Vietnam opened their ASEAN Championship title defense with a commanding 4-1 victory over Laos on December 9, 2024. The comprehensive win at the Laos national stadium sent a clear message to their Group B rivals and immediately put Vietnam at the top of the standings. Vietnam took control early, scoring twice in the first twenty minutes to settle any nerves. They added a third before halftime, showcasing their superior technical quality. Laos managed a consolation goal early in the second half from a set-piece, but Vietnam restored their three-goal advantage with a fine team move to complete the scoring. The standout performance came from the Vietnamese attacking midfielder, who was involved in three of the four goals. The match result was a perfect start for Vietnam's campaign, while Laos faced a difficult task to progress from the group. The Vietnam coach was pleased with the professional performance, and the Laos manager acknowledged the gulf in class on the day.