Vietnam practiced at 4 p.m. on the training pitch at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex. The team was unable to practice on the main field due to preparations for the third-place match between Thailand and the Philippines later that evening.

During Vietnam's training, a man was spotted on the stadium roof, watching the session while smoking. A member of the Vietnamese team had to ask him to leave to avoid disrupting the practice. The man had an AFF U23 Championship accreditation badge and claimed to be a stadium employee.

This was Vietnam's final training session before facing host nation Indonesia in the final at 8 p.m. on Saturday, 29/7. The team gathered to listen to coach Kim Sang-sik's final instructions.

In the pre-match press conference held an hour before training, the 49-year-old coach affirmed that Vietnam was well-prepared and ready to aim for victory. He stated that the team would strive to overcome any psychological barriers presented by the Indonesian crowd.

Captain Khuat Van Khang (left) and his teammates maintained a relaxed atmosphere throughout the session. Khang is among the five players who were part of the 2023 championship-winning squad. The others are goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, midfielders Nguyen Van Truong and Nguyen Phi Hoang, and forward Nguyen Quoc Viet. Viet was also a member of the 2022 AFF U23 Championship winning team.

The players began their session with warm-up exercises, running, and games to maintain a relaxed atmosphere.

Nguyen Xuan Bac (left) has drawn attention with his impressive performance in the semi-final. The 22-year-old midfielder from Phu Tho scored the winning header to secure a 2-1 victory for Vietnam. He, along with right-back Vo Anh Quan, developed his skills at the PVF Academy.

Nguyen Cong Phuong also impressed in the semi-final playing as an attacking midfielder. The 19-year-old created several chances and nearly scored early in the second half, only to be denied by a brilliant save from the Philippines goalkeeper. Phuong, who hails from Hai Duong, honed his talents at the The Cong Viettel academy and is considered one of the most prominent players in the current Vietnam U19 team.

Forward Nguyen Quoc Viet (left) is also in good condition for Saturday's match against Indonesia. He suffered an injury after being fouled from behind late in the semi-final but fortunately only sustained soft tissue damage to his ankle.

Viet hasn't scored in this tournament but remains a key player in coach Kim Sang-sik's attack. He has the opportunity to become the first player to win three AFF U23 Championship titles.

In the 2023 tournament, the forward, who previously played for Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Ninh Binh FC, missed a penalty kick, resulting in a draw with Indonesia after extra time. However, Vietnam won 6-5 in the penalty shootout to secure their second consecutive title.

Hieu Luong