A new impetus for Vietnamese football.

After a break of more than two months to make way for the Vietnam U23 team to compete in the SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the V-League 2025-2026 has returned with round 12.

Báo Tuổi Trẻ•01/02/2026

Will Dinh Bac have the joy of scoring a goal with Hanoi Police Club? - Photo: NGOC LE

The success of the Vietnam U23 team in continental competitions, coupled with new additions to the squads of various clubs, has led to the return of the V-League with much anticipation.

"Big battle" right in round 12

The "big match" between Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) and Ninh Binh at Hang Day Stadium today (February 1st) is not only the highlight but also promises to be a spectacular show marking the return of the V-League 2025-2026. Currently, both teams are the strongest contenders for the championship, having not lost a single match, winning 8 games each, and having the best goal-scoring efficiency in the league.

For CAHN FC, competing in multiple competitions doesn't seem to affect their performance in the domestic league. The police force team maintained an unbeaten streak in the V-League and secured a place in the knockout round of the AFC Champions League Two before the break. Their early exit from the group stage of the 2025-2026 Southeast Asian Club Championship, while somewhat disappointing, will allow CAHN to focus better on the remaining two competitions.

In this match, CAHN will be without the guidance of coach Alexandre Polking. However, they can look forward to the return of Nguyen Dinh Bac, a player who performed very successfully with the Vietnam U23 team at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. As the top scorer in Asia with 4 goals and 2 assists, Dinh Bac is expected to bring his impressive form back to his club. This is a quality addition given the inconsistent performance of the police team's attack.

Under the guidance of coach Gerard Albadalejo, Ninh Binh FC has surprised fans with one unexpected result after another since the beginning of the season. Specifically, Ninh Binh defeated the reigning champions Nam Dinh 2-0, overcame Hanoi FC 2-1 at Hang Day Stadium, and drew 1-1 with the formidable The Cong - Viettel team.

After the break (coinciding with the mid-season transfer window), Ninh Binh FC was likened to a "tiger with added wings," having recruited U23 Vietnam national team players such as midfielder Thai Son and striker Le Van Thuan from Thanh Hoa FC. They also signed Vietnam national team full-back Truong Tien Anh from The Cong - Viettel FC .

With a star-studded squad including Hoang Duc, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, striker Quoc Viet, and promising young player Nguyen Le Phat, Ninh Binh Club promises to pose a significant challenge to CAHN Club.

Xuan Son made an impressive comeback in the Nam Dinh jersey - Photo: TTO

Worth watching

The break of over two months provides an opportunity for clubs to strengthen their squads, adjust tactics, and recover their fitness. In particular, many young players who have just returned after their success with the Vietnam U23 team at the SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship bring a new lease of life to the tournament.

More importantly, success in the U23 continental tournament will also attract more spectators to the stadiums after the first 11 matches of the season were played in relatively low attendance.

"The V-League will benefit greatly from the success of the Vietnam U23 team. The young players returning not only bring with them international playing experience but also confidence and a desire to prove themselves. This will make the league more vibrant and attractive, while also creating healthy competition among each team," shared Tran Anh Tu, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

But there are also familiar yet new factors worth watching. First is the return to play from round 12 of the V-League of naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son after being not registered for the previous 11 matches due to injury.

Back on the pitch, Xuan Son is proving to be a nightmare for Southeast Asian defenses. He has scored 7 goals, making a significant contribution to Nam Dinh's team winning all 3 matches and securing an early ticket to the semi-finals of the 2025-2026 Southeast Asian Club Championship. Including his goal for the Vietnamese national team against Laos in the final qualifying round for the 2027 Asian Cup last November, Xuan Son has scored 8 goals in just 4 matches.

Another promising prospect is Vietnamese-Slovakian goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang. He recently obtained Vietnamese citizenship on January 28th and is expected to be an ideal addition to the Vietnamese national team in the near future.

This 1.88m tall goalkeeper is playing exceptionally well for the Ho Chi Minh City Police FC. Having Vietnamese citizenship will further motivate him to contribute even more and help his team achieve greater success.

In addition, during the recent squad reinforcement period, Coach Le Huynh Duc's team strengthened their ranks with three very high-quality players: striker Dinh Thanh Binh, defender Mach Ngoc Ha, and Vietnamese-Australian midfielder Khoa Ngo.

At the bottom of the table, SHB Da Nang FC also attracted the most attention during the mid-season transfer window. In their efforts to avoid relegation, the team from the Han River recruited veteran central defender Que Ngoc Hai, young striker Vo Nguyen Hoang, Vietnamese-born midfielder Pierre Lamothe, and striker Ribamar.

Furthermore, center-back Gustavo Santos has completed the process of obtaining Vietnamese citizenship under the name Do Phi Long, and is ready to play as a domestic player.