Hanoi (VNA) – The Consular Desk at the Chinese Embassy in Vietnamannounced on January 24 that the embassy will open a booth dedicatedexclusively to processing visa applications from Vietnamese football fans whowant to travel to China for the final match of the AFC U23 Championship.

Besides the regular working hours from8:30am to 11am, the booth is also open from 3pm to 4:30pm on January 24-26.

On January 23, the U23 Vietnam team beat Qatar 4-3in the penalty shootout to win a place in the final of the AFC U23Championship, which is being held in Changzhou, China.

Vietnam will play against Uzbekistan in the finalmatch on January 27.

Also on January 24, Director of the VietnameseForeign Ministry’s Consular Department Nguyen Minh Vu handed over a dispatch torepresentatives from the Chinese Embassy, requesting China to allow the flightsof Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air carrying Vietnamese football fans toChangzhou city for the match between Vietnam’s U23 team and Uzbekistan onJanuary 27.

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry also asked theVietnamese Embassy in China and the Consulate General in Shanghai to work withChina’s offices to accelerate the process of granting flight permission and createfavourable conditions for Vietnamese football fans to travel to China to cheeron the home team.

After the victory of Vietnam against Qatarin the semi-finals on January 23, travel agencies are quick to catch up withlocal fans’ wish to watch the home team play in the final match. Many companiesimmediately offered attractive tours to Changzhou departing on January 25-26. Prestigiousagencies such as Vietrantour, Hanoi Redtours and Vietravel reported that tours toChangzhou are selling like hot cake.

𓆏[Photos: Fans go wild as Vietnam advances to AFC U23 championship final]

Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air areworking with Chinese partners to open charter flights to the Chinese city.

Vietnam Airlines plans to add two returnflights between Hanoi and HCM City and Changzhou city, Jiangsu province, China,on January 27.

The airline said it will offer free busesto take Vietnamese fans from the Changzhou Benniu airport to the ChangzhouOlympic Stadium where the match will take place.

Earlier, the national carrier announcedthat it will cover all travelling and accommodation expenses for two relativesof each player of the U23 Vietnam team to go to Changzhou from January 26 – 28.-VNA