From football passion to a cultural mission

In middle age when many slow down their travels, Cuong continues to crisscross continents. His trips are not for signing contracts but for seeking out moments and stories behind the beautiful game. His luggage is never without a signed jersey, a ticket to a classic match, or a photo with a football legend.

Currently a member of the Board of Directors at the Vietnam Railway Projects Corporation, Cuong openly embraces the passion he has carried since boyhood, one that bridges his business acumen with a deep appreciation for culture.

For him, football has never been limited to personal enjoyment. Encounters with global stars, a collection of over 1,000 football artefacts, and countless talks at schools and events have been woven into a cultural journey branded “Vietnam.” In Cuong’s narrative, Vietnam is not only a tourist destination but a nation of ambition, sportsmanship, hospitality, and a proud identity.

With over 15 years’ experience in finance and real estate, including time in France, where football is part of daily life, Cuong brings a modern, global perspective to engaging communities through sports culture. He rarely speaks in terms of “national branding,” but his genuine, persistent efforts have become their own form of storytelling: presenting Vietnam as youthful, dynamic, and ready to integrate with the world.

A spark from Maradona’s eyes

Cuong’s football passion began at age seven, when he was mesmerized by the melody of Un’estate italiana and the tear-filled eyes of Diego Maradona after the 1990 World Cup final. “At the time, I only saw a small but agile player. I didn’t know it was Maradona until later,” he recalls.

From skipping breakfast to buy sports newspapers, to carefully pasting clippings of his idols into notebooks, his passion grew deep roots. Maradona became more than a fleeting inspiration—he was the key that opened the door to Napoli, Argentina, and a lifelong bond with the beautiful game.

For Cuong, football is an energy source - a drive to live and work wholeheartedly, even while leading multiple businesses. “When you’re truly passionate, you don’t feel tired,” he says. That philosophy has transformed his love for football into a meaningful journey with lasting community value.

A “museum” of passion and ambition

Starting with a few signed jerseys gifted during the 2010 World Cup, his collection expanded rapidly in 2022, when he traveled to Europe to meet legends such as Zinedine Zidane and Didier Drogba, forging ties with the global football community.

Today, his collection surpasses 1,000 items - sweat-soaked jerseys, boots, balls, signed photographs - but the most treasured is Maradona’s shirt from the 1986 World Cup match against Uruguay, a piece he calls “a truly rare treasure.”

A 35-square-metre room in his Hanoi home serves as a miniature museum, featuring everything from Ronaldo’s and Pelé’s jerseys to Hristo Stoichkov’s boots.

Yet his ambition goes beyond a private collection. “I want to build a public museum where everyone - especially children - can touch passion and dreams,” he says.

To him, a museum is not just a display but a hub for inspiration, cultural exchange, and national image-building. “In Dortmund or Manchester, football museums attract thousands of visitors each year,” he notes. He envisions a similar venue in Vietnam as a cultural and tourism draw that enhances the nation’s profile.

Realizing this vision, however, is no small task. “To do it properly, you need at least one to two hectares of land, along with world-class preservation, security, and operations,” he explains. He hopes for support from the government and community, drawing inspiration from Qatar’s royally backed museum that became a cultural centerpiece during the World Cup.

A cultural bridge through encounters

Cuong’s passion extends far beyond collecting. Overnight journeys from Belgium to France, from Paris to Barcelona, have brought him face-to-face with modern stars such as Son Heung-min, Kylian Mbappé, and Eduardo Camavinga—yielding not only memorabilia but also memorable conversations.

One jersey from Son, inscribed “Hello Mr. Cuong! Hope to see you in London,” left a deep impression. “Son was only the second player to send me a video message. I think everyone loves him - he has elevated Asian football to new heights,” Cuong says.

In each meeting, Cuong introduces Vietnam - its mountains, seas, and local culture. Camavinga was surprised and promised to visit. Similar exchanges took place with Jules Koundé, Eden Hazard, Riyad Mahrez, and others. Each handshake, he says, is both a personal moment and an opportunity for Vietnam to shine as an appealing cultural destination.

His passion has also translated into charity work - auctioning sports memorabilia to support Central Vietnam or persuading Kalidou Koulibaly to donate a match jersey to aid Typhoon Yagi victims. “I do it because it feels right and worthwhile,” he says.

For Cuong, sports memorabilia hold not only sentimental value but the potential to create social impact. That’s why he strives to turn passion into action, spreading humanistic values through football. Even with a busy business life, he stays true to his belief: “With passion and determination, even if your ability is only 80% of others, you can still succeed.”

This philosophy helps him balance work and contribution, fuelling his dream of a football museum that would present Vietnam to the world through sport.

Inspiring the next generation

Cuong believes that passion, when nurtured, can open unexpected doors. His message to young people: be confident, work hard, respect other cultures, but never forget your own identity.

To him, football is the ultimate connector - a perfect stage for telling the story of a dynamic, globally integrated, and ambitious Vietnam. Just as Europe has done, he believes Vietnam can turn sports into a driver of economic, tourism, and cultural growth.

From sweat-soaked jerseys to conversations with international superstars, Cuong’s journey proves that passion, when guided by ideals and responsibility, can become a force for community change. It is not just his personal story, but a flame that inspires young people to dream big and reach far - together with Vietnam.