1. Vietnam in third position at 33rd Southeast Asian Games

Vietnam delivered a strong performance at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Thailand, winning 87 gold, 81 silver and 110 bronze medals to finish third on the overall medal table.

Several historic milestones for Vietnam were recorded during the largest sporting event in the region. The men’s sepak takraw team secured their first-ever SEA Games gold medal, while the national women’s futsal team claimed their maiden regional title. In football, the U22 men’s side defeated hosts Thailand in the final to win the SEA Games gold medal.

Notably, Vietnam pocketed 66 gold medals in Olympic and Asian Games disciplines, accounting for 76.7% of its total gold medal haul, underscoring the country’s growing competitiveness in elite sports.

2. Vietnam first claim ASEAN Championship 2024 on Thai soil

Vietnam made a steady start to their campaign, opening with a 4-1 victory over Laos, followed by a narrow 1-0 win against Indonesia and a late 1-1 draw away to the Philippines in Manila.

Striker Nguyen Xuan Son emerged as a rising star, playing a central role in Vietnam’s 5-0 home win over Myanmar, which secured a place in the semifinals. The team then recorded a convincing 3-1 victory over Singapore to advance to the final.

In the first leg of the final at Viet Tri Stadium, Vietnam took a 2-1 lead against Thailand, with striker Xuan Son hitting a brace. The second leg at Rajamangala Stadium saw Vietnam claim a 3-2 victory, completing a 5-3 aggregate win.

The triumph marked Vietnam’s third ASEAN Championship title, reinforcing the team’s status as one of Southeast Asia’s leading football nations.

3. Vietnam lift AFF U23 Championship 2025 trophy

Vietnam entered the 2025 AFF U23 Championship as the defending champions and faced strong pressure in their bid to retain the title on Indonesian soil. With disciplined organisation and effective tactics, the team clinched a series of key victories to reach the final against hosts Indonesia.

In the final at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Nguyen Cong Phuong scored the decisive goal in the 37th minute, sealing a 1-0 victory and the championship title for Vietnam.

The result made Vietnam the first team to win the AFF U23 Championship three consecutive times, underlining the country’s continued strength at youth level in Southeast Asian football.

4. Vietnam’s U22 team win SEA Games 33 gold medal

At the 33rd SEA Games, Vietnam’s U22 team played a key role in the national sports delegation’s success. Coached by Kim Sang-sik, the team topped their group before defeating the Philippines 2-0 in the semi-finals to set up a final against hosts Thailand.

The team claimed a historic gold medal with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Thailand in the men’s football final on December 18 at Rajamangala Stadium.

The SEA Games triumph capped a highly successful year for Vietnamese football, which also saw Vietnam secure titles at the ASEAN Championship 2024 and the AFF U23 Championship. Kim Sang-sik made history by becoming the first coach of Vietnam to win all three major Southeast Asian football titles in a single calendar year.

5. Nam Dinh FC defend V.League 2024/2025 championship title

During the 2024–25 V.League 1 season, Nam Dinh FC faced strong competition from Hanoi FC, Hanoi Police FC and The Cong Viettel. Despite the pressure, the team successfully defended their league title.

With the achievement, Nam Dinh FC became one of the few clubs to secure back-to-back V.League championships, reaffirming their status at the top of Vietnamese football.

6. Hanoi Police FC win 2024/2025 National Cup and National Super Cup

Coach Mano Polking’s side claimed the 2024–25 National Cup after recording a convincing 5-0 victory over Song Lam Nghe An FC in the final.

Hanoi Police FC later faced Nam Dinh FC in the Vietnam National Super Cup at Thien Truong Stadium, where they secured a 3-2 win, with Nguyen Quang Hai and his teammates lifting the trophy.

The club also had the opportunity to complete a treble in 2025 after reaching the final of the Southeast Asian Champions League. They delivered a strong performance against Thailand’s Buriram United, but ultimately finished runners-up in the end.

7. Vietnam crowned champions of stage 2 at 2025 SEA V.League

Despite losing the first two sets, the Vietnamese women’s volleyball team rallied to defeat Thailand 3–2, winning their first title at the Southeast Asian Women’s Volleyball SEA V.League.

The result underscored Vietnam’s growing competitiveness in women’s volleyball at the regional level.

8. Vietnamese shooting team top Southeast Asia

At SEA Games 33, Vietnam's shooting team performed well with 8 gold medals, exceeding their target and taking the lead in Southeast Asia. The result reflected thorough preparation and the effectiveness of a long-term development strategy.

Trinh Thi Thu Vinh emerged as the standout athlete, claiming four gold medals and setting three SEA Games records. The team’s success at SEA Games 33 has laid a solid foundation for Vietnam’s preparations for the Asian Games and the Olympic Games.

SEA Games 33: Vietnam ends campaign in third place, fulfils set target

VOV.VN - Vietnam finished third overall at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33) with 87 gold, 82 silver and 110 bronze medals, trailing hosts Thailand and Indonesia in the final medal standings.

Int’l media hail Vietnam’s dramatic comeback win at SEA Games final

VOV.VN - Vietnam delivered one of the most dramatic comebacks in SEA Games football history, rallying from a two-goal deficit to defeat hosts Thailand 3-2 in the men’s final, a result that drew widespread praise from regional and international media.