The AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup Trophy Tour is set to reach its fifth and final port of call ahead of the upcoming edition as it touches down in Ho Chi Minh City on December 3.

Nguyen Minh Phuong, who captained the Golden Star Warriors to glory at the 2008 AFF Championship, and fellow title winner Nguyen Viet Thang, alongside VIPs and officials from the title sponsor Mitsubishi Electric, will be present at the free-to-attend event at the AEON Mall Binh Tan, Aeon Binh Tan, 1 Street No. 17A, Binh Tri Dong B, Binh Tan, HCMC (Central Court).

To coincide with the Trophy Tour, we’re shining the spotlight on some of the finest individual displays from Vietnam players from through the years, focussing specifically on runs to the finals in 1998, 2008 and 2018.

Below are five players who shone brightly for their country in the three editions and we’re asking you, the Golden Star Warriors fans, to vote for your favourite to be in with a chance of winning one of five signed Vietnam jerseys.

To enter the competition, make sure to create an account after placing your vote.

Nguyen Hong Son powers Vietnam to their maiden final

Nguyen Hong Son was part of the Vietnam national team that competed in the first-ever AFF Championship in Singapore back in 1996. The attacker scored twice in the inaugural tournament – including in a 4-2 defeat to Thailand that saw Vietnam exit the competition in the semi-finals.

Two years later, hosts Vietnam targeted glory on home soil and Hong Son upped his game further. He opened Vietnam's account in the opener against Laos – receiving the ball with his back to the goal, moving it to his right and then scoring on the turn as the hosts won 4-1.

Vietnam needed a win against Malaysia in their final group game to progress and Hong Son scored with a half-volley on the rebound to down Harimau Malaya 1-0. The Golden Star Warriors then avenged their 1996 semi-final defeat as they beat Thailand 3-0 to reach the final with Hong Son scoring his third of the tournament.

All eyes were on Vietnam as they eyed the title in front of their own fans in Hanoi, but R Sasikumar’s goal in the 70th minute saw the trophy head to Singapore. However, the 27-year-old was named the Most Valuable Player before returning to score two more goals in 2000, but the ASEAN silverware remained elusive for the Vietnamese legend.

Cong Vinh seals maiden title

Thailand were touted as favourites to win the 2008 AFF Championship final, but Vietnam had within their ranks one of the greatest strikers the country has ever produced in Le Cong Vinh. He is not only the all-time top goalscorer for his country but is also joint third when it comes to goals in the AFF tournament with 15 from six editions between 2004 and 2016.

Surprisingly, Cong Vinh only scored twice in Vietnam’s historic maiden AFF Championship triumph in 2008. However, both came over the two-legged final against the War Elephants as he was indeed the man for the big occasion, with the 22-year-old doubling Vietnam’s advantage in the first leg at the Rajamangala Stadium, which ultimately ended 2-1.

With the Thais coming back to level the tie at 2-2 in Hanoi, it looked like the final was heading for extra time. Enter Cong Vinh. Deep into second-half injury time, the striker won a foul on the left wing and from the resulting set-piece delivered, Cong Vinh glanced his header into the goal as Vietnam emerged ASEAN champions for the first time, 10 years after the heartbreak of 1998.

The evidence of what it meant for Vietnam was there on the My Dinh Stadium pitch as several players and fans broke into tears of joy. And for Cong Vinh, that goal will remain perhaps his biggest despite the level of success he would go on to achieve at both international and club football.

ASEAN silverware safe in Duong Hong Son’s hands

Only two goalkeepers have won the Most Valuable Player accolade at the AFF Championship in its 26-year-old history. After Lionel Lewis did it with Singapore in 2004, Duong Hong Son did likewise when his safe hands guarded the Vietnam goal during their victorious 2008 campaign.

The 26-year-old custodian, who played in four AFF Championships, was an assured presence behind the Vietnam defence throughout their fairytale run, but never was he called upon more than during the knockout matches where Henrique Calisto’s side faced Singapore and Thailand – two of the most potent attacks in Southeast Asia.

Hong Son ensured a Vietnam victory over defending champions Singapore in the semi-final by keeping at bay the likes of Noh Alam Shah, one of AFF Championship’s all-time leading goalscorers, with a string of saves. Vietnam were cruising with a two-goal lead in the final before Thailand spurred into life in the later stages of the first leg in Bangkok.

Though the War Elephants halved the deficit, Hong Son was on hand to deny a venomous Arthit Sunthornpit free-kick with a flying save to help Vietnam take a 2-1 lead into the second leg. A resurgent Thailand made it 2-2 early in the return leg, but Hong Son kept out efforts from Teeratep Winothai and Dangda before Le Cong Vinh scored the goal that made them ASEAN champions.

Quang Hai displays star power

After guiding Vietnam to a historic runners-up finish at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Nguyen Quang Hai was carrying the hopes of his nation on his young shoulders at the 2018 AFF Championship. And the 21-year-old barely put a foot wrong as Vietnam won their first ASEAN title in 10 years.

Quang Hai came up with the goods in crucial moments during the U-23 tournament, scoring against the likes of Korea Republic and Australia, and his purple patch continued with the senior team at the AFF Championship as he struck from distance to seal a 3-0 win over Laos in Vietnam's opener.

The Hanoi FC man also found the back of the net and assisted Phan Van Duc in the Golden Star Warriors’ 3-0 win over Cambodia that sealed their progress to the knockout stages. He once again netted as Park Hang-seo’s men beat the Philippines 4-2 on aggregate in the semi-finals and, with the final against Malaysia level at 2-2 after the first leg, it was Quang Hai who turned the tie.

Surrounded by defenders, Quang Hai delivered a cross on the turn to find an unmarked Nguyen Anh Duc who volleyed in the only goal of the return leg in Hanoi as the Golden Star Warriors, for the second time, tasted regional glory in front of their own fans to spark joyous scenes in the Vietnamese capital.

He scored and assisted twice in the 2020 tournament as Vietnam's run ended in the semi-finals, but the 25-year-old has plenty of years ahead of him to script more history for Vietnam.

Seasoned Anh Duc bows out on a high

On December 15, 2018 in Hanoi, Nguyen Anh Duc wrote his name into Vietnamese football history as the scorer of the goal that handed his country only their second AFF Championship title. However, his influence in Vietnam’s historic 2018 triumph was far beyond that all-important strike against Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium.

Anh Duc was the oldest member of the youthful Vietnamese side at the 2018 tournament at 33 years of age and he was a role model for his teammates on and off the pitch. The veteran striker started with a bang, bagging two goals and two assists as Park Hang-seo’s men brushed aside Laos and Malaysia in their first two group fixtures.

Facing off against the Philippines in the semi-finals, Anh Duc put Vietnam ahead in the first leg at Panaad Stadium with a looping header over Azkals goalkeeper Michael Falkesgaard after getting on the end of a lofted long ball forward from Doan Van Hau – setting into motion a 4-2 aggregate win.

The title decider was a neck-and-neck affair, but the Becamex Binh Duong frontman’s all-important strike in the sixth minute of the second leg sunk Tang Cheng Hoe’s Malaysia in front of 45,000 Vietnam supporters as Anh Duc’s relationship with the Southeast Asian showpiece ended on a high note.

WIN A VIETNAM JERSEY SIGNED BY THE LEGENDS!