Ho Chi Minh City: The AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup Trophy Tour reached it’s fifth and final port of call on Saturday when it touched down in southern Vietnam.

Over the past couple of months, the tour has visited Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and, now, Ho Chi Minh City as the build-up to Southeast Asia’s festival of football gathers pace.

Fans of the Golden Star Warriors enjoyed the free-to-attend event at the AEON Mall Binh Tan where Vietnam legends Nguyen Minh Phuong and Nguyen Viet Thang, who were part of the 2008 title-winning team, were the special guests.

The two former internationals were on the pitch to lead a training clinic with the youngsters in attendance, took part in a Q&A session, and signed autographs and posed for photos with those present.

Minh Phuong represented Vietnam between 2002 and 2016 and was part of the side that won the 2008 title when the Golden Star Warriors defeated Thailand 3-2 on aggregate in the final to be crowned champions for the first time.

The midfielder first appeared in the competition in 2002, when his winning goal against Malaysia secured third place, while he was also on the scoresheet in a group stage win over Laos in 2004.

Further appearances came in 2007 and 2010, with his final international goal coming in a 7-1 victory over Myanmar in the 2010 AFF Championship group stage.

Viet Thang, meanwhile, played for his country from 2001 to 2012 and was also part of the historic 2008 campaign that culminated in Vietnam lifting the prestigious trophy at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi.

He netted his only AFF Championship goal in that tournament, scoring the opener in a 4-0 group stage win over Laos that secured a place in the semi-finals. He was also part of the squad that reached the semi-finals in 2010 before defeat to eventual champions Malaysia.

Vietnam’s current generation of players will be aiming to win a third title for their country when the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 kicks off later this month.

The two-time winners, who last lifted the trophy in 2018, open their campaign away to Laos on December 21 before welcoming Malaysia to My Dinh Stadium on December 27. A trip to Singapore follows on December 30 and they then round off their group stage against Myanmar in Hanoi on January 3.