Vietnam sent four teams to the event, including three male squads – the Tornados A, Tornados B and the Saigon Vans – and Saigon Hockey Hotties women’s team.

Tornados A’s Binh Hoang, a Vietnamese American who said he played for the US field hockey team at the 2008 Olympic Games, helped his squad tie Malaysia’s Kedah VHC 3-3.

The local teams included Vietnamese and foreigners.

VinaCapital Group, organizers of the festival, said they would work with Coca Cola and Rare Antibody Antigen Supply Inc. (RAAS) – two of the tournament’s other sponsors – to develop the sport in Vietnam.

RAAS Chairman Hoang Kieu said he had big ideas for the sport in Vietnam.

“I’d like to construct a hockey field and seek the best coaches to train new players,” he said.

“Field hockey is an interesting sport and I hope it will attract more Vietnamese in the future.”

James Chew, a Singaporean working in HCMC, has also helped introduce the new sport to local youths.

Chew, who has played field hockey in Singapore for years, has visited many primary schools in HCMC to teach the game. He’s also been active spreading interest on the internet.

Local player Le Mai Quyen, who is playing in the tournament and has been playing hockey for three months, said it wouldn’t be long before field hockey became popular in Vietnam.

“It’s fit for Vietnamese players because hockey requires speed as well as flexibility,” he said.

Chew said he was surprised hockey hadn’t caught on more already here, noting that it was similar to football, the country’s most popular sport.

Reported by Quang Huy