The Vietnamese sports delegation is set for a pivotal day at the SEA Games on 17/12, with significant opportunities to secure gold medals across various disciplines. The day's schedule is highlighted by numerous finals, particularly in martial arts, rowing, and the highly anticipated women's football final.

Martial arts disciplines, Muay Thai and Pencak Silat, are expected to be strong contributors to Vietnam's medal tally. The team boasts 6 finalists in Muay Thai and 4 finalists in Pencak Silat, totaling 10 gold medal aspirations. In Muay Thai, finalists include: Duong Duc Bao (48kg), Nguyen Thi Chieu (57kg), Nguyen Thi Phuong Hau (57kg), Pham Ngoc Man (63,5kg), Bang Quang Thang (71kg), and Nguyen Thanh Tung (75kg). For Pencak Silat, the finalists are: Duong Thi Hai Quyen (class B, 50–55kg), Vu Duc Hung (class F, 70–75kg), Nguyen Tan Sang (class G, 75–80kg men), and Nguyen Duy Tuyen (class I, 85–90kg).

Rowing is another key sport for Vietnam on 17/12, with four crews competing for gold. The finals include: the women's lightweight single sculls featuring Ho Thi Duy, the men's double sculls with Dinh The Duc and Nguyen Thanh Dung, the men's lightweight double sculls with Hoang Van Dat and Nguyen Phu, and the women's quad sculls team comprising Bui Thi Thu Hien, Nguyen Van Giang, Dinh Thi Hao, and Pham Thi Hue. Additionally, Vietnam will participate in two handball finals, both against Thailand, for the men's and women's team events.

The day culminates with a crucial women's football final where Vietnam faces the Philippines at 19:30. This match represents a major opportunity for the Vietnamese team to secure a prestigious gold medal in a widely watched event, adding to the nation's overall success at the Games.

Other sports also feature important medal rounds and competitive matches. In shooting, finals are scheduled for the women's 50m rifle 3 positions and women's 25m sport pistol. Weightlifting will see finals in the women's 77kg, women's over 77kg, and men's over 94kg categories. Wrestling has four Greco–Roman finals for men in the 67kg, 77kg, 87kg, and 97kg divisions. Fencing will host semifinals and finals for men's individual sabre, men's individual epee, and women's individual foil.

Archery has multiple medal matches, including the men's team recurve final against Indonesia, and bronze medal matches for the women's team recurve, mixed team recurve, women's individual recurve, and men's individual recurve. Diving will feature the men's 1m springboard final with Nguyen Tung Duong. Table tennis has the men's doubles final scheduled for 19:40. In cycling, Nguyen Thi That, Nguyen Thi Thi, Nguyen Thi Thu Mai, Lam Thi Thuy Duong, and Lam Thi Kim Ngan will compete in the women's individual mass start road race final. Basketball 5x5 men's and women's teams will play their semifinals, as will the men's doubles Maruk standard chess team.

Preliminary rounds and group stages continue for several sports, including men's futsal (Vietnam vs. Indonesia), e-sports (Free Fire team event point rush round), and sepak takraw (men's and women's team events). Sailing will also hold its keelboat SSL47 qualification round.