Thai media: 'Vietnam national team newcomer scores 6 goals, 4 assists'

The first call-up of naturalized midfielder Do Hoang Hen to the Vietnam national team quickly attracted attention not only domestically but also from regional media, particularly Thailand.

Accordingly, the Thai newspaper Ball Thai emphasized: “Hendrio Araujo da Silva (Vietnamese name: Do Hoang Hen), the latest newcomer to the Vietnam national team, was officially called up during the FIFA Days in March 2026, marking his first appearance in the ‘Golden Star Warriors’ jersey..” 

Not stopping at just reporting, Ball Thai also analyzed the role and context of this player. Specifically, the Golden Temple country's newspaper wrote: “The 31-year-old Brazilian-born player, currently playing for Hanoi FC, was called up to the national team by coach Kim Sang-sik to prepare for the friendly match against Bangladesh as well as the encounter with Malaysia in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.”

The call-up of Do Hoang Hen shows that coach Kim Sang-sik is seeking experienced elements to increase the depth of the squad, as the Vietnam national team aims for important goals on the continental stage in 2026.

Thai media also paid special attention to this player's form at the club level. According to Ball Thai: “At the club level, this midfielder is having impressive form in the Hanoi FC jersey, having played 10 matches in this year's V-League season, scoring 6 goals and adding 4 assists.”

Speaking to the media, Do Hoang Hen could not hide his pride when first wearing the Vietnam national team jersey. He expressed his emotion after waiting for this opportunity for a long time and affirmed he will strive wholeheartedly to contribute to the team. Hoang Hen shared: “I am very happy and proud to wear the Vietnam national team jersey. I love Vietnam and will try to perform well for the flag and colors.”

The appearance of Do Hoang Hen not only carries professional significance but also shows the increasingly clear trend of using naturalized players in Southeast Asia. This is also something that rivals in the region, including Thailand, must pay special attention to when preparing to face Vietnam in major tournaments.

According to the plan, the Vietnam national team will continue to complete its squad in the coming days, before entering the friendly match against Bangladesh at Hang Day Stadium on March 26. This will be an important warm-up for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team heading towards the rematch with Malaysia in the final AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.