Western football aficionados taking a Vietnam tour this summer may be in for a surprise, as Arsenal FC are working out the details for a pre-season match, to take place in Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on July 17.

Western football aficionados taking a Vietnam tour this summer may be in for a surprise, as Arsenal FC are working out the details for a pre-season match, to take place in Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium on July 17.

Although no official announcement has been made as of yet, the pieces are thought to be in place for the friendly, which would see Arsenal become the first Western team to pick Vietnam for a pre-season friendly match - despite the fact that neighbouring Asian nations are rather popular and regular tour destinations for summer club tours.

Representatives from Arsenal have, indeed, met with officials from the Vietnam Football Federation, and the club’s website presented a positive account of the negotiations. The VFF, on the other hand, has all but confirmed the date, although reports indicate that the agreement may not yet be signed.

So far, the only confirmed matchup of Arsenal’s 2013, summer tour is to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia.

To book a Vietnam tour, contact Tucan Travel at www.tucantravel.com or call them on 44 20 8896 1600.