The football rivalry between Vietnam and Thailand is widely regarded as Southeast Asia's "Classic" showdown, with 60 matches played since 1956 (including South Vietnam's record) resulting in 26 Vietnamese wins, 22 Thai wins, and 12 draws. Historically, South Vietnam dominated early encounters, winning 20 of 28 matches before 1975, but after Vietnam's reunification and return to international play in 1991, Thailand established a prolonged period of superiority, recording 14 wins against just 2 losses until 2016. Since late 2017, the rivalry has become tightly contested, with each side winning 3 times and drawing 4 in their last 10 meetings, culminating in Vietnam's 5–3 aggregate victory in the 2024 ASEAN Championship final. While Thailand remains the region's most successful side with 7 AFF Championship titles to Vietnam's 3 (as of 2025), Vietnam has outperformed its rival in the AFC Asian Cup, notably reaching the knockout stage in 2007 and the quarterfinals in 2019. The rivalry is fueled by intense nationalism and has occasionally turned violent, such as at the 2015 AFF U-19 Championship, but it has also produced unforgettable moments like Vietnam's first regional title in the 2008 AFF final and Thailand's 3–0 win in 2018 World Cup qualifying.