Thai Volleyball Team Frustrated by Long Hotel Distance in Hanoi
Thailand's women's volleyball team faces a 90-minute commute to the SEA V Cup 2026 venue in Hanoi, while host Vietnam's team stays near the arena, violating international standards that require hotels within 30 minutes of competition sites.
Thailand's women's volleyball team is frustrated with host Vietnam for placing three competing nations' delegations in hotels far from the competition venue—requiring nearly 90 minutes of travel—while Vietnam's own team stays near the arena. The Thai squad, coached by Kiatiphong Ratchatigerngkrai, arrived in Hanoi to compete in the SEA V Cup 2026 opening leg and has begun training. Coach Ratchatigerngkrai stated that international regulations stipulate hotels should be no more than 30 minutes from the competition venue, yet Thailand's team faced a nearly 90-minute commute on the first day, causing fatigue. He said Vietnam accommodates its own team near the arena while the other three competing nations are housed much farther away, and he intends to raise the matter with tournament officials. Thailand's opening match against Indonesia is scheduled for July 31, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.
