On Sunday 28th December Vietnam beat Thailand to lift the AFF Suzuki Cup (the old ASEAN Cup and before that it was known as the Tiger Cup). The tournament is held every 2 years. It's the first soccer cup Vietnam has won. Thousands of Vietnamese fans gathered in central Hanoi to celebrate. All night they rode their motos around and around Hoan Kiem Lake chanting Viet Nam Vo Dich (Vietnam Victory). People were banging all sorts of drums - even saucepans, waving the national flag and setting off fireworks. I've never before seen such a mass display of national patriotism. Apparently spontaneous public displays of patriotism like this are uncommon in Vietnam. I guess I really should have been supporting Thailand but unfortunately they are managed by a certain Peter Reid. He used to manage Sunderland football club which is near my home town of South Shields in the UK (I support Newcastle by the way). Nice to see Peter has lost none of his losing qualities. More pics from the night can be viewed on my photo website.
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