The No 32 ranked team get one final shot against the Netherlands at Dunedin Stadium tonight.
The Netherlands head in as favourites and need the most out of the game to qualify for the top 16.
They had a 1-0 win against Portugal in Dunedin and drew 1-1 with defending champions United States, to claim four points, alongside the United States.
A win will allow them to advance, otherwise they will have to wait for the result between Portugal and the United States, also being played at 7pm.
Vietnam have been gutsy in their World Cup debut, but lost 3-0 to the United States — a historic match between the two — and 2-0 to Portugal in Group E.
Coach Mai Duc Chung knows tonight’s game against the 2019 World Cup runners up will be tough, but his side promises they will do their best.
While the results had not gone their way, Chung considered reaching the tournament a success. His players were the "pride of the nation" and would take their experience back home to grow the game.
Chung (73) acknowledged he would not be part of the next World Cup, but wanted their new coach to use this experience to push them forward.
"For [today] I have motivated the team ... not only for me, but for all the fans in Vietnam and overseas," Chung said.
"They are here to watch us. We will try our best regardless of the results."
He looked forward to playing at the stadium and enjoyed re-visiting Dunedin’s "very peaceful" landscape after visiting the city in October last year.
