# Thailand–Vietnam football rivalry

The football rivalry between Vietnam and Thailand is considered by many as a major sporting rivalry in Southeast Asia. Including the records of the South Vietnam, both sides have faced each other in 58 matches since 1956, with Vietnam winning 25, Thailand 22 and 11 resulting in a draw. As one of the most popular rivalries in Southeast Asia, matches between Thailand and Vietnam often attract huge attention from the media and supporters in both countries.

## Background

The Thailand and Vietnam national football teams first faced each other (after Vietnamese reunification) at the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai. Competitions between the two countries' teams have since developed into a fierce sporting rivalry, influenced by a strong sense of nationalism on both sides. This has at times erupted into violence, notably at the 2015 AFF U-19 Youth Championship in Vientiane.
Historically, Thailand is the most successful side in Southeast Asian men's football, winning a total of 7 AFF Championship titles as opposed to Vietnam's 3 (as of 2025). Since the 21st century, Thailand has also qualified for the AFC Asian Cup more times than Vietnam, although the latter achieved better overall performances in two of the 3 editions they managed to qualify for. During the 2007 AFC Asian Cup Vietnam became the only host country to reach the knockout phase after three other hosts: Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia were all eliminated in the group stage. In the 2019 edition, Vietnam reached the quarterfinals while Thailand was knocked out in the round of 16.
Despite being termed a "rivalry" by the media, since 1995 the fixtures have mostly been in favor of Thailand with occasional upsets from Vietnam. During the early period, Thailand had inferior overall records against South Vietnam, losing 20 out of 27 matches and winning only 4. However, after a unified Vietnam returned to international football in 1991, Thailand displayed remarkable domination when they recorded 17 wins, 9 draws, and only 5 losses. The most recent confrontation between these two teams took place in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final, where Vietnam won both legs with a 5–3 aggregate score (2–1 first leg and 3–2 second leg).
One of Vietnam's most memorable victories against Thailand since its reintegration was in the 2008 AFF Championship final when a 2–1 win in the first leg in Bangkok set them up for their first-ever regional title, which they secured after a 1–1 draw in Hanoi.

## List of matches
### Thailand vs. South Vietnam

| # | Date | Home | Result | Away | Venue | Tournament |
| 1 | 1956 | South Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand | Saigon | Friendly |
| 2 | 1956 | South Vietnam | 3–1 | Thailand | Saigon | Friendly |
| 3 | 13 December 1959 | Thailand | 0–4 | South Vietnam | Bangkok | SEAP Games 1959 (group stage) |
| 4 | 17 December 1959 | Thailand | 1–3 | South Vietnam | Bangkok | SEAP Games 1959 (gold medal match) |
| 5 | 16 August 1961 | South Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand | Singapore | Friendly |
| 6 | 11 December 1961 | Thailand | 0–0 | South Vietnam | Rangoon | SEAP Games 1961 (group stage) |
| 7 | 16 December 1961 | Thailand | 1–1 | South Vietnam | Rangoon | SEAP Games 1961 (bronze medal match) |
| 8 | 28 October 1962 | South Vietnam | 0–1 | Thailand | Saigon | 1962 Independence Cup (group stage) |
| 9 | 17 August 1963 | South Vietnam | 3–2 | Thailand | Kuala Lumpur | 1963 Merdeka Tournament |
| 10 | 14 December 1963 | South Vietnam | 3–0 | Thailand | Saigon | 1964 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 11 | 13 November 1965 | South Vietnam | 4–0 | Thailand | Saigon | 1965 Independence Cup |
| 12 | 15 December 1965 | Thailand | 2–1 | South Vietnam | Kuala Lumpur | SEAP Games 1965 (group stage) |
| 13 | 18 December 1965 | Thailand | 2–0 | South Vietnam | Kuala Lumpur | SEAP Games 1965 (semi-final) |
| 14 | 5 November 1966 | South Vietnam | 4–1 | Thailand | Saigon | 1966 Independence Cup |
| 15 | 24 March 1967 | Thailand | 0–1 | South Vietnam | Hong Kong | 1968 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 16 | 19 August 1967 | South Vietnam | 5–2 | Thailand | Ipoh | 1967 Merdeka Tournament |
| 17 | 14 December 1967 | Thailand | 0–5 | South Vietnam | Bangkok | SEAP Games 1967 (semi-final) |
| 18 | 15 August 1968 | Thailand | 2–3 | South Vietnam | Ipoh | 1968 Merdeka Tournament |
| 19 | 1 November 1970 | South Vietnam | 1–0 | Thailand | Saigon | 1970 Independence Cup (final) |
| 20 | 13 December 1970 | Thailand | 1–0 | South Vietnam | Bangkok | 1970 Asian Games (group stage) |
| 21 | 10 August 1971 | South Vietnam | 4–2 | Thailand | Kuala Lumpur | 1971 Merdeka Tournament (group stage) |
| 22 | 26 August 1971 | South Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand | Singapore | Friendly |
| 23 | 30 October 1971 | South Vietnam | 3–0 | Thailand | Saigon | 1974 Independence Cup (semi-final) |
| 24 | 11 November 1971 | Thailand | 0–1 | South Vietnam | Bangkok | 1971 King's Cup (group stage) |
| 25 | 18 December 1971 | Thailand | 0–0 | South Vietnam | Kuala Lumpur | SEAP Games 1971 (bronze medal match) |
| 26 | 16 May 1973 | South Vietnam | 1–0 | Thailand | Seoul | 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 27 | 9 November 1974 | South Vietnam | 3–2 | Thailand | Saigon | 1974 Independence Cup |
| 28 | 21 March 1975 | Thailand | 4–0 | South Vietnam | Bangkok | 1976 AFC Asian Cup qualification |

### Thailand vs. Vietnam

| # | Date | Home | Result | Away | Venue | Tournament |
| 1 | 10 December 1995 | Thailand | 3–1 | Vietnam | Chiang Mai | SEA Games 1995 (group stage) |
| 2 | 16 December 1995 | Thailand | 4–0 | Vietnam | Chiang Mai | SEA Games 1995 (gold medal match) |
| 3 | 13 September 1996 | Thailand | 4–2 | Vietnam | Kallang | 1996 AFF Championship (semi-final) |
| 4 | 16 October 1997 | Thailand | 2–1 | Vietnam | Jakarta | SEA Games 1997 (semi-final) |
| 5 | 3 September 1998 | Vietnam | 3–0 | Thailand | Hanoi | 1998 AFF Championship (semi-final) |
| 6 | 5 August 1999 | Vietnam | 0–0 | Thailand | Bandar Seri Begawan | SEA Games 1999 (group stage) |
| 7 | 14 August 1999 | Thailand | 2–0 | Vietnam | Bandar Seri Begawan | SEA Games 1999 (gold medal match) |
| 8 | 8 December 2002 | Thailand | 2–1 | Vietnam | Bangkok | Friendly |
| 9 | 27 December 2002 | Thailand | 4–0 | Vietnam | Jakarta | 2002 AFF Championship (semi-final) |
| 10 | 24 December 2006 | Thailand | 2–1 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2006 King's Cup (group stage) |
| 11 | 30 December 2006 | Thailand | 3–1 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2006 King's Cup (final) |
| 12 | 24 January 2007 | Vietnam | 0–2 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2007 AFF Championship (first leg semi-final) |
| 13 | 28 January 2007 | Thailand | 0–0 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2007 AFF Championship (second leg semi-final) |
| 14 | 16 November 2008 | Vietnam | 2–2 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2008 T&T Cup |
| 15 | 6 December 2008 | Thailand | 2–0 | Vietnam | Phuket | 2008 AFF Championship (group stage) |
| 16 | 24 December 2008 | Thailand | 1–2 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2008 AFF Championship (first-leg final) |
| 17 | 28 December 2008 | Vietnam | 1–1 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2008 AFF Championship (second-leg final) |
| 18 | 30 November 2012 | Thailand | 3–1 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2012 AFF Championship (group stage) |
| 19 | 24 May 2015 | Thailand | 1–0 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20 | 13 October 2015 | Vietnam | 0–3 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 21 | 5 June 2019 | Thailand | 0–1 | Vietnam | Buriram | 2019 King's Cup (semi-final) |
| 22 | 5 September 2019 | Thailand | 0–0 | Vietnam | Pathum Thani | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 23 | 19 November 2019 | Vietnam | 0–0 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 24 | 23 December 2021 | Vietnam | 0–2 | Thailand | Kallang | 2020 AFF Championship (first leg semi-finals) |
| 25 | 26 December 2021 | Thailand | 0–0 | Vietnam | Kallang | 2020 AFF Championship (second leg semi-finals) |
| 26 | 13 January 2023 | Vietnam | 2–2 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2022 AFF Championship (first leg final) |
| 27 | 16 January 2023 | Thailand | 1–0 | Vietnam | Pathum Thani | 2022 AFF Championship (second leg final) |
| 28 | 10 September 2024 | Vietnam | 1–2 | Thailand | Hanoi | 2024 LPBank Cup |
| 29 | 2 January 2025 | Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand | Việt Trì | 2024 ASEAN Championship (first leg final) |
| 30 | 5 January 2025 | Thailand | 2–3 | Vietnam | Bangkok | 2024 ASEAN Championship (second leg final) |

## Statistics
### Honours

| Vietnam | Competition | Thailand |
| Southeast Asia, Asia and Worldwide |||
| 3 | ASEAN Championship | 7 |
| 3 | Southeast Asian Games (until 2019) | 16 |
| Best: Fourth place (As South Vietnam) | AFC Asian Cup | Best: Third place |
| Best: Fourth place (As South Vietnam) | Asian Games (until 1998) | Best: Fourth place |
| Best: Qualified round 3 | FIFA World Cup | Best: Qualified round 3 |
| – | Summer Olympics (until 1988) | Best: Group stage |

### Top scorers

As of 5 January 2025
Players in bold are still active for the national team
| Rank | Player | Goals |
| 1 | Natipong Sritong-In | 6 |
| 2 | Totchtawan Sripan | 3 |
| 2 | Kiatisuk Senamuang | 3 |
| 2 | Datsakorn Thonglao | 3 |
| 2 | Lê Công Vinh | 3 |
| 7 | Nguyễn Hồng Sơn | 2 |
| 7 | Nguyễn Xuân Son | 2 |
| 7 | Phan Thanh Bình | 2 |
| 7 | Cù Sinh | 2 |
| 7 | Teerasil Dangda | 2 |
| 7 | Kirati Keawsombat | 2 |
| 7 | Chanathip Songkrasin | 2 |
| 7 | Theerathon Bunmathan | 2 |

## Women's matches

The two nations also have a strong rivalry in women's football as they are the only pair of teams to win gold medals in Southeast Asian Games in every tournament played. Out of 36 matches played, Vietnam has won 18, Thailand 9 and 9 were drawn.
| No. | Date | Competition | Home team | Score | Away team | Venue | Goals (home) | Goals (away) |
| 1. | 7 October 1997 | 1997 Southeast Asian Games | Thailand | 3–2 | Vietnam | Jakarta | unknown | unknown |
| 2. | 10 December 1998 | 1998 Asian Games | Thailand | 1–1 | Vietnam | Thupatemi Stadium, Pathum Thani | unknown | unknown |
| 3. | 15 September 2001 | 2001 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 4–0 | Thailand | Petaling Jaya | Bùi Thị Hiền Lương 9', 83' Nguyễn Thị Thuý Nga 30' (pen.) Lưu Ngọc Mai 49' (pen.) | |
| 4. | 2003 | Friendly | Vietnam | 3–0 | Thailand | Quảng Ninh | unknown | |
| 5. | 8 December 2003 | 2003 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 3–1 | Thailand | Lạch Tray Stadium, Hải Phòng | Lưu Ngọc Mai 6' Phùng Minh Nguyệt 36' Saipin 49' (o.g.) | Piamsin 63' |
| 6. | 20 April 2004 | 2004 Summer Olympics qualification | Vietnam | 0–0 | Thailand | Komazawa Olympic Park Stadium, Tokyo | | |
| 7. | 26 November 2005 | 2005 Southeast Asian Games | Thailand | 0–1 | Vietnam | Marikina Sports Complex, Marikina | | Đỗ Hồng Tiến 20' |
| 8. | 31 May 2006 | 2006 AFF Women's Championship | Vietnam | 3–2 | Thailand | Thành Long Sports Centre, Hồ Chí Minh City | unknown | unknown |
| 9. | 19 February 2007 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualification | Thailand | 1–0 | Vietnam | Thai-Japanese Stadium, Bangkok | unknown 85' | |
| 10. | 3 June 2007 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualification | Vietnam | 1–0 | Thailand | Lạch Tray Stadium, Hải Phòng | Nhiêu Thùy Linh 41' | |
| 11. | 10 June 2007 | 2008 Summer Olympics qualification | Thailand | 5–0 | Vietnam | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok | unknown | |
| 12. | 13 September 2007 | 2007 AFF Women's Championship | Vietnam | 0–3 | Thailand | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon | | Sunisa 2' Nisa ?' 75' |
| 13. | 13 December 2007 | 2007 Southeast Asian Games | Thailand | 2–0 | Vietnam | Nakhon Ratchasima Municipal Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima | Pitsamai 61' Anootsara 71' (pen.) | |
| 14. | 1 June 2008 | 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Vietnam | 1–0 | Thailand | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City | Đoàn Thị Kim Chi 70' | |
| 15. | 18 October 2008 | 2008 AFF Women's Championship | Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand | Thành Long Sports Centre, Hồ Chí Minh City | Trần Thị Kim Hồng 8' (pen.), 50' (pen.) | Nisa 52' |
| 16. | 23 October 2009 | Friendly | Vietnam | 2–0 | Thailand | Cẩm Phả Stadium, Cẩm Phả | Đỗ Thị Ngọc Châm 24', 77' | |
| 17. | 11 December 2009 | 2009 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 2–2 | Thailand | National University of Laos Stadium, Vientiane | Nguyễn Thị Muôn 4' Văn Thị Thanh 32' | Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Anh 41' (o.g.) Sukunya 88' |
| 18. | 16 December 2009 | 2009 Southeast Asian Games | Thailand | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (0–3 p) | Vietnam | Laos National Stadium, Vientiane | |
| 19. | 25 March 2011 | 2012 Summer Olympics qualification | Vietnam | 2–1 | Thailand | Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung | Nguyễn Thị Hòa 53' Lê Thu Thanh Hương 90+2' | Chidtawan 1' |
| 20. | 12 June 2011 | 2012 Summer Olympics qualification | Vietnam | 3–3 | Thailand | King Abdullah Stadium, Amman | Lê Thị Thương 8' Nguyễn Thị Muôn 12' Lê Thu Thanh Hương 37' | Nguyễn Hải Hòa 18' (o.g.) Kanjana 25' Wilaiporn 84' |
| 21. | 9 September 2013 | 2013 AFF Women's Championship | Thailand | 0–0 | Vietnam | Thuwunna Stadium, Yangon | |
| 22. | 13 December 2013 | 2013 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 1–2 | Thailand | Mandalarthiri Stadium, Mandalay | Nguyễn Thị Minh Nguyệt 33' | Naphat 40' Anootsara 47' |
| 23. | 21 May 2014 | 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Vietnam | 1–2 | Thailand | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City | Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung 86' | Kanjana 48', 65' |
| 24. | 26 September 2014 | 2014 Asian Games | Thailand | 1–2 | Vietnam | Goyang Stadium, Goyang | Nisa 51' | Nguyễn Thị Liễu 53' Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung 67' |
| 25. | 8 May 2015 | 2015 AFF Women's Championship | Vietnam | 1–2 (a.e.t.) | Thailand | Thống Nhất Stadium, Hồ Chí Minh City | Nguyễn Thị Liễu 30' | Nisa 52', 92' |
| 26. | 22 September 2015 | 2016 Summer Olympics qualification | Thailand | 0–2 | Vietnam | Mandalarthiri Stadium, Mandalay | | Nguyễn Thị Minh Nguyệt 39', 83' |
| 27. | 30 July 2016 | 2016 AFF Women's Championship | Thailand | 0–2 | Vietnam | Mandalarthiri Stadium, Mandalay | | Huỳnh Như 85' Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt 90+4' |
| 28. | 4 August 2016 | 2016 AFF Women's Championship | Vietnam | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–6 p) | Thailand | Mandalarthiri Stadium, Mandalay | Nguyễn Thị Minh Nguyệt 85' | Rattikan 7' |
| 29. | 22 August 2017 | 2017 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 1–1 | Thailand | UiTM Stadium, Shah Alam | Phạm Hải Yến 11' | Rattikan 41' |
| 30. | 24 January 2018 | 2018 Four Nations Tournament | Thailand | 2–0 | Vietnam | Century Lotus Stadium, Foshan | Taneekarn 83' Kanjana 90' (pen.) | |
| 31. | 19 August 2018 | 2018 Asian Games | Vietnam | 3–2 | Thailand | Bumi Sriwijaya Stadium, Palembang | Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung 22' Nguyễn Thị Vạn 33' Nguyễn Thị Liễu 40' | Suchawadee 30' (pen.) Pitsamai 79' |
| 32. | 27 August 2019 | 2019 AFF Women's Championship | Thailand | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Vietnam | IPE Chonburi Stadium 1, Chonburi | | Huỳnh Như 93' |
| 33. | 26 November 2019 | 2019 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 1–1 | Thailand | Biñan Football Stadium, Biñan | Dương Thị Vân 45+1' | Taneekarn 87' |
| 34. | 8 December 2019 | 2019 Southeast Asian Games | Thailand | 0–1 (a.e.t.) | Vietnam | Rizal Memorial Stadium, Manila | | Phạm Hải Yến 92' |
| 35. | 2 February 2022 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup | Thailand | 0–2 | Vietnam | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai | | Huỳnh Như 19' Thái Thị Thảo 24' |
| 36. | 21 May 2022 | 2021 Southeast Asian Games | Vietnam | 1–0 | Thailand | Cẩm Phả Stadium, Cẩm Phả | Huỳnh Như 59' | |