At Nội Bài Airport on Wednesday night, the team were welcomed by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Hoàng Đạo Cương; leaders from Sports Authority of Việt Nam and representatives from the Vietnam Football Federation.
Coach Kim Sang-sik is the first coach in the history of Southeast Asian football to win regional championship gold medals with both senior and U23 sides, and he did so in just seven months.
The tournament is jointly held by the Việt Nam Tennis Federation (VTF) and the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the Hoài Ân Sport Centre.
After the final whistle, thousands of fans poured onto the streets heading towards Hoàn Kiếm Lake to celebrate the national team's victory.
Việt Nam will face Japan, India and Chinese Taipei in the group stages.
The qualifiers are scheduled to take place from November 22 to 30, featuring 38 national teams divided into seven groups: three groups of six teams and four groups of five. The winners of each group will advance to the final tournament.
The annual competition, which features Việt Nam, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand, will be held from August 1-3 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
A single goal from striker Nguyễn Công Phương was enough to grant Việt Nam their third successive title, cementing their place as the tournament's most successful team.
Việt Nam won all their games in the lead-up to the final. They beat Laos 3-0 and Cambodia 2-1 in the group stages before beating the Philippines 2-1 in the semi.
Yamashita is one of 10 referees and 10 assistants selected by the AFF to officiate the tournament's 16 matches, which will take place at Việt Trì Stadium in Phú Thọ Province and Lạch Tray Stadium in Hải Phòng City.
The exact details of the contract were not revealed, but based on the transfer value of 400,000 euros (US$469,000) listed on transfermarkt.com, he is the most expensive OV player signed to date.
Thiên Khôi became new king of Việt Nam after winning the National Seven-a-side Football Championship (VPL-S6) on July 27 in Hà Nội.
The Hanoi Buffaloes claimed a narrow 96-94 victory over the Cantho Catfish in a high-stakes match at Tây Hồ Gymnasium on Sunday evening, consolidating their place at the top of the VBA standings.
This year's tournament features 97 players from 18 countries, competing in three categories: standard chess, rapid chess, and blitz chess, with a total prize pool of up to US$15,000.
Vietnamese football is witnessing a surge of Việt Kiều (Overseas Vietnamese) talent heading back to V.League 1 ahead of the 2025–26 season.
Tournament organisers have sent a letter to confirm Vietnamese competitors' participation in aerobics, women's beach handball, billiards, petanque, kickboxing, Muay Thai, wushu and jujitsu.
Thailand were the world powerhouse but it was Việt Nam the champion in the quadrant (team of four) event of the World Sepak Takraw Championship, also known as King's Cup, on July 27 in Songkhla Province, Thailand.
Nguyễn Anh Minh didn't win the trophy, but his silver medal in the US Junior Amateur Championship 2025 made history.