Despite three months of preparation for the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar next month, Viet Nam's national U23 football team is still falling short on their practice schedule.  

Their preparations are divided into 3 stages - improvement of physical strength, playing friendlies to select the best players for the SEA Games matches, and identifying the team’s defensive and counter-attack strategies.  However, up to now, the national team has not finished their scheduled training effectively.

The team flew to Hungary to take part in training to improve their physical strength.  However, during their 2-week stay there, they had to play 5 friendly matches. 

Viet Nam's national U23 team

Then, the team returned to Ho Chi Minh City for matches with Galatasaray U23s from Turkey on 27 September, and Santos U23s from Brazil on 29 September.   During these matches, coach Hoang Van Phuc did not make any assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of his players until the 2013 BTV Cup. 

Due to a significant decrease recently in the physical strength of Phuc's national players, they were asked to gather in Da Nang on 8 November for a 10-day fitness training session.  The players were scheduled to jog on the local beaches and review tactical training in the city’s Tien Son Arena.  However, they unexpectedly decided to fly to Ha Noi for their scheduled practice when super typhoon Haiyan was being predicted to hit Da Nang, but then Ha Noi experienced heavy showers. 

On 18 November, the team will fly to Binh Duong Province to stage 2 friendly games with a V-League team and a First Division team on 22 and 24 November.