(Indonesiawon 5-4 on penalties)

Vietnam have shown marked improvement and are now capable of taking on the others in the Southeast Asian region. They proved this in the SEA Games and the Tiger Cup competitions. In 1995, at the SEA Games in Chiagmai, the whole country exploded into celebration when Vietnam, unexpectedly, qualified for the final. People celebrated and jammed the streets of the city. Vietnam finished second but still it was an excellent result for the country.

In the 1997 SEA Games, Vietnam stunned once Asian giants Malaysia 1-0 in a group match and advanced to eventually finish third overall after beating Indonesia in the playoff. The following year, Vietnam finished behind Singapore in the Tiger Cup final.

Vietnam has introduced semi-professional football this season.

Geography: Stretching from the Gulf of Thailand in the south all the way up over 1,700km to the border with China, Vietnam covers an area of more than 300,000 square kilometres. Vietnam is a mountainous country but it also has large deltas – the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south – that are highly cultivated and provide much of the food for this country.

Population: Vietnam has a population of about 77 million people. Of this figure 84% are ethnic Vietnamese. The remainder is made up of many smaller ethnic groups from the north as well as a Chinese minority.

Economy: The war deeply affected the Vietnam economy and since the 70s the government has tried to put the country on its feet. The free market reforms in recent times have had a telling effect on the economy. Foreign investment flowing into the country has also helped.

Religion: Buddhism, fused with local Vietnamese beliefs, is the main religion observed by the people of this nation. A large number of Vietnamese are Christians while a minority are Muslims.

Language: The Vietnamese language has many influences thanks to French. English is slowly growing in popularity with more younger Vietnamese picking up the language.

Currency: Vietnam’s currency is the dong. (US$1 equals 13,900d)

Geography: From the Isthmus of Kra bordering Malaysia on the south, Thailand rises to the north where it has Myanmar on its western and northern frontiers while Cambodia lies on the western flank. Laos’s border with Thailand runs along the east up to the north where it meets Myanmar at the Golden Triangle. Beautiful islands dot the long coasts along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea on the west.

Population: Many ethnic groups, from the hill tribes in the north to the Malays in the south, make up Thailand’s healthy population of over 60 million. As in the case of most countries, Thai people are also drawn to the major cities and the booming resorts in search of the employment opportunities that are available.

Economy: Tourism and agriculture contribute to the nation’s economy in a huge way. The tourism industry has expanded rapidly and the Thai government has done all it can to help this sector of the economy. Each year, more and more tourists flock to Thailand to visit the beautiful islands, resorts and forest reserves the country has to offer.

Religion: The majority of Thais practice Buddhism. Temples are a common sight all around the country. It is normal for young men to join monasteries at some point of their lives. Down the southern reaches of Thailand, there are large Muslim communities, many of whom have strong family links to people in Malaysia.

Language: Thai is the official language and spoken throughout the country. Many of the hill tribes have their own languages as well while Malay is also spoken in the south. Many Thais also speak English.

Currency: The currency unit used in Thailand is Bhat. (US$1 equals 38B)

On the international front, Singapore has competed in the various qualifying tournaments, including the World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, but with little success. They qualified for the Asian Cup once in 1984 when the tournament was played in Singapore.

Singapore’s greatest success came in the form of the Asean Football Federation’s Tiger Cup which they won in 1998.

Geography: Singapore, made up of a land area covering just over 640 square kilometres, is separated from Malaysia to the north by the narrow Straits of Johor. There are two existing links, a causeway and a bridge, between the two nations. Much of the island has been developed with forested areas taking up but a small portion of the central part of the island. The highest point is Bukit Timah (Tin Hill), which stands at just over 160m.

Population: Singapore has a population of over 3 million, the majority of whom are of Chinese origin. The Malays make about 15% of the population while Indians account for about 7%. There is also a large expatriate community.

Economy: Singapore’s thriving economy has seen it survive through the worst that has afflicted this part of Asia. A base for many international companies and organisations, Singapore enjoys bustling trade with its regional neigbours as well as the rest of the world. The shipping industry, which includes shipbuilding and maintenance, is big business. Oil refining is yet another important industry in Singapore.

Religion: The majority of the Chinese population are Buddhists while the others are mainly Christians. The Malays subscribe to the Islamic faith while the Indians believe in Hinduism. A small number of Indians, many of whom are from south India, are also Muslims.

Language: Mandarin and Chinese dialects are widely spoken by the mainly Chinese populace. English however is the main language of Singaporeans. Malay and Tamil are also widely used.

Currency: The unit of currency is the Singapore dollar. (US$1 equals S$1.62)