Vietnam’s under-22 side overturned a two-goal deficit to beat hosts Thailand 3-2 after extra time in the finale, a display of resilience that sent supporters waving national flags and sounding car horns into the early hours.

The celebrations reflected more than a single match.

The victory completed a rare regional treble for Vietnamese football in 2025, with national teams winning the ASEAN Championship, the SEA Games, and the ASEAN U23 Championship, underscoring Vietnam’s rise as a dominant force in Southeast Asia.

All three titles were secured in finals against host nations, including two consecutive victories over Thailand in Bangkok, a feat that added symbolic significance given the fierce rivalry between the two football poơers over the years.

Thailand had long held the upper hand in decisive encounters, beating Vietnam 2-1 on Vietnamese soil in the 2003 SEA Games men’s football final, winning 3-0 at the 2005 SEA Games in the Philippines, and prevailing 4-2 on aggregate in the 2022 ASEAN Championship final after matches in Hanoi and Bangkok.

But Vietnam have reversed the trend.

The SEA Games triumph followed Vietnam’s recent ASEAN Championship win against Thailand on Thai soil, reinforcing a shift in the regional balance of power that supporters were quick to embrace.

In Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other urban centers, crowds gathered spontaneously after the final whistle, chanting, singing, and celebrating what many saw as confirmation of Vietnam’s place at the top of Southeast Asian football.