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Famous CFC makes Việt Nam debut with Chelsea legend
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HÀ NỘI– The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the Official Hotels Partner of Chelsea Football Club, has concluded its fourth edition of The Famous CFC, Chelsea’s international fan engagement programme.
The Hà Nội showcase marked the programme’s Việt Nam debut and featured Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, a two-time Premier League Golden Boot winner.
Held across Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, Oakwood Residence Hanoi and Somerset West Point Hanoi last week the two-day programme brought together more than 300 fans and Ascott Star Rewards (ASR) members for a curated series of fan engagements, including a fireside chat, an exclusive member meet-and-greet, and the newly introduced Night with the Blues event.
The Hà Nội edition marked two notable milestones. For Hasselbaink, it was his first official club visit to Việt Nam, a moment long anticipated by the country’s Blues community. For Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, it signalled the official debut of its international convention centre: a purpose-built event destination anchored by the Ho Tay Ballroom – the largest pillarless ballroom in Hanoi – one of 13 meeting venues. The convention centre is part of the 1,165-room integrated property scheduled to open fully later this year.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink said: “Spending the weekend with so many Chelsea fans in Hanoi was an amazing experience. You could really feel the passion for the club, and Ascott created an environment that brought fans closer to the Chelsea spirit. Moments like these help strengthen the connection between the club and its supporters.”
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| A legendary venue for a football legend – The Ascott Limited and Chelsea Football Club proudly welcome Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink to Việt Nam. Photo courtesy of Ascott Việt Nam |
John Rogers, Head of Partnerships at Chelsea Football Club, said: “Hà Nội showed exactly what The Famous CFC, presented by Ascott, is all about. Our passionate fans brought great energy to the event and made it an unforgettable experience. The turnout and engagement from Chelsea supporters and Ascott Star Rewards members further prove the incredible connection we share with our established fanbase across Southeast Asia. We’re proud of what we’ve built through our partnership with Ascott, and excited to take it even further in the seasons ahead.”
Tan Bee Leng, Chief Commercial Officer, Ascott, said: “Every edition of The Famous CFC is designed to introduce new experiences, and Hanoi was no exception. Southeast Asia is home to more than 30 per cent of Ascott's global portfolio, with Việt Nam among our most active markets for new openings.” VNS
Highlights from The Famous CFC Hanoi The two-day programme kickstarted on Friday, 17 April, when Hasselbaink joined a coaching session for young beneficiaries of the Centre for Supporting Community Development Initiatives (SCDI), a Hà Nội-based non-profit organisation supporting the social inclusion of vulnerable communities. During the session, Hasselbaink shared football tips and encouraged the participants, drawing on personal lessons from his journey as a professional player. The activity reflected The Famous CFC’s focus on engaging local fan communities and aligned with Ascott’s ongoing commitment to community engagement through its sustainability programme, Ascott CARES. Following the community initiative, Hasselbaink visited Oakwood Residence Hanoi to experience the brand’s signature warmth and comfort food philosophy before participating in an intimate fireside chat at Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi. There, he recounted some of his fondest memories as one of Chelsea’s most celebrated forwards, including defining goals, team culture and lessons that have remained with him beyond his playing years. The session brought together a Chelsea legend with Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi, a world-class venue designed to host landmark international events. On the second day on Saturday, 18 April, Hasselbaink took time to explore the city before joining Ascott Star Rewards members for an exclusive meet-and-greet at Somerset West Point Hanoi. In keeping with Somerset’s emphasis on shared experiences, the session provided members with the opportunity to engage directly with the Chelsea legend through a Q&A segment and photography opportunities. The programme culminated with Night with the Blues at Ascott Tay Ho Hanoi's Ho Tay Ballroom, which was transformed for the occasion into a football-themed event space that brought the energy of London’s Stamford Bridge right to the heart of Hanoi. For the more than 300 fans, some of whom had travelled in from across the region, the electrifying matchday atmosphere arrived well before kick-off. The event combined Ascott’s signature hospitality, fan activations and extended engagement with Hasselbaink, building to a crescendo as Chelsea prepared to face Manchester United later that evening. Supachok Pornsri, a Chelsea fan and ASR member who travelled from Bangkok, Thailand to attend The Famous CFC in Hà Nội said: “Meeting Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in person was a dream come true. As a devoted Chelsea fan, getting up close with a club legend is something I will not forget.” For the latest updates on exclusive offers from Ascott’s partnership with Chelsea, including the upcoming editions of The Famous CFC, please visit https://www.discoverasr.com/en/ascott-chelseafc. |
