Football in Vietnam has an old and rich history. The sport was first introduced to Vietnam by French civil servants and merchants during the colonial era, with Vietnam’s first football club, a branch Cercle Sportif Saigonnais (Saigon Sports Circle), being founded in 1906.
The Cercle played their games at the club's ground in what is now Tao Dan park, District 1. Football quickly spread throughout French Cochinchina, with a few clubs like Legion Dap Cau and Olympique Hai Phong appearing in Tonkin and Annam.
The local Vietnamese population quickly developed a liking for the sport. By 1907 two Vietnamese teams in Saigon, Gia Dinh Sport and Ngoi Sao Xanh, merged to become Ngoi Sao Gia Dinh. This new Vietnamese superteam quickly rose to prominence, going on an undefeated run that lasted until 1920, including a championship title in 1917.
Following the creation of the Cercle Sportif Saigonnais football team, new teams began springing up left and right. Both French and local, they ranged from police/military teams to district and city teams like Infanterie (Infantry), Can Tho, Soc Trang, Sa Dec and Sport Cholonaise. Around this time is also when the Stade Renault (which later became Thong Nhat Stadium) was built.
The advent of WWII and the Japanese invasion in 1941 marked a pause in football in Vietnam. But by 1948, the league had resumed. Post-Indochina, South Vietnam’s team became one of the strongest teams in the Asia-Pacific region. After reunification, the V-League we know today was established in 1980, turning professional at the start of the 2000-2001 season.
Today, football is one of Vietnam's favourite sports. Local teams enjoy passionate support, and many Vietnamese sports fans regularly keep up with European leagues like the Premier League in England, Serie A in Italy or La Liga in Spain.
When the national team plays, the entire country turns out in support, with streets, cafés, bars and restaurants being taken over by a sea of red and yellow shirts.
While the V. League is not the most widely watched sport in the country, viewership is steadily growing and many fans support more prestigious and established clubs overseas.
This makes watching football in Vietnam a unique experience, with the dichotomy between the local league and international matches creating 2 separate experiences. We recommend any football fans from foreign countries experience the atmosphere of the V.League by attending a local game.
For those concerned with catching their favourite European team’s matches, Nexus Game Night is your go-to destination. With a comfortable outdoor seating, a large projector, it's the perfect occasion to unwind and watch the weekend game.
Hosted at the Nexus Square in central D1, the open space features easy acces to Ton Duc Thang and Nguyen Sieu streets, as well as nearby restaurants like Mâm Mâm to cater to any food-related cravings.
ABOUT NEXUS GAME NIGHT
Experience Nexus Game Night on 11 May featuring El Clásico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid, followed by Liverpool vs Arsenal (Second Half).
Doors Open: 8:00 PM
Barcelona vs Real Madrid: 9:15 PM
Liverpool vs Arsenal: 11:30 PM
Sign up here