The final round of Southeast Asian Football Championship - AFF Suzuki Cup 2012, is set to take place in Thailand and Malaysia from November 24 to December 22, 2012. Although the Vietnam squad is directly qualified for the final round of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2012 (in Group A with the Philippines, Myanmar, and Thailand), information about Thailand tours to watch AFF football matches seems not to be widespread as expected, although the enthusiasm of Vietnamese football fans is firing notwithstanding unresolved conflicts between VPF and VFF.
Normally, October is peak season for tours to Thailand because of football tournaments. Tourists have to book tickets months in advance to secure a place to watch AFF matches. But, this year, major tour operators seem reluctant to set up tours because they have to weigh up the effect of huge changes in the country’s football. Indeed, no matter how bad backstage realities are, the passion for football has not changed. The scenes of vibrant cheers at My Dinh Stadium in September remain passionate, opposite to what is going on off the pitch.
To pursue the burning passion for football, especially the spirit of supporting the Vietnamese squad in two matches against the Philippines and Thailand, many supporters have booked tickets via outbound event - tour companies. Like most other fans, Nguyen Tran Nam waited to plan. "I am still waiting to have an attractive tour from travel companies. However, if there are no package tours, I will book tours from tour companies and then buy tickets in foreign countries. Of courses, prices are much higher, but I cannot stand missing any AFF matches, especially two major matches of the Vietnamese squad this year. This is a chance to enjoy the sporting spirit and express ultimate support for the Vietnamese team," he said.
According to some leading travel companies in Vietnam, although many companies do not have plans to open AFF-bound tours to Thailand, they still have regular tours to Thailand every week and have good results. Currently, many companies specialised in Thai tours have begun announcing schedules and budgets. “Although we have not made the decision to join AFF tours or not, we still have Thailand tours departing on Wednesdays. Currently, we are selling tickets of tour programmes concurring with matches of the Vietnamese team. Ticket prices are slightly higher than normal tours because they are brought to stadiums and enjoyed all benefits of other tour members in Bangkok and Pattaya cities,” said Mr Vu Quyet Thang, Director of Hoang Viet Open Travel Company.
Mr Pham Tien Dung, Director of Golden Tour & Convention Centre, said, after learning that Vietnam had entered the final round, that the company worked with fan associations in various provinces and cities, soccer clubs, partners, airlines to organise the "Adding Fire to the Vietnamese Soccer Squad at AFF Cup 2012." The price for this five-day tour package is about VND10 million, including a ticket for a match between Vietnam and either the Philippines on November 27 or Thailand on November 30. In addition, fans will explore famous attractions in Thailand like vibrant Pattaya Beach, Coral Island, Nongnoch Ethnic Cultural Village, lively Safari World Open Zoo with a variety of rare animals and Far West cowboy performances or Spy 007. They will be able to shop at Thailand shopping paradise like Central World, Siam Paragon and Chatuchak weekend market.
To the attractiveness of tours, travel companies have launched many attractive gift programmes to boost the spirit and enthusiasm of Vietnamese football fans. Redtour and Golden Tour & Convention will present T-shirts, banners and slogans. Hoang Viet Open Travel offers discounts for early bookings on its website.
“Perhaps, we will see a surge in spectators in the win-loss phase. Otherwise, we already have regular bookings. Thus, we do not fear empty seats,” said Mr Thang.
Currently, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Qatar Airways are committed to sparing budget tickets for Vietnamese football fans, distributed via travel companies, on tours to Thailand.
The impressive return of the Vietnamese football team in a friendly match against the Indonesian team is matched only by the fans' passion and support. Joining Thailand tours to cheer on the Vietnam soccer squad at Cup 2012 is a meaningful gift for fans to support the team at the championship.
Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
