Viet Nam News Ngọc Diệp, Văn Châu, Việt Dũng
HCM CITY — Downtown HCM City has an excited air Saturday as thousands of fans waited anxiously for the final game between Việt Nam and Uzbekistan in the Asia Football Conference (AFC) U23 Championship, to be played in China today at 3pm (Hà Nội Time).
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| People are giddy with excitement waiting for the historic final match between U23 Việt Nam and U23 Uzbekistan. — VNS Photo Văn Châu |
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Trần Đình Thuận, 29, from Bình Dương Province, said before the match: “U23 Việt Nam winning or losing this game is not the most important thing for Vietnamese now. I think they have already created history by reaching the final of the AFC U23 Championship. I know it will be hard to beat Uzbekistan, but I’m sure they will try their best.” — VNS Photo Văn Châu |
After Việt Nam defeated Qatar in the semi-final match, sales of T-shirts, Vietnamese flags, head ribbons, toy trumpets and stickers rose dramatically, with prices rising 20 times higher than normal.Head ribbons were selling for VNĐ2,000-3,000 (US$0.09-0.13) before the game, but soared to VNĐ5,000-10,000 ($0.22-0.44) on January 25, and to VNĐ10,000-25,000 ($0.44-1.1) yesterday.
Vietnamese flags are now selling from VNĐ20,000 - 70,000 ($0.88-3.08), compared to previous prices of VNĐ20,000 - 30,000 ($0.88-1.32 ).
T-shirts with the national flag are selling for VNĐ30,000-100,000 ($1.32-4.4).
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| Fans gather at a café in District 1’s Bùi Viện Street in HCM City – VNA/VNS Photo Việt Dũng |
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| A parade was held on Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in District 1 on Saturday to support Việt Nam before the final match, attracting thousands of supporters. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
Ngô Lý, who owns a small shop in District 5’s Hải Thượng Lãn Ông Street, said her shop was selling about 3,000 ribbons and Vietnamese flags and 200 T-shirts per day.
“My shop has no products now because the manufacturers have run out,” she said.
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| Staff at an establishment that makes T-shirts in HCM City’s District 12 work overtime to fullfill orders. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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| Customers crowd a shop on Cao Thắng Street in HCM City’s District 10. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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| A large banner celebrating U23 Việt Nam in front of a restaurant on Trần Cao Vân Street in District 1. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
Vũ Thị Đoan Trang, who owns a processing establishment on Hiệp Thành Street in District 12, said in the past few days, her family members and workers had to finish big orders of thousands of t-Shirts.
“My shop has no products now because the manufacturers have run out,” she said.
Many shops are providing products that can be used to decorate motorbikes and cars such as decals of Vietnamese flags and banners with slogans supporting U23 Việt Nam.
HCM City has set up 11 LED screens for people to watch the final match, to be broadcast live, on Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in District 1. — VNS
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| Overseas students in HCM City are ready to join the celebrations tonight in downtown HCM City with T-shirts imprinted with the Vietnamese flag. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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| A driver decorates his boss’s private car with “I love U23 Việt Nam”. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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| Banners have been set up along Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in District 1 for fans to watch the live broadcast of the final match. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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| Đinh Xuân Phương, a supporter from Thủ Đức District, buys a T-shirt at a shop. “I believe Việt Nam will win 2-1.” — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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| Street vendors sell Vietnamese flags and other products supporting U23 Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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Eleven large LED screens and banners have been set up along Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in District 1 for fans to watch the live broadcast of the final match. — VNS Photo Ngọc Diệp |
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