A supporter holds a flare as he celebrates Viet Nam's football win. (Photo: AFP)

According to the article, thousands of people waving flags poured into the streets of Viet Nam's capital Ha Noi and other cities after the SEA Games hosts beat fierce rivals Thailand 1-0 in the men's football final on Sunday.

"Defending their football crown from the 2019 Games, the home team came out on top of a tough match in front of a capacity 40,000 crowd at Hanoi's rocking My Dinh stadium," it said.

Forward Nham Manh Dung was the home hero with an 83rd-minute header that arrowed into the top corner, sending the already boisterous crowd into a frenzy, blasting air horns and waving flags and flares.

Downpours had drenched Ha Noi all day, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of red-clad spectators who began arriving for the clash several hours before it began in an effort to grab a prime seat.

As kickoff approached, the streets of the usually traffic-choked capital became relatively light as many locals were glued to TV screens in their homes and restaurants.

At a square in the city’s Old Quarter, thousands of people gathered around a screen set up by authorities to watch the game.

Viet Nam's supporters release flares and cheer on their team in the men's football final. (Photo: AFP)

They were not to be disappointed and the stadium, Ha Noi and other cities including Ho Chi Minh erupted as the home team held on for a narrow, nervy win.

"Vietnamese people are passionate about football and this SEA Games is organised in our country, so this victory is very meaningful and brought national pride and happiness to Vietnamese people," the site quoted a local Hanoi resident, Nguyen Duc Huy, 27, as saying.

Viet Nam's women's team also won gold on Saturday for a prized footballing double for the hosts.

Hosts Vietnam easily led the medal count with 205 golds, followed by Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Singapore, it noted.