This is a gathering of the Manchester United Supporters Club in Vietnam. This occasion has attracted a huge crowd of football supporters to a little café in central Hanoi.
Michael Luu, VTV Reporter, said: "This is how crazy it gets every weekend, when Premier League football matches are on. As you can see, behind me, the place is packed with red football shirts. Manchester United fans are here to support their team in their opening game of the season 2015-2016".
Over 1000 of the 71,000-member Manchester United fan club in Vietnam attended screenings across the country of their club’s match against Tottenham Hotspur on August 8th.
It is not just the Red Devils that are capturing the hearts of Vietnamese football fans. Their derby rivals Manchester City also recognised Vietnam’s craving for British football as well. The city blues became the 2nd to play on Vietnamese turf on July 27th after Arsenal’s 2013 arrival.
Trinh Tuong Vy, a Manchester City fan in Hanoi, said: "We’ve waited for this for a long time. It’s like a dream come true. We can finally embrace our heroes in real life and experience their friendliness. It’s an unforgettable memory in my life".
Citizens were welcomed by fans of the English Premier League in many activities on their pre-season tour. According to Facebook’s statistics, Chelsea are leading with 489,000 likes, Arsenal 69,000 and Liverpool 23,000 on their fan pages. Football is an integral part of the British culture.
And, Vietnam’s passion for the sport can contribute greatly to the mutual understanding between the 2 peoples of their cultures.
