The medal table on December 13 shows a fierce battle among Southeast Asian nations, with Vietnam closely trailing host Thailand. Vietnam recorded 30 gold, 29 silver, and 54 bronze medals, totaling 113 overall. The team has shown consistency and efficiency, particularly in athletics and martial arts. However, with only six additional gold medals earned during the day, Vietnam lost its second-place standing to Indonesia.

Thailand, the host country, continues to dominate the table with 94 gold, 60 silver, and 39 bronze medals, totaling 194. This commanding lead reflects the host’s significant investment across various sports, especially in key disciplines such as Muay Thai, pencak silat, karate, and other martial arts.

Vietnam’s steady performance and strong competitive presence still offer hope of catching up in the final days, should momentum be maintained.

Vietnam’s first gold of December 13 came in karate, with fighter Hoang Thi My Tam claiming victory in the under-61kg final against a Thai opponent. Dubbed a martial arts "hot girl" in Vietnam, she delivered a memorable win for the national team.

Just minutes later, Nguyen Thanh Truong and Dinh Thi Huong followed with more golds, bringing joy to Vietnamese fans.

The medal tally on December 12 had marked a strong surge for Team Vietnam. With a series of gold medals that day, Vietnam climbed to second place with 24 gold, 17 silver, and 43 bronze medals - a total of 84.

This was a major step, as Vietnam surged past Indonesia (72 total medals) and sat just behind Thailand, who had 65 gold medals at the time.

Vietnam’s success has come from several sports, most notably swimming. Nguyen Quang Thuan broke a SEA Games record in the 400m individual medley, while Nguyen Huy Hoang delivered a standout performance in the 1,500m freestyle.

This upward momentum positions Vietnam strongly for the final sprint of the competition, opening up the possibility of narrowing the gap with Thailand in the remaining days.

Thien Binh