The most valuable footballers in Vietnam

Filip Nguyen

Filip Nguyen and his son after a V. League game in Hanoi. Photo by Duong Pham

According to the latest update of Transfermarkt, the world’s most renowned football valuation and transfer website, Filip is valued at €600,000 (US$655,700). The 31-year-old keeper currently has the highest transfer value in Vietnamese football.

In 2019, while playing in the Czech Republic for Slovan Liberec, Filip was valued at €950,000.

Filip, born in 1992, has a Czech mother and a Vietnamese father.

He started his career at a youth academy and then played for Sparta Prague’s first team, before moving to other Czech clubs like Bydzov, Vlasim, Slova Liberec and Slovacko.

He was named the best goalkeeper in the Czech National Football League for the 2018-2019 season.

In June 2023, Filip joined Vietnamese club CAHN on a three-year deal and won the domestic league in his first season.

On Dec. 6, Filip obtained his Vietnamese citizenship and is eligible to play for the Vietnam national football team. Coach Philippe Troussier also put him into the preliminary list of 50 players for the upcoming 2024 Asian Cup in Qatar.

Nguyen Hoang Duc

Nguyen Hoang Duc (L) receives the award for Best Player of V. League 2023. Photo by Duong Pham

Transfermarkt valued midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc at €400,000 ($437,000). Before the emergence of Filip Nguyen, Duc was the most valuable player in Vietnam.

Duc, 25, has won the 2021 Vietnamese Golden Ball and 2022 Vietnamese Bronze Ball. He is also a strong candidate for the 2023 Vietnamese Golden Ball.

In the past season, he had an impressive performance and helped Viettel finish third in V. League. The midfielder has been one of the most prominent talents of Vietnamese football in recent years.

However, Duc is gradually losing his position in the national team as he does not fit coach Troussier’s playing style. In the last two matches of Vietnam in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Duc was not used by the French coach.

Pham Tuan Hai

Pham Tuan Hai celebrates after scoring the only goal for Vietnam in the friendly 1-0 win against Syria in June 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Thanks to his stellar form at Hanoi FC, Pham Tuan Hai became the most valuable striker in Vietnam. Like Duc, he is also valued at €400,000 by Transfermarkt.

Hai, 25, had his breakthrough after joining Hanoi in 2022. He scored 12 goals and made a great contribution to Hanoi’s two domestic titles.

When Hanoi dropped form this season, Hai still played well and scored four goals in AFC Champions League, although it was not enough for his club to get past the group stage.

He was called up to the national team in 2021 and has scored four goals.

Ho Tan Tai

Ho Tan Tai is currently the captain of V. League club CAHN. Photo courtesy of Ho Tan Tai

The most valuable defender in Vietnam at the moment is right-back Ho Tan Tai, worth €375,000 ($409,800). The 26-year-old midfielder was an important player of CAHN in their journey to winning the first V. League title this year.

Tai is considered an all-round full-back with great ability in both offense and defense. He was called up to the national team in 2021 and has scored four goals.

Like Duc, Tai is losing his place in the national team as coach Troussier did not call him up in the two most recent training periods.