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Fans erupted into joy when Vietnamese footballer Anh Duc scored a goal at the 6th minute.
Vietnamese fans on the Nguyen Hue Walking Street, Saigon watch on and cheer for the national team.
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A femal fan in central Quang Nam Province cheers as Vietnam scores its first goal in the 6th minute.
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The moment when Vietnam scores its first goal.
In an apparent rehearsal ahead of the final showdown of the AFF Cup between Vietnam and Malaysia at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi Saturday night, fans took to the streets hours before the match set to begin.
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South Koreans who watch the match live from saigon want Vietnam to win. South Korean tourist Daragon Kim, 28, said he hoped Vietnam would win the championship.
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It's another hour and a half before the match begins, but the My Dinh Stadium is virtually packed. National flags, banners and pictures of the South Korean coach Park Hang-seo can be spotted among the crowd.
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Hundreds gather outside the My Dinh Stadium in anticipation for the final.
Video below shows fans burning flares outside My Dinh Stadium.
The streets in the central province of Quang Ngai are soaked from the rain, but the heat from Vietnamese fans never died down at all. A group of merchants shouted: "Vietnam, the champion! Vietnam, the champion!"
Nguyen Thi Lan, a local merchant, said she and other fellow merchants have prepared shirts with the Vietnamese national flags printed on them beforehand to cheer for the team.
Ultras Malaya, a group of Malaysian football-crazed fans, lights flares on their way into the My Dinh National Stadium. From their gathering point at a local hotel near the Stadium, hundreds of Malaysian fans march towards My Dinh, sporting flags, flares and banners, while screaming the motto "Harimau Malaya," meaning The Tigers of Malaya - their national team's nickname.
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A boy on the Le Thanh Ton Street in the central city of Nha Trang plays with his honk to cheer for Vietnam in the final match, wearing a headband saying "Vietnam".
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At the My Dinh National Stadium, a man showcases his peculiar costume to cheer for Vietnam's national team.
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Near the My Dinh Stadium, national flags flutter en-masse, painting the area in red.
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A van with Vietnamese fans, sporting flags and banners, runs through a street in Hanoi.
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One fan had his Mercedes Benz car repainted for the occasion in the national flag colors, proclaiming a massive win for Vietnam. The car's rear registration plate was covered with a South Korean flag, in tribute to the team's coach, Park Hang-seo. Photo by Laura Mueller.
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A female Vietnamese fan cheers on a street.
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People gather in the heart of Hanoi, waving flags and cheering in jubilance.
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Malaysian fans storm the streets of Hanoi to cheer for their team. A male Malaysian fan shouts in excitement.
Meanwhile, Ultras Malaya also parades on Dao Duy Tu Street, Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District, towards the My Dinh National Stadium from Saturday noon to cheer for their national team as well.
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In Ho Chi Minh City, all households at an apartment building fly national flags.
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Fans gather on HCMC's Nguyen Hue walking street to watch the live broadcast of the game.
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A woman in HCMC checks a national flag T-shirt to prepare to join the parade.
Before the final match, Park Hang-seo, the South Korean coach of Vietnam’s national team said the fans’ enthusiasm might create pressure for his players. "But I hope they would stay as calm as possible to prepare for the match."
Malaysian coach Tan Chang Hoe affirmed that the team would not back down before any difficulty that may arise.
"We will go all out for the final match at My Dinh Stadium," he said.
To secure the cup, Vietnam should score an outright win, or a 1-1 or a goalless draw at least.
The match will begin at 7:30pm local time and as usual, will be broadcast live on national television and reported live on VnExpress International. Here’s to a good game!
