Vietnam national football team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Những chiến binh sao vàng (Golden Star Warriors) |
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Association | Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) | ||
Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
Sub-confederation | AFF (Southeast Asia) | ||
Head coach | Kim Sang-sik | ||
Captain | Đỗ Duy Mạnh | ||
Most caps | Lê Công Vinh (83) | ||
Top scorer | Lê Công Vinh (51) | ||
Home stadium | Various | ||
FIFA code | VIE | ||
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FIFA ranking | |||
Current | 99 ![]() |
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Highest | 84 (September 1998) | ||
Lowest | 172 (December 2006) | ||
Elo ranking | |||
Current | 117 ![]() |
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Highest | 58 (October 2002) | ||
Lowest | 175 (January 1995) | ||
First international | |||
as South Vietnam:![]() ![]() (Saigon, French Cochinchina; 16 January 1949) as Vietnam: ![]() ![]() (Manila, Philippines, 26 November 1991) |
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Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 23 January 2000) |
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Biggest defeat | |||
as South Vietnam:![]() ![]() (Seoul, South Korea; 4 May 1971) as Vietnam: ![]() ![]() (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 26 February 1997) ![]() ![]() (Daegu, South Korea; 29 September 2003) ![]() ![]() (Suwon, South Korea; 17 October 2023) |
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Asian Cup | |||
Appearances | 5 (first in 1956 as South Vietnam 2007 as Vietnam) |
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Best result | as South Vietnam: Fourth place (1956, 1960) as Vietnam: Quarter-finals (2007, 2019) |
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ASEAN Championship | |||
Appearances | 15 (first in 1996) | ||
Best result | Champions (2008, 2018, 2024) | ||
Southeast Asian Games | |||
Appearances | 12 (first in 1959 as South Vietnam 1991 as Vietnam) |
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Best result | as South Vietnam: Champions (1959) as Vietnam: Silver medals (1995, 1999) |
The Vietnam national football team (called Đội tuyển bóng đá quốc gia Việt Nam in Vietnamese) plays for Vietnam in international men's football. The team is managed by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). Their nickname is the Golden Star Warriors (Những chiến binh sao vàng). This name comes from the golden star on Vietnam's national flag.
Football came to Vietnam in the late 1800s when the French were in charge. Vietnam played its first game in Saigon on January 16, 1949. For a long time, Vietnam was split into North and South. Each part had its own football team. The South Vietnam team joined FIFA in 1952 and the AFC in 1954. The North Vietnam team did not join these groups.
After Vietnam became one country in 1976, the football teams joined together. The new Vietnam team took over the South Vietnam team's spot in FIFA. This means the current team is seen as a continuation of the South Vietnam team.
After the country reunited, Vietnam's team did not play international matches for a while. They returned to international football in 1991. Since then, they have won the ASEAN Championship three times. They also reached the final round of FIFA World Cup qualification in 2022. The team made it to the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup twice, in 2007 and 2019.
Contents
- History of Vietnamese Football
- Team Look
- Team Rivalries
- Coaching Staff
- Player Records
- Team Achievements
- Images for kids
- See also
History of Vietnamese Football
Early Days (1896–1949)
Football arrived in Vietnam in 1896 during the French colonial period. At first, only French people played the sport. But the French encouraged local people to play too. This helped football spread across Vietnam.
In 1908, a newspaper reported on a match between two Vietnamese teams for the first time. A football guide published in 1925 made the sport even more popular. By 1928, Vietnamese people had their own sports group. They even sent a football team to play in Singapore. After World War II, football clubs in Vietnam became more organized.
Before Vietnam became independent, a team from French Indochina played against other national teams. They played against China in 1936 and 1948.
Vietnam's first official international game was on January 16, 1949. They drew 3-3 against South Korea in Saigon. This team later became the South Vietnam team.
Two Teams (1949–1975)
From 1956 to 1975, Vietnam was divided into North and South. So, there were two national football teams.
The South Vietnam team was very active. They played in the first two AFC Asian Cup finals in 1956 and 1960, finishing fourth both times. They won gold at the first Southeast Asian Games in 1959. They also won silver and bronze medals in other years. South Vietnam even qualified for the 1956 Summer Olympics but chose not to go.
The North Vietnam team played less often. They usually played against other communist countries. They were never members of the AFC or FIFA.
The Vietnam War greatly affected football in both parts of Vietnam. It made the country's football weaker. After the war ended in 1976, North and South Vietnam became one country again. The football groups joined to form the Vietnam Football Federation. Because South Vietnam was a FIFA member, the new unified Vietnam team is seen as its successor.
For many years, Vietnamese football struggled due to conflicts and international sanctions. But in 1991, Vietnam rejoined the global football community.
Coming Back Strong (1991–2006)
The unified Vietnam national team returned to international football at the 1991 Southeast Asian Games. They have played in every SEA Games since. Since 1994, Vietnam has also tried to qualify for the FIFA World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup.
Vietnam first tried to qualify for the 1994 World Cup. They had only one win in their first two World Cup campaigns.
In 1996, Vietnam finished third in the first ASEAN Football Federation Championship (then called the Tiger Cup). In 1998, Vietnam hosted the second Tiger Cup but lost 1-0 to Singapore in the final.
A big moment for Vietnamese football was in 1996. The famous Italian club Juventus came to Hanoi for a friendly match. Even though Vietnam lost, it helped football grow in the country.
Vietnam also hosted the 1999 Dunhill Cup, a friendly tournament. They surprised many by beating Russia 1-0 and drawing 2-2 with Iran. They reached the semi-finals but lost to China.
Vietnam's 2002 World Cup qualifiers had some good moments. They won three matches and drew one. But they did not qualify. In 2004, they had a surprising 1-0 win over South Korea. This was one of Vietnam's greatest football achievements.
A New Era (2007–2009)
Vietnam co-hosted the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Even though they were one of the lowest-ranked teams, they surprised everyone. They beat the UAE 2-0 and drew 1-1 with Qatar. They were the only Southeast Asian host team to reach the quarter-finals. This was the start of a big improvement for Vietnamese football.
Vietnam won its first AFF Championship title in 2008. They beat Thailand 2-1 in the first final match. In the second match at home, Lê Công Vinh scored a last-minute goal, making it 1-1. Vietnam won 3-2 overall. This was their first major international title since rejoining global football.
Challenges (2009–2014)
Between 2009 and 2014, Vietnamese football faced some tough times. The team tried to qualify for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and the 2015 Asian Cup, but they were not successful. They lost 6-0 to the United Arab Emirates in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. In the 2015 Asian Cup qualifiers, they lost five out of six matches. A 0-1 loss to Hong Kong in 2013 was considered a low point.
Vietnam also failed to defend their AFF Championship title in 2010. In 2012, they were knocked out in the group stage, which was their worst performance in eight years.
New Coaches, New Hope (2014–2017)
Toshiya Miura became Vietnam's coach from 2014 to 2016. He helped rebuild the team. Many young players he coached joined the senior team. In the 2014 AFF Championship, Vietnam played well but lost to Malaysia in the semi-finals.
Miura also led Vietnam in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. They drew 1-1 with Iraq at home. However, two losses to Thailand led to criticism, and Miura was eventually replaced.
Nguyễn Hữu Thắng took over as coach. Vietnam reached the semi-finals of the 2016 AFF Championship but lost to Indonesia. The team then faced a crisis of confidence. Interim coach Mai Đức Chung helped the team win two important Asian Cup qualification matches against Cambodia, which helped them qualify.
The Park Hang-seo Era (2017–2023)
Park Hang-seo, a former assistant coach for South Korea, became Vietnam's new coach on September 29, 2017. His first match was a 5-0 win against Cambodia. This helped Vietnam qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
Winning the AFF Championship in 2018
Văn Lâm
Đình Trọng
Duy Mạnh
Ngọc Hải (c)
Trọng Hoàng
Văn Hậu
Huy Hùng
Hùng Dũng
Quang Hải
Văn Đức
Anh Đức
Park's first big tournament was the 2018 AFF Championship. Vietnam won their group matches against Laos, Malaysia, and Cambodia, and drew with Myanmar. In the semi-finals, they beat the Philippines. They faced Malaysia again in the final. Vietnam drew 2-2 away from home. Then, they won 1-0 at home with an early goal from Nguyễn Anh Đức. This meant Vietnam won the AFF Championship after 10 years, without losing a single game! Nguyễn Quang Hải was named the best player.
Asian Cup Success in 2019
Vietnam gained international attention at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. They had the youngest team in the tournament. They lost to Iran and Iraq but beat Yemen 2-0. This helped them qualify for the Round of 16. Then, they surprised everyone by beating Jordan in a penalty shootout! This sent millions of Vietnamese fans into celebration. In the quarter-finals, they played against Japan. They lost 0-1, but it was a very close game.

World Cup Qualifiers in 2022
Vietnam played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. They were in a group with Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates. They started well, drawing with Thailand and beating Malaysia and Indonesia. They also beat the UAE 1-0 at home.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam had to play their remaining games in the UAE. Even with some key players injured, Vietnam did very well. They beat Indonesia 4-0 and Malaysia 2-1. They lost to the UAE 2-3 in their last match. However, they still made history! Vietnam qualified for the third and final round of the World Cup qualifiers for the first time ever. They also automatically qualified for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
In the third round, Vietnam was in a tough group with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, and Oman. They lost their first seven matches. But on February 1, 2022, they made history again! They beat China 3-1 at home. This was the first time a Southeast Asian team won a match in the final round of World Cup qualifiers. It was also Vietnam's first win against China in 65 years. In their last match, they drew 1-1 against Japan. This was Vietnam's best World Cup qualifying run ever.
AFF Championship in 2022
In October 2022, Park Hang-seo announced he would leave as coach after the 2022 AFF Championship. In this tournament, Vietnam won their group. They beat Indonesia in the semi-final but lost 3-2 to Thailand in the final.
Park Hang-seo is seen as the most successful coach in Vietnamese football history. FIFA praised Vietnam's progress under him. His achievements include leading the junior team to be Asian runners-up and winning two SEA Games gold medals. He also led the senior team to win the 2018 AFF Championship and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals.
After Park Hang-seo (2023–Present)
Philippe Troussier's Time (2023–2024)
On February 16, 2023, Philippe Troussier from France became the new coach. He had coached South Africa and Japan in past World Cups. His goal was to take Vietnam to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Before coaching the main team, Troussier led Vietnam's Olympic team to a bronze medal at the 2023 SEA Games.
Vietnam started its 2026 World Cup qualification in a group with Iraq, Philippines, and Indonesia. Troussier wanted to call up more Vietnamese players living abroad. He led the team to friendly wins against Hong Kong and Syria. However, they also had some big losses, including 0-6 against South Korea.
In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Vietnam beat the Philippines 2-0 away. But they lost 0-1 to Iraq at home. Troussier used many young players in these games.
Vietnam played in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. They were in a group with Japan, Iraq, and Indonesia. Many key players were injured, so the team was young and less experienced. They lost 2-4 to Japan, then 0-1 to Indonesia. This meant they were out of the tournament. In their last game, they lost 2-3 to Iraq.
Vietnam continued with the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification. They lost to Indonesia twice in March 2024, 0-1 away and 0-3 at home. This was their first home loss to Indonesia in 20 years. After these losses, the VFF ended Troussier's contract. Under him, Vietnam won only 4 out of 14 matches and lost 7 in a row.
Kim Sang-sik's Leadership (2024–Present)
Since Vietnam could no longer qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, they focused on the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Kim Sang-sik became the new coach on May 3, 2024. On June 6, he led Vietnam to a 3-2 victory over the Philippines, ending their losing streak. However, Indonesia's win meant Vietnam finished third in their group and did not advance in the World Cup qualifiers. They will now play in the final qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. They lost their last game to Iraq.
In the 2024 ASEAN Championship, Vietnam was in Group B. They played very well. They beat Laos 4-1, Indonesia 1-0, and Myanmar 5-0. They also drew 1-1 with the Philippines. They finished first in their group. This also helped their FIFA ranking improve.
In the semi-finals, Vietnam beat Singapore 2-0 in the first game and 3-1 in the second, winning 5-1 overall. In the finals, Vietnam played Thailand. They won the first game 2-1 and the second game 3-2. This meant Vietnam won the ASEAN Championship for the third time!
In the final round of 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification, Vietnam started with a 5-0 win over Laos. However, they then lost 0-4 to Malaysia, ending an 11-year unbeaten run against them.
Team Look
Jerseys
Vietnam's current jersey sponsor is Jogarbola. They started this partnership in January 2024. Before this, Vietnam had sponsors like Adidas, Li-Ning, Nike, and Grand Sport. The team's home jersey is usually all red with yellow details. The away jersey is all white with red details. Sometimes, they have also worn blue and yellow jerseys.
Jersey Sponsors
Jersey Sponsor | Years | Notes |
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1996–2005 | |
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2006–2008 | |
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2009–2014 | |
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2014–2023 | |
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2024– |
Team Logo
Unlike many national teams, Vietnam's jersey usually features the national flag instead of the VFF logo. The VFF logo is used on other team items like hats and bags. In 1998, the team did use an older VFF logo on their jersey.
In 2017, the VFF showed a new dragon logo for the men's team. But fans and media did not like it, so it was not used on the jerseys.
Nicknames
The VFF officially calls the team Golden Star Warriors (Những chiến binh sao vàng). This name comes from the star on the Vietnamese flag. Local media also simply call the team "Tuyển" (The selection).
Supporters
Vietnamese football fans are known for being very passionate. They celebrate big wins for both the senior and youth teams.
There are two main fan clubs: Vietnam Football Supporters (VFS), started in 2014, and Vietnam Golden Stars (VGS), started in 2017.
When the team wins important matches, the streets often fill with celebrating fans. This is called "street storming." Fans sing national songs and chant. This happened during the 2007 and 2019 AFC Asian Cups. It also happened when Vietnam won the AFF Championships in 2008 and 2018.
Home Stadiums
The Vietnam national team mainly plays at Mỹ Đình National Stadium in Hanoi. They also use other stadiums for home matches.
Vietnam National Football Team Home Stadiums | ||||
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Image | Stadium | Capacity | Location | Last match |
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Mỹ Đình National Stadium | 40,192 | Hanoi | v ![]() |
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Lạch Tray Stadium | 30,000 | Haiphong | v ![]() |
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Thiên Trường Stadium | 30,000 | Ninh Bình | v ![]() |
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Hàng Đẫy Stadium | 22,500 | Hanoi | v ![]() |
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Việt Trì Stadium | 20,000 | Phú Thọ | v ![]() |
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Gò Đậu Stadium | 18,250 | Ho Chi Minh City | v ![]() |
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Thống Nhất Stadium | 14,400 | Ho Chi Minh City | v ![]() |
Team Rivalries
Vietnam has strong rivalries with other Southeast Asian teams. These include Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. These rivalries are often because the countries are close to each other.
Opponent | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Details |
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58 | 25 | 11 | 22 | 83 | 79 | +4 | 43.10 | Matches |
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55 | 25 | 10 | 20 | 81 | 95 | −14 | 45.45 | |
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48 | 15 | 12 | 21 | 61 | 73 | −12 | 31.25 | Matches |
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41 | 23 | 13 | 5 | 76 | 42 | +34 | 56.10 |
Thailand Rivalry
Thailand is often seen as Vietnam's biggest rival in Southeast Asian football. Their matches are like the "El Clásico" of the region. They are always exciting to watch. Vietnam (including South Vietnam) has a slightly better overall record against Thailand. However, since 1991, Vietnam has won only 3 out of 29 matches against Thailand.
Vietnam's most memorable win against Thailand was in the 2008 AFF Championship final. They won 2-1 in Thailand and then drew 1-1 at home to win their first title.
Indonesia Rivalry
The rivalry with Indonesia is strong because both teams are often equally matched. For 20 years, from 1999 to 2019, Vietnam struggled against Indonesia in official tournaments. They only drew or lost. This changed on October 15, 2019, when Vietnam won 3-1 against Indonesia. In the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, Indonesia beat Vietnam 1-0, which knocked Vietnam out. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Vietnam lost twice to Indonesia, which ended their World Cup hopes.
Malaysia Rivalry
Malaysia is another strong rival. Matches between Vietnam and Malaysia are often tense. Since 1991, Vietnam has a much better record against Malaysia, with 14 wins and only 7 losses. Vietnam had been unbeaten against Malaysia from 2014 until June 2025, when they lost 0-4 in an Asian Cup qualifier.
Singapore Rivalry
Singapore used to be a big rival for Vietnam. Vietnam has won 23 out of 41 matches against Singapore. In the early 1990s, Vietnam struggled against Singapore, even losing the 1998 AFF Championship final to them. However, since 1998, Vietnam has been unbeaten against Singapore. As Singapore's football has declined and Vietnam's has improved, this rivalry has become less important.
Coaching Staff
Position | Name |
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Head coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
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Goalkeeper coach | ![]() |
Fitness coach | ![]() |
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Kit manager | ![]() |
Match analyst | ![]() |
Doctor | ![]() |
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Interpreter | ![]() |
Team manager | ![]() |
Technical director | ![]() |
Player Records
- Players in bold are still active with Vietnam.
Most Games Played
Rank | Player | Games | Goals | Years Played |
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1 | Lê Công Vinh | 83 | 51 | 2004–2016 |
2 | Quế Ngọc Hải | 80 | 6 | 2014–present |
3 | Phạm Thành Lương | 78 | 7 | 2008–2016 |
4 | Nguyễn Quang Hải | 76 | 14 | 2017–present |
5 | Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng | 74 | 12 | 2009–2022 |
6 | Nguyễn Minh Phương | 73 | 10 | 2002–2010 |
7 | Nguyễn Văn Toàn | 68 | 8 | 2016–present |
8 | Đỗ Duy Mạnh | 68 | 1 | 2015–present |
9 | Lê Tấn Tài | 64 | 3 | 2006–2014 |
10 | Nguyễn Tiến Linh | 62 | 25 | 2018–present |
Top Goal Scorers
Rank | Player | Goals | Games | Ratio | Years Played |
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1 | Lê Công Vinh (list) | 51 | 83 | 0.61 | 2004–2016 |
2 | Lê Huỳnh Đức | 27 | 52 | 0.52 | 1993–2004 |
3 | Nguyễn Tiến Linh | 25 | 62 | 0.4 | 2018–present |
4 | Nguyễn Hồng Sơn | 18 | 40 | 0.45 | 1993–2001 |
5 | Nguyễn Văn Quyết | 16 | 58 | 0.27 | 2011–2024 |
6 | Nguyễn Quang Hải | 14 | 76 | 0.18 | 2017–present |
7 | Phan Thanh Bình | 13 | 31 | 0.42 | 2003–2009 |
8 | Nguyễn Anh Đức | 12 | 36 | 0.33 | 2006–2019 |
Nguyễn Công Phượng | 12 | 56 | 0.21 | 2015–present | |
Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng | 12 | 74 | 0.16 | 2009–2022 |
Youngest Players
Rank | Player | Age | Date | Against | Tournament |
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1 | Phan Thanh Bình | 16 years 331 days | 27 September 2003 | ![]() |
2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
2 | Đoàn Văn Hậu | 18 years 140 days | 5 September 2017 | ![]() |
2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
3 | Lê Công Vinh | 18 years 183 days | 9 June 2004 | ![]() |
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification |
4 | Phạm Văn Quyến | 18 years 213 days | 27 November 2002 | ![]() |
Friendly |
5 | Nguyễn Thành Long Giang | 19 years 53 days | 28 October 2007 | ![]() |
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Nguyễn Đình Bắc | 10 October 2023 | ![]() |
Friendly |
Milestone Goals
Goals | Date | Scorer | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
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1. | 26 November 1991 | Nguyễn Văn Dũng | ![]() |
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1–0 | 2–2 | 1991 SEA Games |
100. | 25 August 2000 | Nguyễn Hồng Sơn | ![]() |
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2–1 | 2–2 | Friendly |
200. | 24 June 2007 | Lê Công Vinh | ![]() |
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1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
300. | 16 November 2014 | Nguyễn Văn Quyết | ![]() |
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2–1 | 3–1 | Friendly |
400. | 12 December 2021 | Nguyễn Quang Hải | ![]() |
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1–0 | 3–0 | 2020 AFF Championship |
ASEAN Championship Winning Captains
Year | Player |
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2008 | Phan Văn Tài Em |
2018 | Nguyễn Văn Quyết |
2024 | Đỗ Duy Mạnh |
Team Achievements
Regional Titles
- ASEAN Championship
- Champions (3): 2008, 2018, 2024
- Runners-up (2): 1998, 2022
- Third place (2): 1996, 2002
- Southeast Asian Games
- Gold medal (1): 1959
- Silver medal (4): 1967, 1973, 1995, 1999
- Bronze medal (4): 1961, 1965, 1971, 1997
Friendly Tournament Wins
- VFF Vietnam International Friendly Cup (1): 2022
- South Vietnam Independence Cup (6): 1961, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1974
- Merdeka Tournament (1): 1966
- AYA Bank Cup (1): 2016
- Pesta Sukan Cup (1): 1971
- Thai Army Cup (1): 1974
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Vietnam para niños