Vietnam stun Thailand to win first-ever SEA men's volleyball title

The landmark victory not only delivered Vietnam's maiden Southeast Asian men's volleyball title but also marked a breakthrough after years of chasing regional powerhouses Thailand and Indonesia.

Victory built on resilience

The championship match in Jakarta lived up to expectations, with the two teams battling through a dramatic five-set contest.

Vietnam started confidently and led 22-20 in the opening set before Thailand used its experience to rally for a 25-22 win.

Unshaken by the setback, Federico Rampazzo's side responded immediately. Strong serving from Dinh Van Phuong and Dinh Van Duy, combined with an effective blocking system, helped Vietnam edge the second set 25-23 to level the match.

Momentum remained with Vietnam in the third set as Ngoc Thuan, Duy Tuyen and Van Phuong repeatedly found gaps in Thailand's defence. Vietnam's blockers also successfully neutralised Thailand's key attacker Chaiwat, sealing a convincing 25-19 victory for a 2-1 lead.

Thailand fought back emphatically in the fourth set, dominating 25-15 to force a deciding fifth set. Under maximum pressure, Vietnam displayed remarkable composure.

Trailing 6-7 early in the decider, the team quickly regained control by capitalising on a series of Thai errors. Solid blocking and clinical counterattacks powered Vietnam to a 15-10 victory, completing a memorable 3-2 triumph.

As the final point landed, Vietnamese players embraced in celebration while the national flag waved proudly inside Jakarta's arena, marking one of the greatest moments in the country's volleyball history.

A long-awaited breakthrough

The 2026 SEA V.League title is Vietnam's first championship after eight editions of the tournament, previously known as the ASEAN Grand Prix before evolving into the SEA V.League and SEA V-Cup.

For years, the competition had largely been dominated by Thailand and Indonesia, with each side winning three titles.

Vietnam reached the second-leg finals in 2023 and 2025 but fell short on both occasions.

This year, Rampazzo's squad finally rewrote history, defeating Indonesia in the semifinals before overcoming Thailand in the championship match to lift the trophy.

The victory also moved Vietnam up one place to No. 58 in the FIVB Men's World Ranking, overtaking Thailand in the process.

Ngoc Thuan shines brightest

Outside hitter Ngoc Thuan once again proved to be Vietnam's standout performer.

The 27-year-old scored a match-high 31 points in the final, including 27 attack points and four blocks. Across four matches in the tournament, he accumulated 98 points to earn both the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and Best Outside Hitter honours.

Middle blocker Tran Duy Tuyen was also recognised as the tournament's Best Middle Blocker, highlighting the growing maturity of Vietnam's new generation of players.

The championship in Jakarta represents far more than a single title. It signals that Vietnam's men's volleyball program has significantly narrowed the gap with the region's traditional heavyweights and is increasingly capable of competing at the highest level in Southeast Asia.

Along with the historic trophy, Vietnam also secured qualification for the 2027 AVC Cup, providing another opportunity to test itself against stronger opposition across Asia.

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