VietExplorer2026

First-half goals from defender CJ Bott and forward Jacqui Hand helped New Zealand end their 10-match winless streak with a victory. Their previous win was a 2-1 friendly victory over Philippines in the United States in September 2022. Coach Jitka Klimkova expressed the importance of this win and the team’s performance, stating, “This win and this performance were really important for us,” in an interview with Sky Sport NZ. New Zealand showcased their dominance from the start, taking the lead in the 17th minute with a deflected low shot from Bott outside the box. Just before halftime, an unmarked Hand rounded off a fantastic team move to further solidify New Zealand’s advantage. The return of veteran midfielder Annalie Longo provided a significant boost for the home side. Longo played the final 20 minutes of the match, marking her first appearance for the team since recovering from a serious knee injury in September. New Zealand, co-hosting the World Cup alongside Australia, will be...

Hue’s magnificent cuisine. Photo by Glen MacDonald. For years, I’ve heard about the delectability of Hue’s food but honestly, I’ve never seen the appeal. As a central location, I thought Hue was missing the heartiness of northern dishes or the spicy flavors of the South. When I first visited there in 2020, I challenged myself to try a strange, white paste, tightly concealed by a banana leaf. The waiters had to run across the restaurant and reprimand me for trying to bite through the dense foliage. In my defense, I thought the dish was Vietnam’s take on the burrito but I was sorely mistaken. It turns out I was eating banh loc, a tapioca dumpling filled with shrimp or pork. While it is beloved by Vietnamese foodies, I found the experience so harrowing that I swore off Hue food for several years. Now, back in the central city, I’ve come to reconcile with the local food. The first night, I went to Madam Thu’s, a well-known restaurant that serves generous platters of Hue cuis...

The Vietnamese team reached Japan for the competition. The Vietnamese swimming team currently has 11 qualified athletes to participate in the tournament, including Nguyen Huy Hoang, Pham Thanh Bao, Tran Hung Nguyen, Hoang Quy Phuoc, Nguyen Huu Kim Son, Nguyen Quang Thuan, Mai Tran Tuan Anh, Ho Nguyen Duy Khoa, Do Ngoc Vinh, Luong Jeremie Loic Nino, and Vo Thi My Tien. However, Vietnam’s top swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang will not be attending the event as he is in specialized training in Hungary to prepare for ASIAD 19 in Hangzhou (China) in September of this year. All the athletes have met the criteria to qualify for the World Championships in Japan according to the regulations of the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Swimmer Nguyen Quang Thuan. The tournament is considered a significant test for young talented swimmers such as Nguyen Quang Thuan, Mai Tran Tuan Anh, Ho Nguyen Duy Khoa, Do Ngoc Vinh, Luong Jeremie Loic Nino, along with familiar names like Ph...