Vietnam had its most successful day at the 33rd SEA Games on December 17, collecting 16 gold, 17 silver, and 6 bronze medals. This brought the national tally to 64 gold, 69 silver, and 94 bronze medals, firmly securing third place overall.

Among the highlights of the day was a dominant showing from rowing, which reaffirmed its status as Vietnam’s gold mine with multiple championship finishes. Wrestling also delivered strong results, with Vietnamese athletes asserting control across crucial weight categories.

Other contributing sports included pencak silat, muay, shooting, fencing, and women's handball - where Vietnam triumphed over Thailand 24-16 in the final.

This surge in medals has narrowed the gap with Indonesia and provided a significant morale boost for the final days of competition. The results reflect Vietnam’s long-term investment in both Olympic and traditional sports, emphasizing the depth and sustainability of its athletic development.

Vietnam’s gold medalists on December 17

·        Rowing: Ho Thi Duy (women’s lightweight single sculls); Hoang Van Dat – Nguyen Phu (men’s lightweight coxless pair); Bui Thi Thu Hien – Nguyen Van Giang – Dinh Thi Hao – Pham Thi Hue (women’s coxless four)

·        Shooting: Nguyen Thuy Dung – Nguyen Thuy Trang – Trinh Thu Vinh (women’s 25m pistol team); Trinh Thu Vinh (women’s 25m sport pistol)

·        Pencak silat: Nguyen Tan Sang (men’s 75-80kg); Nguyen Duy Tuyen (men’s under 90kg)

·        Wrestling: Nguyen Cong Manh (men’s 77kg); Nghiem Dinh Hieu (men’s 87kg); Nguyen Minh Hieu (men’s 97kg)

·        Weightlifting: Tran Dinh Thang (men’s over 94kg)

·        Muay: Nguyen Thi Chieu (women’s 57kg); Nguyen Thi Phuong Hau (women’s 60kg)

·        Fencing: Nguyen Phuoc Den (men’s épée); Nguyen Xuan Loi (men’s sabre)

·        Women’s handball: Vietnam defeats Thailand 24-16 in the final

Silver medalists (17)

Duong Thi Hai Quyen (pencak silat, 50-55kg); Le Quoc Phong – Nguyen Duy – Nguyen Minh Duc (men’s team recurve archery); Nguyen Thuy Trang (shooting, 25m sport pistol); Vu Duc Hung (pencak silat, 70-75kg); Phasiro (weightlifting, women’s over 77kg); Duong Duc Bao (muay, 48kg); Trieu Huyen Diep (women’s individual recurve archery); Nguyen Van Quyet (fencing, men’s sabre); men’s handball team; Pham Ngoc Man (muay, 63.5kg); Bang Quang Thang (muay, 71kg); Nguyen Thanh Tung (muay, 75kg); women’s football team

Bronze medalists (6)

Doan Ba Tuan Anh – Nguyen Duc Tuan (men’s table tennis doubles); Nguyen Thi Phuong (weightlifting); Loc Thi Dao (women’s individual recurve archery); Nguyen Minh Duc (men’s individual recurve archery); Mai Khanh Hoang (muay, 45kg)

Thien Binh