Hanoi Coach Willy and National Prez, Fabbo, lay a Vietnam Swans wreath at the 2009 ANZAC Day Service in Kanchanaburi, Thailand
A commemorative football match will be played in Vung Tau (1.5 hrs ferry ride from Saigon) on ANZAC Weekend 2010.
The match will be played on Saturday 24 April at the Greyhound Dog Racing track in Vung Tau (see ). Very kindly and generously, the management of the venue have given us access to the facilities on the day free of charge.
In the evening, we shall return to the race track for a night at the dogs! There’s even a small chance that a game of two-up may be played.
In the early hours of Sunday 25 April, we shall attend the ANZAC Day Dawn Service at Long Tan (see ). Then, back to Vung Tau for a hearty breakfast while the Gallipoli Dawn Service is shown live on the Australia Network. After that will be the telecast of the blockbuster ANZAC Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon.
Currently, we are still to confirm whether the Vietnam Swans will play an internal match between the North (Hanoi) and the South (Saigon), or, whether we invite an international side.
The Vietnam Swans appreciate that there are significant sensitivities involved with this initiative. Our intention in Year 1 is to lay a foundation from which we can build and develop an event and a tradition that brings people together in the coming years.
Did you know…
Do you know who played the first footy match in Vietnam? The Vietnam/ Hanoi Swans? The Saigon Saints? The Hanoi Hawks?
Well it was actually a match between members of the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment back in May 1966.
More to follow.