With SEA Games 33 concluded, Vietnam secured 87 gold, 81 silver, and 110 bronze medals  -  ranking third behind Indonesia and host nation Thailand. This marks another consecutive top-three finish for Vietnam since 2003.

But the challenge ahead looms larger. In just under a year, Vietnam will compete at the 2026 Asian Games (Asiad) in Japan  -  a stage known for fierce competition and higher standards. As such, SEA Games 33 served as a crucial test to evaluate potential medal contenders.

“Through this SEA Games, we identified key athletes and events with potential for Olympic and Asiad success,” said Nguyen Hong Minh, head of the Vietnamese sports delegation.

“With a vision stretching to 2030 and even 2045, this SEA Games was pivotal. It helped us assess the entire team. Many of our young athletes still have years of peak performance ahead,” he added.

Shooting leads medal hopes

Shooting remains one of Vietnam’s strongest medal prospects, not just at Asiad but possibly at Olympic level. Trinh Thu Vinh, who finished fourth at the Olympics, captured four gold medals and set three SEA Games records this year.

Vietnam’s shooting team also includes 2–3 other athletes capable of competing at the continental level.

Athletics shows new depth

Vietnam’s athletics squad delivered 12 gold medals at SEA Games 33, with many standout performances from rising stars.

High jumper Bui Thi Kim Anh cleared 1.86m  -  matching the gold medal height from Asiad 19.

Long jumper Tran Thi Loan reached 6.53m, nearly matching the 6.55m gold medal jump by senior athlete Bui Thi Thu Thao in Asiad 18.

Meanwhile, Le Thi Tu Anh claimed silver in the 200m with a time of 23.14 seconds, breaking a 15-year-old national record held by Vu Thi Huong.

Young sprinters Ta Ngoc Tuong and Le Ngoc Phuc also shone in the 400m mixed relay, earning a gold medal and setting a new SEA Games record.

Swimming stars stay consistent

Vietnamese swimmers also impressed, bringing home seven gold medals  -  six of them from seasoned names like Pham Thanh Bao (2 golds), Tran Hung Nguyen, Nguyen Huy Hoang, Nguyen Quang Thuấn, and Tran Van Nguyen Quoc.

Though winning gold in swimming and athletics at the Asiad remains difficult, the emergence of young talents like Kim Anh, Tran Thi Loan, and Tu Anh suggests long-term promise  -  provided they receive proper investment and support.

More Olympic-class events yield success

Beyond swimming and track, Vietnam performed strongly in several Olympic and Asiad disciplines.

The wrestling team captured 10 golds, karate earned 6, rowing secured 4, and canoeing contributed 2.

Martial artist Duong Thuy Vi, though unable to defend her SEA Games title, registered the highest difficulty level in her category  -  a strategic move to prepare for Asiad 2026. Notably, she won Vietnam’s only gold medal at the 2014 Asiad.

While Vietnam fell short of its SEA Games gold medal target (excluding five golds from non-Olympic demonstration sports), it’s worth noting that over 70% of medals came from Olympic and Asiad sports.

This marks a significant shift in both quality and quantity among Vietnam’s key sporting disciplines.

The real test lies nine months ahead, at the 2026 Asiad, where Vietnam’s athletes will face the region’s toughest competition.

Dai Nam