The destructive duo 'Son – Hên' reunites, Vietnam's national team attack explodes

Do Hoang Hên's first call-up to the national team promises to form a duo with Nguyen Xuan Son that elevates Vietnam's attacking line.

Naturalized midfielder Do Hoang Hên is summoned for the first time to the Vietnam national team during the March 2026 FIFA Days, raising high expectations for the attack as he gets the chance to reunite with Nguyen Xuan Son. The duo, who made waves at the club level, is expected to become a "weapon" that upgrades the team's offensive power.

According to an announcement from the Vietnam Football Federation, Hoang Hên is included in the squad preparing for important matches, including a friendly with Bangladesh and a rematch against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The appearance of the 1994-born player is seen as a notable addition to the midfield under coach Kim Sang Sik.

Hoang Hên, originally named Hendrio Araujo, completed his naturalization procedures in October 2025 after many years playing in Vietnam. Developed in Spanish football, he possesses good individual technique, creative thinking, and flexible ball-handling ability – essential factors to increase unpredictability in the team's play.

The biggest highlight of this training camp is the potential reunion between Hoang Hên and Xuan Son – the pair who dominated V.League while playing for Nam Định Steel Blue. Their synergy produced dozens of goals and assists, playing a key role in the 2023/24 championship.

If this connection is recreated at the national team level, Vietnam's attack promises to be significantly upgraded. Their coordination ability, intelligent movement, and complementary playing styles enable this duo to create more approaches to the opponent's goal.

Nevertheless, Hoang Hên's inclusion also intensifies competition in the midfield with names like Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, and Hai Long. This will be a challenging puzzle for the coaching staff, but also a positive signal as the team possesses many quality options, aiming to enhance overall strength in the coming period.