Vietnam’s under‑23 side gathered at the national youth training centre in Hanoi on 12 September, fielding 15 of the 23‑man squad while eight players remained with their clubs for V‑League duties. Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh oversaw a light‑intensity session focused on ball feel before the team headed to the airport for a midnight departure at 00:15 on 13 September. After a seven‑hour flight on VN348, the squad touched down at Nagoya Chubu International Airport at 07:00 local time, proceeded to their hotel and prepared for a brief acclimatisation period.
The team will train on 14 September at Nagoya City Minato Soccer Stadium to familiarise themselves with the pitch and climate, then face Kuwait in their opening Asian Games match on 15 September at 17:00. Subsequent group‑stage fixtures pit Vietnam against the Philippines on 18 September (13:30) and Uzbekistan on 22 September (12:00) in Group C. VFF Secretary‑General Nguyễn Văn Phú and President Trần Quốc Tuấn have conveyed the federation’s ambition: a top‑two finish in the group and progression to the quarter‑finals, a step up from the 2018 fourth‑place best and the group‑stage exit in the previous edition.
Despite a truncated preparation window, the squad arrives in strong form, having won 16 of their last 17 matches, including notable victories over South Korea, the UAE and a dramatic comeback against Thailand in the SEA Games 33 final. Assistant coach Thạch Bảo Khanh and emerging talent Lê Phát, who opened the V‑League 2026‑27 season for Ninh Bình, complete a roster poised to translate recent success onto the Asian Games stage.
After the tournament, Vietnam will continue with a friendly in Gia Lai while other national teams gear up for the FIFA ASEAN Cup and the U‑17 World Cup.