Ninh Binh Sports thrives in the new era

After merging from three provinces of Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh and Ha Nam, the new Ninh Binh province has a large development space, creating favorable conditions for regional planning and developing sports institutions in the direction of multi-center linkage.

Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh and Ha Nam before the merger were three localities with strong sports traditions. The old Nam Dinh was known for its strong sports such as athletics, martial arts and especially football, with the Nam Dinh Green Steel Club (formerly Ha Nam Ninh Industry) winning the national football championship three times.

For the old Ha Nam, for many years, Jujitsu, wrestling, tennis and athletics have regularly brought high achievements, besides the women's football movement has developed strongly with Phong Phu Ha Nam Women's Football Club, the cradle that has produced many players, helping the Vietnamese women's team reap success in international tournaments.

Phong Phu Ha Nam Women's Football Club won the 2018 National Women's Football Championship.

Old Ninh Binh sports also developed strongly with two volleyball teams (men's and women's) in the top 4 strong teams of the country, along with chess, athletics, karate... Similar to Nam Dinh and Ha Nam, Ninh Binh also has a passionate love for football. Previously, Vissai Ninh Binh won the 2013 National Cup, the 2013 National Football Super Cup and became the pride of the whole country when reaching the quarter-finals of AFC 2014.

Through ups and downs, the flame of Ninh Binh football (old) was rekindled when the provincial leaders, sponsors ThaiGroup and LPBank joined hands to bring Ninh Binh back to the map of Vietnamese football. With serious and methodical investment, from brand building, upgrading the force to renovating facilities and developing youth training, Ninh Binh FC won the right to be promoted and compete in LPBank V.League 2025/26.

Now, Ninh Binh province has truly become one of the major sports centers of the country with tradition and modern facilities. Combined with existing advantages, including historical and cultural heritages, natural landscapes, traditional festivals and unique tourism products, Ninh Binh can both develop top-level sports and become a venue for major sporting events and develop sports economy. With synchronous exploitation, sports will not only be an auxiliary field but will become a tool to promote the province's image, promoting comprehensive economic and social development.

Ninh Binh FC won the 2023/24 First Division with impressive achievements.

In football alone, Ninh Binh province currently has three leading football clubs, including Nam Dinh Green Steel and Ninh Binh FC playing in the highest division of Vietnamese football, along with Phong Phu Ha Nam, which is always in the top of women's football.

At the same time, three stadiums in the province - Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh Ward, Ha Nam Stadium in Phu Van Ward and Ninh Binh Arena Stadium in Nam Hoa Lu Ward - promise to be extremely exciting, as Ninh Binh people can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of top-class football.

While Phong Phu Ha Nam Women's Football Club has been continuously successful with its youth teams, and is aiming to participate in the AFC Women's Football Club Championship in the future, to prepare for its first season in the V.League, Ninh Binh FC has continuously surprised by appointing Spanish coach Gerard Albadalejo, signing contracts with Duc Chien, Dung Quang Nho, Chau Ngoc Quang, Victor Morales, Pedraza and especially overseas Vietnamese star Chung Nguyen Do.

Nam Dinh Green Steel Club successfully defended the V.League championship and aims for success in 5 arenas in the 2025/26 season.

Nam Dinh Green Steel also plans to defend the title with a training trip to Korea, while also bringing in quality foreign players, including Palestinian player Mahmoud Eid, midfielder Njabulo Blom valued at $1 million and Kyle Hudlin, a 2m06 striker who used to play in the English First Division. Next season, Nam Dinh Green Steel will participate in 5 different arenas, including V.League, National Cup, AFC Champions League Two, ASEAN Clubs Championship and first of all, the 2024/25 National Football Super Cup - THACO Cup.

The National Super Cup match on August 9 will be held in Ninh Binh (Thien Truong Stadium), when Nam Dinh Steel Blue faces Hanoi Police. In addition to the significance of opening the new season, the match is also identified as an important event to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the successful August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025) and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), the 80th anniversary of the People's Public Security Traditional Day (August 19, 1945 - August 19, 2025).

Therefore, the Organizing Committee hopes to make a mark both in terms of expertise and organization and communication, making the Super Cup an inspiring event as well as promoting patriotism and national pride. At the same time, as journalist Phung Cong Suong - Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong newspaper said, this will be a great festival for the new Ninh Binh province after the merger, when people come under one roof, share the same event and share the same joy, marking a period of strong and sustainable development of Ninh Binh sports in the new era.