Chuck Kuhn's Asia in Photos: Reds touch down in Vietnam

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

Reds touch down in Vietnam

Adelaide United’s travelling party has arrived in Binh Duong ahead of its AFC Champions League 2008 match against Vietnam’s 2007 champions, Becamex Binh Duong.United’s squad landed in Ho Chi Minh City late yesterday afternoon before making the trip north to Binh Duong. With a two and a half hour difference and change in climate, the players will use today to acclimatise to the conditions and have a training run, before final preparations tomorrow afternoon with a familiarisation session at Binh Duong Stadium.Coach Aurelio Vidmar is expected to finalise his starting line up tomorrow, with defender Sasa Ognenovski likely to make his first official appearance for The Reds after playing in the trial against Melbourne Victory last week while midfielder Jonas Salley is also available after missing the last game through suspension.While Binh Duong presents unfamiliar surroundings for The Reds, the visitors have an advantage of having played in the AFC Champions League and Vietnam last year, and Vidmar will know how to manage his team in the warm, humid conditions. In last year’s competition, United scored a 2-0 win over Gach Dong Tam Long An in its Vietnam trip and it will look to keep this positive record going as it comes up against a Binh Duong team who is yet to take any points from Group E.Captain Travis Dodd was the chief destroyer against the Vietnamese last year, scoring a total of four goals against Dong Tam Long An in the two games against them. United supporters will be hoping Dodd can reproduce this kind of form against Binh Duong on Wednesday night, the attacking midfielder set to play a more central role in the absence of injured striker Bruce Djite.Sitting at the top of Group E (on goal difference to Chinese champions Changchun Yatai) with Becamex Binh Duong coming up in consecutive matches, these next two games will have a major say on whether United can remain in top spot and progress through to the Quarter Final Stage. After a three week break since the last match day in the 2008 AFC champions League, United will need to come out in its second match away from home with the same intent it showed when it defeated the Pohang Steelers. Kick-Off is at 8.30pm (ACST) this Wednesday 9 April.The match can be seen on Fox Sports 1 from 9.30pm (ACST) at the conclusion of Melbourne Victory’s match against Gamba Osaka.

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They say "

“I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters. A pipe of opium, or the touch of a girl who might tell you she loves you. And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again.”
― Graham Greene, The Quiet American

Tips on Travel to Vietnam

It's always warm in Southeast Asia apart from high mountains, so leave the heavy clothing at home. Cotton and breathable fabrics are always better than synthetics -- although cotton does wrinkle a lot when traveling! December through April is roughly the dry season in that region, although it can still rain a little. December is a good time to go in terms of temperature -- cooler than in the humid summertime. Either way, wearing more clothing (shirt sleeves and long pants) is always more respectful towards the Asian culture, especially when visiting temples and rural areas.