Crowds of Vietnamese citizens are having difficulty purchasing tickets to enter Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok to spectate a match between Vietnam and Thailand in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Championship final, slated for 8:00 pm on Sunday.

Vietnamese people working and living in Thailand found it tough to get a ticket, let alone tourists.

Rajamangala Stadium can seat up to 51,000 people.

The organizer of the game issued 47,000 tickets to Thai spectators, while the remaining 4,000 would be sold to Vietnamese fans, partners, and sponsors of the Football Association of Thailand.

However, buying a ticket for the match seemed to be challenging to the Vietnamese spectators.

Several groups of Vietnamese tourists from Hanoi, Binh Duong Province, and Dong Nai Province arrived at the stadium on Saturday morning, hoping to buy tickets to support their team, but left disappointed.

Some said they had traveled to Thailand on December 31 and extended their stay to watch the final showdown.

Even after searching for tickets on Friday and being willing to pay an inflated price of 3,500 baht (US$102), they were unable to secure any, they recounted.

Meanwhile, tickets designated for Vietnamese fans are priced at 500 baht ($14.50).

“We came to Rajamangala Stadium to buy tickets and cheer for the Vietnamese team, but none were available. Now, we’re relying on acquaintances here to help us secure some,” said Cong Danh, a fan from Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam.

“No matter the cost, we’re determined to get tickets,” he added.

Pham Thanh Tuan, a Vietnamese resident of Bangkok for 20 years, shared his struggles in obtaining enough tickets for his family, let alone the 40 friends who had also requested his help.

“Many Vietnamese living in Thailand have asked me to get tickets, but it’s been impossible,” Tuan said.

“Even after reaching out to the Vietnamese Embassy in Bangkok, the Vietnam Football Federation, and other groups for assistance, we could only get a few,” he lamented.

Vietnam beat Thailand 2-1 in the first leg on home soil on Thursday.

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