Australian football tourney opens in Hanoi
(VOV) - A free Australian Rules Football tournament, entitled the Indochina Cup, took place near My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on November 10.
The tournament, featured the Vietnam ‘Swans’, the Laos ‘Elephants’, the Cambodia ‘Cobras’ and the Thailand ‘Tigers’.
The event is held annually in different cities around South East Asia. Vietnam won the last two tournaments and Hanoi last hosted it in 2007 – the first year of the competition.
Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Hugh Borrowman said that Australians come together every year to put on the tournament, which reflects the passion the players and organisers feel for this unique Australian sport.
“It’s a great showcase for Australian culture and I encourage Vietnamese people to come along and enjoy it,” he added.
Australian Rules Football is a style of football that developed in Australia in the mid 19th century. It is a fast and physical game played with an oval-shaped ball following similar rules to Gaelic football from Ireland.