Indonesian media reacts with surprise to Van Hau's call-up to the Vietnam national team.

The Vietnam national team has announced a list of 23 players preparing to gather for the March training camp, notably including defender Doan Van Hau after more than 2 years of absence due to injury.

The defender's Doan Van Hau sudden return to the Vietnam national team after over 2 years of absence due to injury is attracting significant attention from regional media, particularly Indonesia. This is considered one of the most notable highlights in the list of 23 players summoned by coach Kim Sang-sik for the March training camp.

According to an assessment from the Indonesian publication Superball , Van Hau's return holds special significance both professionally and in terms of morale. The newspaper states: "Before his injury, Van Hau was always the primary choice for the left-back position under coach Park Hang-seo. Moreover, he was a very familiar name to Southeast Asian fans due to his robust playing style and fearless physical challenges."

However, that fierce playing style also once made Van Hau a focal point of controversy, especially among Indonesian fans. Following Vietnam's 2-0 victory over Indonesia in the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup semifinal, the defender born in 1999 faced intense criticism on social media. Many Indonesian supporters argued that he played too aggressively, repeatedly engaging in collisions with opposing players.

Despite being controversial, it cannot be denied that Van Hau remains one of Vietnam football's most experienced and resilient defenders. Therefore, his return to the national team this time is expected to significantly strengthen the left flank, especially as the team aims for important goals in 2026.

Besides Van Hau, Indonesian media also focuses attention on a new name: Do Hoang Hen. The naturalized midfielder of Brazilian origin has been called up to the national team for the first time and is evaluated as a quality addition to the midfield.

The publication Superball assesses that Hoang Hen possesses extensive playing experience in the V.League along with good individual technique, which could make Vietnam's team play more flexible and creative. His appearance promises to provide additional tactical options for coach Kim Sang-sik.

With the combination of experienced figures like Van Hau and new elements like Hoang Hen, the Vietnam national team is demonstrating thorough preparation for upcoming matches. Simultaneously, these personnel changes have also caused regional media, particularly Indonesia, to be surprised and pay considerable attention.