The Etienne Mermer-coached side met Zimbabwe in the playoff for fifth and sixth at Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday and helped themselves to a comfortable 2-0 win.
A double by Andre Kelselik inspired the result, which left the Africans winless after three matches.
Vanuatu, beaten 2-1 by Haiti in their previous match, endured a wave of Zimbabwe attacks in the first 15 minutes but silenced Zimbabwe support when Kelselik scored from close range on 20 minutes.
He nabbed his second on the hour mark after goalkeeper Benard Fungai parried a Michel Coulon shot into the Vanuatu midfielder’s path.
Zimbabwe should have pulled a goal back with a minute to go but Pritchard Sibanda shot wide of an empty net.
In the women’s tournament, Papua New Guinea U-15 missed a golden chance to claim fifth place, losing 4-2 on penalties to Trinidad and Tobago after the match finished 0-0.
Georgina Kaikas saw her penalty saved by Lebrisca Phillip in the first half to break Papua New Guinea hearts.
There was further heartache for Kaikas when Phillip repeated her regulation time heroics, parrying Kaikas’ second penalty of the night during the shoot out.
Captain Rumona Morris fired her penalty high over the crossbar, allowing Trinidad and Tobago captain Corinna Sequena to score the decisive spot kick.
On Tuesday, Iran play Turkey in the women’s bronze medal match, while Equatorial Guinea meets Chile to decide gold.
Wednesday’s men’s final features Bolivia and Haiti, with host nation Singapore up against Montenegro for bronze.
Results
Monday 23 August
Women’s fifth place playoff
Papua New Guinea 0-0 Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago win 4-2 on penalties
Men’s fifth place playoff
Zimbabwe 0-2 Vanuatu