Vietnam won the first AFF Championship title in 2008, in which they were held in Group B with Thailand, Malaysia and Laos. After losing to Thailand 0–2 in the opener, Vietnam defeated Malaysia 3–2 and Laos 4–0. In the semi-finals, Vietnam held the defending champion Singapore to 0–0 in the home match before winning 1–0 away. Vietnam met Thailand again in the finals and defeated them 3–2 by aggregate, winning the away match 2–1 then drawing 1–1 at home. This would be the team's first international honour since rejoining global football, and it would take 10 years until the team repeated this feat.