Vietnam - V-League

Pre-unification to 1979

The Vietnamese football league system was formed in 1955. From the beginning, this League (AKA the Northern league) was split into Division A and Division B. The South Vietnamese league was formed in 1960. Since then, league football has been played north and south even during war time. The number of teams was extraordinary. For example, Haiphong had 10 clubs back then. Hai Phong Police has won 10 titles in the North, while Thể Công has won 9.

After reunification, Vietnamese football leagues were played on a regional basis: Hồng Hà League in the North; Trường Sơn League in the Central; and Cửu Long League in the South.

Responding to the constraints of organizing in regions, VFF reorganised the league system during the 1979 season.

Foundation and early days

The V.League 1, as it is known today, began in 1980 when the first All Vietnam Football Championship was launched. Seventeen clubs participated in the competition (originally 18, but Thể Công withdrawn due to internal reasons) which was split into three groups and conducted more like a cup competition, with the winner from each group qualifying for the Championship Stage. Công An Hà Nội, Tổng Cục Đường Sắt and Hải Quan were the three teams to qualify, with Tổng Cục Đường Sắt ultimately taking the title. That format, reduced to two groups, continued until 1995 when the league reverted to a more traditional league format.

Turning professional

League football in Vietnam turned professional in the 2000–2001 season, which saw the league change its name to its current moniker, V-League 1. In that inaugural V-League 1 season, only ten clubs participated, with tighter restrictions meaning fewer teams. Over the next decade, the league grew from 10 teams to the current fourteen, with the team that finishes on top of the table qualifying for the AFC Champions League Group Stage. Clubs were allowed to hire foreign players from this season on.

VPF establishment

Following a season marred by accusations of refereeing corruption and a cover-up by the V.League governing body Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), six clubs (Đồng Tâm Long An, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, Hanoi ACB, Vissai Ninh Bình, Khatoco Khánh Hòa and Lam Sơn Thanh Hóa) threatened to leave the league and form an entirely new league for the 2012 season. The most outspoken club in the move was Hanoi ACB, who had been relegated from the V.League, with its chairman Nguyễn Đức Kiên announcing that ACB would spearhead the move. Due to the controversy, EximBank expressed its intention to drop its title sponsorship of the league. League officials scrambled to resolve the issues, going so far as to hire foreign referees for the 2012 season. After a meeting on 29 September, representatives of the VFF, the 14 V.League 1 teams, and 14 teams announced the formation of a new corporation, the VPF, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company to manage the V-League. The VFF would hold a 36% stake in the new corporation, and the rest would be held by clubs.

From the 2012 season, the organising power was transferred from the VFF to the VPF (Vietnamese Professional Football), and the "V.League 1" was renamed the "Super League". This name change was short-lived, reverting to "V.League 1" later in the season. The first division was renamed the "V.League 2". At the same time, many clubs found themselves with financial problems and sponsor issues, and many withdrew, merged, bought another club, or failed to meet league requirements. As a result, the number of clubs in each league changed dramatically.

Season change

From 2023, the V.League's schedule will be restructured. The 2023 V.League 1 season was the last season to be played from spring to autumn format. The 2023–24 V.League 1 season will also be played to mark the change, running from autumn 2023 to near summer 2024, in line with most domestic leagues in the world.