5 Vietnamese mixed-race players can join the national football team

Despite the pair of goalkeepers Filip Nguyen and Darn Van Lam, the public group could soon add more Vietnamese-born players amid the ongoing talent shortage.

With Doan Van Hau sidelined for a long time due to injury, Vietnam have struggled to find a suitable replacement at left-back. Players like Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Vo Minh Trong and Phan Tuan Tai cannot match Hau’s balance of solid defense and successful attacking play.

To fill Hau’s position, Cong A Ha Noi (CAHN) have burned a large sum of money to recruit Jason Quang Vinh. Born to a French father and a Vietnamese mother, Jason has performed very well at V. Association. He is currently resolving his Vietnamese citizenship and when this is completed, coach Kim Sang-sik could bring him to the public group, as has been the case with goalkeepers Filip Nguyen and Darn Van Lam.

Born in 1997, Jason has recently played for Ligue 2 clubs Sochaux and Quevilly-Rouen in France, as well as the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer (MLS). He has played for France at U16 and U18 level but is still eligible to play for Vietnam. After a few meetings, Jason has expressed his desire to play for Vietnam.

Adou Minh has established a special connection in the main round of the 2024-2025 V. Association, scoring the key goal in Ha Tinh’s victory over champions Nam Dinh FC.

Still 1.8m tall and weighing 70kg, the defender born in 1997 played for Hustling Besancon in the French fourth division before joining Ha Tinh.

“Adou Minh is showing remarkable progress,” said Ha Tinh’s mentor Nguyen Thanh Cong. He is energetic, strong and has a good relationship with his colleagues.

The Vietnamese team, when having many defenders concentrated, has faced constant battles with key players such as Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Phan and Do Duy Manh who are injured or have lost their physical strength. In case Adou Minh completes his naturalization cycle, he could seek a starting position in the national team with his current fitness.

Near Adou Minh, Ha Tinh has also introduced another Vietnamese player, midfielder Viktor Le. Born in 2003 to a Vietnamese father and a Russian mother, Viktor is the result of a childhood background of CSKA Moscow and moved to Vietnam to pursue a professional career.

Viktor played for Binh Dinh FC in mid-2023 and helped the team to second place in the V. Association before joining Ha Tinh. At 21 years old, Viktor has great potential and really wants to aim for Vietnam.

“I really want to play for the national team because this is my hometown, where my father grew up,” he said.

Hanoi FC have made some big-name signings for the 2024-25 season, including former Dutch U17 captain Keziah Veendorp and Nigerian striker Augustine Chidi Kwem, but the club’s best signing may be the return of Kyle Colonna, as the other two have failed to live up to expectations.

Born in 1999 to a Vietnamese mother and an American father, Colonna played for a long time at San Diego State College, captaining the team for two seasons. After shining at his US school, he signed with New Mexico before joining Hanoi FC.

“My mother used to teach me about Vietnam and she used to cook traditional dishes for me. I always dreamed of coming back here and playing football,” Colonna said, adding that his ultimate goal was to win a place in the national team.

Following in the footsteps of his fathers Van Lam and Filip Nguyen, Patrik is another overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper who has had the opportunity to come to Vietnam. Born in 1992 to a Vietnamese father and a Slovakian mother, Patrik joined Cong A Ha Noi (CAHN) in 2023 but later moved to Ho Chi Minh City, where he has been successful.

Patrik was named the best goalkeeper of the last V. Association season, beating Filip Nguyen and others.

Despite CAHN offering him a contract extension, Patrik decided to sign a three-year management contract with Ho Chi Minh City, which includes a clause that the club will support him in applying for Vietnamese citizenship. He said that playing for the national team has always been his dream.