Sleepless World Cup Nights for Foreigners in Vietnam
Entering cafe in Tay Ho ward, Hanoi at 4 AM, Will Courageux saw 50 m2 space full. About 20 other foreigners waited for kickoff.
French man, 33, came to cafe to cheer home team against Iraq in World Cup 2026 group stage (June 23). Many non-French foreigners came for pure football passion.
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Will said in France fans flood streets to celebrate if national team wins decisive matches from semifinals. Since coming to Vietnam, his habit changed.
"In Vietnam, football atmosphere is passionate but family-like. Group stage or final, football is excuse to meet. I caught this Vietnamese culture," he said. He started watching matches without French team.
"First few days, body tired from lack of sleep. I shifted work to afternoon. But shouting with crowd makes me excited," said man, education expert at international school in Hanoi.
Will Courageux (left), 35, French, watches World Cup 2026 with friends at Hanoi cafe, June 2026. Photo: Provided by source
2 AM June 20, Marquez Ryan, 36, American, with friends chose bar in An Khanh ward, HCMC to watch home team.
Ryan admitted in US, football gets less attention than basketball or American football. He usually watches highlights next morning. "Living here, I am surprised taxi drivers to apartment guards know US players' names. Locals' passion gives energy, making me stay up to cheer with them," Ryan said.
Since World Cup 2026 started, expat forums in Vietnam frequently see posts finding football venues. Posts like "Which cafe opens at 5 AM?", "Find compatriots for home team matches" attract hundreds of comments.
Marquez Ryan, 36, American, cheers US team in June 20 match. Photo: Provided by source
To meet demand of this group, many food and beverage businesses in Hanoi and HCMC changed operations.
Dao Xuan Truong, manager of Puku Cafe & Sports Bar (Hanoi), said customer volume this season splits into two distinct time slots. Foreigners, including tourists and families, focus on matches from 5 AM to 9 AM. Customer count ranges from 50 to 250 depending on match or team popularity.
"Due to big time difference, we must increase night and early morning staff. All service staff use English to help international guests with menus and screen technical requests," Truong said.
Venue also upgraded projector system and cable TV connection to ensure sharpness and no delay.
World Cup atmosphere at Hanoi cafe at dawn, June 22. Photo: Puku Cafe & Sports Bar
In HCMC, Jaime Tuckwell, 47, Australian, bar owner, also scheduled double shifts and extended opening hours from dawn. Customers mostly from UK, Australia, Netherlands.
Living 11 years in Vietnam, Jaime noticed clear difference in football culture between two countries. In Australia, people gather at pubs day or night when national team plays. In Vietnam, viewing spaces are more flexible, from big restaurants to sidewalk stalls.
"Vietnamese fans tend to love individual stars like Ronaldo or Messi and cheer for their teams. In my country, people stay loyal to national or regional colors, regardless of stars," Jaime said.
He said Vietnamese celebrate victories much longer than Australians.
Besides sports bars, many foreigners blend into local lifestyle. Jack Wilson, 33, British, living in Da Nang, often visits alley drink stall early morning. Here, locals bring TV to common yard to watch with neighbors. Jack sits on plastic chair, drinks milk coffee, sometimes uses Vietnamese words to comment on play with everyone.
"In UK, to get seat for World Cup, especially home team matches, you must book weeks ahead because of full capacity. In Vietnam, I easily watch anywhere. Locals' hospitality makes expats like me not feel lost," Jack said.
Sophie Bernard, 29, French, lives Hanoi, also chooses sidewalk eatery watch football. "Sitting, eating hot pho at 2 AM, chatting with owner, guests, screaming when home team scores is experience I never had in homeland," Sophie says.
Culturally, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Ngoc Trung, former Dean of Development Culture Faculty, Academy of Journalism and Communication, says local excitement cheering other nations' teams creates safety, respect for expats. British citizen sitting on sidewalk watching TV, French citizen drinking coffee cheering football shows local culture has big appeal, integration capacity.
"They not only watch match, they actively adapt, integrate with lifestyle of land they choose," he says.
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