Consider the familiar $\phi^4$ theory Lagrangian for a complex scalar field
$$\mathcal{L} = \frac{1}{2}|\partial_{\mu}\phi |^2+\frac{1}{2}m_0^2| \phi | ^2 - \frac{\lambda}{4!}| \phi | ^4$$
with $m_0^2 > 0$.
In the context of phase transitions, for high temperatures, $T>T_c$, the comlpex field $\phi$ has an expectation absolute value $0$, $\langle |\phi| \rangle = 0$, while for $T<T_c \implies \langle |\phi| \rangle \neq 0$. Hence, the symmetry is sponaneously broken. A typical example of this behaviour is the Higgs field.
According to Wikipedia, in QFT a true vacuum is globally stable, while a false vacuum is only locally stable.
Let's then consider the Higgs field. To my understanding, in the early days of the Universe $\langle |\phi| \rangle = 0$ would be a true vacuum (while in the highly symmetric state). However, as $T$ diminished, the symmetry was broken and the 'previous vacuum' became unstable: a new true vacuum emerged with non-zero expectation value.
However, the Higgs field is said to be in a metastable state (false vacuum). Ho can I conciliate all of this information?