese volleyball team.

At ASIAD 2026, women's indoor volleyball features 14 teams divided into 4 groups. The Vietnamese team is in Group D, along with South Korea, Hong Kong (China), and Qatar.

Among the opponents in the group, South Korea is considered the biggest challenge for Thanh Thuy and her teammates. The East Asian representative has a wealth of experience and regularly competes among the top teams at major continental tournaments.

According to the schedule, the Vietnamese team will kick off at 11:00 on September 16 against Qatar. The next day, at 14:00 on September 17, coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's side will face Hong Kong (China). The most anticipated match in Group D will take place at 14:00 on September 18, when Vietnam takes on South Korea.

According to the format, the 14 teams are divided into 4 groups and play a single round-robin. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. From the quarterfinals, the teams compete in a knockout format to determine the four semifinalists. The final matches will decide the medal winners. Teams that do not reach the quarterfinals will play classification matches to determine their final rankings.

Before entering ASIAD 20, the Vietnamese women's volleyball team is currently ranked 32nd in the world on the FIVB ranking. This ranking has not changed in the latest update because coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet's team has not yet accumulated additional points from matches that count toward the ranking system.

However, ASIAD 2026 could be a turning point. Each result at ASIAD 2026 will count toward the FIVB ranking points, thereby opening an opportunity for Vietnamese women's volleyball to improve their position if they achieve good results.