Van Hien University Club: From student sports to professional playground records

With the stepping stone of the TNSV tournament, Van Hien University Club has made history as the first student football team to play in the professional level in Vietnam, in the national first division 2025 - 2026.

The joy of promotion of Van Hien University Club

Photo: Linh Nhi

Van Hien University Club: A historical milestone in Vietnamese student football

On the afternoon of June 22 at Thong Nhat Stadium, Van Hien University Football Club (abbreviated as Van Hien University Club, belonging to Van Hien University) had a 1-0 victory over Dak Lak Club with the only goal of Le Vuong Minh Nhat in the 51st minute, excellently ending the 2025 national second division tournament with the top spot in Group B.

An impressive achievement from a spectacular sprint, when in the previous round 13, Van Hien University Club caused a surprise when defeating Lam Dong Club to narrow the gap to only 3 points. Thanks to that, after finishing round 14, Van Hien University Club had the same 29 points as Lam Dong Club and Gia Dinh Club.

But that was enough for Van Hien University Club to make history, when it ranked first thanks to 7 points in the head-to-head record (considering the 3 teams with equal points), Gia Dinh Club ranked second with 5 points and Lam Dong Club sadly stayed in second place with only 4 points. Thereby, Van Hien University Club proudly received a ticket to play in the national first division 2025 - 2026.

Thanh Lich received the award for Best Player of the match at the TNSV THACO Cup 2024

Photo: Document

The spectacular victory at Thong Nhat Stadium marked a historic milestone, when for the first time a student football team surpassed the second division threshold to play in the national professional league.

Previously, Vietnamese football had student football teams participating in Vietnamese football tournaments, in which Hong Bang University made an impression when participating in the national second division tournament.

But to play in the national first division, one of the three tournaments identified as professional alongside V-League and National Cup, Van Hien University Club of Van Hien University is the first name.

From TNSV award to realizing professional dream

Thanh Lich scored in the national second division

Photo: Linh Nhi

Established in 2016, Van Hien University Club quickly became a bright spot in team, group activities and sports movements of Van Hien University, achieving many outstanding achievements in school football and futsal tournaments, affirming its mettle and solid position in the Vietnamese student football community.

In 2024, Van Hien University Club reached a historic milestone for the school when it participated in the national second division tournament for the first time. This achievement not only raised the club's status but also opened up opportunities for Vietnamese student sports to move closer to the professional level.

This achievement marks the Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper in coordination with VFF under the direction of the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association.

Van Hien University Club is the first student football team to play in the Vietnamese professional league.

Photo: Linh Nhi

The Van Hien University Club participating in the 2024 second division tournament has two faces: Chiem Hai Phuong and Nguyen Thanh Lich, who helped Van Hien University reach the quarterfinals of the TNSV THACO Cup 2024, in which Thanh Lich played outstandingly with 4 goals, only 1 goal behind the top scorer Nguyen Minh Nhat (5 goals, Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports).

In the second division tournament in 2024, Thanh Lich (student of the Faculty of Accounting - Finance) had an impressive debut when he scored 2 goals against An Giang Club and Ho Chi Minh City Youth Club while Chiem Hai Phuong (Faculty of Tourism) played less as a way to accumulate physical strength and experience for a higher level of play.

In the 2025 second division season, Van Hien University Club also added another face from the 2025 TNSV THACO Cup, Nguyen Ngoc Truong, a student of the Faculty of Economics and Management of Van Hien University.

Van Hien University Club officially promoted to play in the national first division 2025 - 2026

Photo: Linh Nhi

After a season of resilient competition, Van Hien University Club has officially won the right to be promoted to play in the national first division 2025 - 2026, creating a historical milestone not only for the team, Van Hien University but also for the student sports movement and school sports in Vietnam.

Formed from the foundation of young players and students - passionate people with a spirit of service and a desire to contribute, and above all, a love for the football field, Van Hien University Club has proven that: "Professional football does not only come from bright stadiums, but also starts from the lecture hall, from a pure heart and faith along with passion".

Van Hien University Club is not simply a competition team, but also highlights a model for school football, student movement associated with physical training for students at Van Hien University.

The fact that this student football team has surpassed a series of big names to be promoted to the professional level is not only a professional achievement, but also a strong message: Education and sports can completely go hand in hand, nurturing passion and learning.

With the philosophy of "Becoming a man before becoming famous" of Van Hien University, and the guidance from a team of professional coaches, Van Hien University Club promises to continue to conquer new heights, contributing to the development of the student sports movement and affirming its mark on the Vietnamese football field.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/clb-dh-van-hien-tu-the-thao-sinh-vien-den-ky-luc-san-choi-chuyen-nghiep-185250624195453256.htm