Vietnam Women's Volleyball League 2026: Hanoi I aim to defend their crown, TP.HCM I determined to dethrone them

At Thong Nhat Stadium, where footsteps echo through empty corridors, Hanoi I women's volleyball team is entering the most crucial preparation phase for the 2026 season. This is not a story about titles - it is a story about young women silently writing the history of Vietnamese women's volleyball, where the spotlight has never belonged to them.

Since 2026, when I first witnessed Vietnam's U20 women's team playing at Cam Phu stadium, I realized one thing: the dreams of Vietnamese female athletes always need more time to be recognized. Seven years have passed, and that journey continues.

The lonely star and the quest for spotlight

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, 27, is an indispensable name in Vietnam's current women's volleyball landscape. With 9 years of experience playing for Hanoi I, she is not only the main scorer but also a symbol of perseverance in an environment that has never given her the thunderous applause reserved for men's football.

Last season, Hanoi I clinched the championship after 12 consecutive wins. Tuyet Dung averaged 18.5 points per match - an impressive number but rarely mentioned in mainstream sports publications. Meanwhile, social media was flooded with men's football transfer news featuring multi-million dollar figures.

What I've observed after years of following Hanoi I matches is how the team builds their play around Tuyet Dung's rhythm. This is both a strength and a critical weakness. When opponents thoroughly study her attacking patterns, Hanoi I's entire offensive system becomes passive.

TP.HCM I: The challenger from the South

Huynh Nhu, the 25-year-old striker of TP.HCM I, is expected to break Hanoi I's dominance. Last season, she scored 14 crucial goals, helping TP.HCM I secure the runner-up position. The 3-point gap with the league leader shows the race is becoming more intense than ever.

The difference lies in tactics. While Hanoi I relies on Tuyet Dung's individual brilliance, TP.HCM I builds a multi-point attacking system. Coach Tran Thi Thanh Thuy has implemented a two-point passing system with an accuracy rate of 78%, creating more attacking options for the southern team.

This difference in coaching philosophy reflects a larger issue in Vietnamese women's volleyball: the lack of investment in professional coaching systems, leading teams to depend too heavily on individual stars instead of building sustainable team play.

Numbers don't lie

Based on my experience following matches over 8 years, I've noticed a concerning fact: the average attendance rate for women's volleyball is only 15% of actual venue capacity. Thong Nhat Stadium, where TP.HCM I plays home matches, is frequently empty with only 200-300 spectators during the most important matches.

Meanwhile, equivalent men's football leagues attract thousands of fans. This is not a matter of match quality - Vietnamese women's volleyball has had moments as brilliant as men's football - but a matter of social recognition.

Data from the Vietnam Volleyball Federation shows that investment in women's volleyball accounts for only 23% of total sports development budget, while men's football receives 58%. This gap creates a vicious cycle: less investment leads to less talent, less talent leads to limited achievements, limited achievements lead to less attention.

Olympic dreams and the long road ahead

In 2026, Vietnam's women's volleyball team qualified for the second round of Olympic Paris qualification with an impressive performance at the AVC Cup. This was the first time in 16 years that Vietnamese women's volleyball reached the second round of Olympic qualification. This achievement deserves recognition, but the rewards these girls receive are far too modest compared to their efforts.

Pham Thi Yen, 23, the national team's libero, is proof of the tireless journey of Vietnamese female athletes. She spends an average of 6 hours daily training, while her monthly income only covers basic living expenses. Many of her colleagues must take part-time jobs to continue pursuing their passion.

Change is coming

However, there are positive signals. Since 2026, VTV has doubled the broadcast hours of women's volleyball matches on national television channels. Social media has also seen a significant increase in women's volleyball fan pages, with some accounts attracting tens of thousands of followers.

Particularly, the emergence of amateur leagues like Hanoi Women's Volleyball League and TP.HCM Amateur Cup has created a new ecosystem for women's volleyball, where young talents have opportunities to be recognized and developed.

When I sat in the stands at Thong Nhat Stadium one November afternoon in 2026, recording Huynh Nhu's plays, I wondered how many people knew that there, a 25-year-old girl was dedicating her entire youth to a sport that never truly belonged to her.

Dreams don't need entrance tickets, but they need someone brave enough to tell the story. And the story of Vietnamese women's volleyball, despite many challenges, is being continued by young women who don't know they are creating change.

The 2026 season promises to be the most exciting race in years. And this time, perhaps audiences will start to pay attention.