V.League 1
V.League 1, also called LS V.League 1 due to sponsorship reasons, is the top professional football league in Vietnam, controlled by the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company. It is contested by 14 clubs who play each other on a home and away basis. The team finishing at the top at the end of the season is crowned the champion and enters the AFC Champions League.
The league was founded in 1980 as the All Vietnam Football Championship, with Tổng Cục Đường Sắt emerging as the first winner. Thể Công is the most successful club in the league's history, having won the title five times. The league turned professional in the 2000–2001 season, which allowed clubs to hire foreign players. Vietnam Professional Football was established in 2012, and the organising power was transferred from the Vietnam Football Federation to VPF.
History
Foundation and early days
The V-League 1, as it is known today, dates back to 1980 when the first semi-professional league was launched. Seventeen clubs participated in the competition which was split into three groups and conducted more like a cup competition, with the winner from each group qualifying for the Championship Stage. Công An Hà Nội, Tổng Cục Đường Sắt and Hải Quan were the three teams to qualify, with Tổng Cục Đường Sắt ultimately taking the title. That format, although the teams were split into two groups, continued until 1995 when the league reverted to a more traditional league format.Turning professional
League football in Vietnam would turn professional in the 2000–2001 season, which saw the league change its name to its current moniker, V-League 1. In that inaugural V-League 1 season there were only ten clubs, with tighter restrictions meaning fewer teams. Over the next decade the league grew from 10 teams to the current fourteen, with the team that finishes on top of the table qualifying for the AFC Champions League. Clubs were allowed to hire foreign players from this season on.VPF establishment
Following a season marred by accusations of refereeing corruption and a cover-up by the V.League governing body Vietnam Football Federation, six clubs threatened to leave the league and form an entirely new league for the 2012 season. The most outspoken club in the move was Hanoi ACB, who were going through relegation from the V.League, with its chairman Nguyen Duc Kien announcing that ACB would spearhead the move. Due to the controversy, league sponsor EximBank expressed its intention to drop its title sponsorship of the league. League officials scrambled to resolve the issues, going as far as hiring foreign referees for the 2012 season. After a meeting on 29 September, representatives of the VFF and the 14 V.League 1 teams and 14 V.League 2 teams announced the formation of a new corporation, the VPF, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company to manage the V-League. The VFF would hold a 36% stake in the new corporation, and the rest would be held by clubs.From the 2012 season, the organising power was transferred from the VFF to the VPF, and the V.League 1 was initially changed to the Super League, although this name was short-lived and the league was renamed back to V.League 1 later in the season. The first division was renamed the V.League 2. At the same time, many clubs found themselves in financial and sponsor issues, and many clubs withdrew, merge, bought another or failed to meet requirements for leagues. As a result, the number of clubs in each league changed dramatically.
Competition format
- The V.League 1 season starts in February/March and ends in September. In each season, each club plays each of the other clubs twice, once at home and another away, for a total of 26 games.
- Teams are ranked by total points, head-to-head, goal difference and goals scored.
- Top team qualifies for AFC Champions League Prelim. Stage 2.
- For 2010 season, two bottom teams are relegated to the Vietnam First Division while third lowest placed team goes to play-off with the third highest placed team from the First Division.
- Starting in the 2013 season, the number of clubs participating in the V.League 1 would be decreased from fourteen to twelve after three clubs failed to register. Also in the same season, the bottom team will be relegated to the First Division while the top three teams from the First Division will be promoted into the V-League 1.
- Starting in the 2015 season, the league is competed by 14 teams.
Sponsorship
- 2000–02: Strata Sport Marketing
- 2003: PepsiCo
- 2004: Kinh Đô
- 2005: Tan Hiep Phat
- 2006: Eurowindow
- 2007–10: PetroVietnam Gas
- 2011–14: Eximbank
- 2015–17: Toyota
- 2018: Nutifood
- 2019: Masan
- 2020: LS Holdings
Controversies
2013 controversy
After Xuân Thành Sài Gòn was docked points for what the VFF deemed the club unsportsmanlike conduct when the club fielded a noncompetitive squad for their Matchday 20 meeting with Sông Lam Nghệ An, club officials announced that the club would withdraw from the league. On 22 August 2013, the VFF approved Xuân Thành Sài Gòn's withdrawal request. Matches where the club was involved were vacated. The VFF is still debating if the last place club will still be relegated to V.League 2, though the league charter states that the club in 12th place would be the only club relegated in the 2013 campaign.Relegation was cancelled for the 2013 campaign after Xuân Thành Sài Gòn withdrew from the V.League 1 before the conclusion of the season. QNK Quảng Nam, Than Quảng Ninh and Hùng Vương An Giang, as winners, first runners-up and second runners-up respectively, were promoted from the 2013 V.League 2 season. Kienlongbank Kiên Giang failed to apply for the 2014 campaign and subsequently folded during the offseason.
2014 Match-fixing scandal
wrote to the Vietnam Football Federation and to the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company to be allowed to stop their participation in the league and also the AFC Cup due to 13 players being involved in match fixing. They had played eight league matches and were third from bottom at the time. Following their withdrawal from the league, all their results were declared null and void.Rule Changes, due to the match fixing scandal and withdrawal of Vissai Ninh Bình, it was decided that the bottom-placed team at the end of the season will take part in a play-off match against the third-placed team in the First Division for the right to play in the V-League next season.
Clubs
Current clubs
Clubs competing in 2020 season:Personnel and kits
| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| Becamex Bình Dương |  Nguyễn Thanh Sơn | Lê Tấn Tài | Kamito | Becamex IDC |
| Dược Nam Hà Nam Định | Nguyễn Văn Sỹ | Lê Văn Phú | Kelme | Dược Nam Hà |
| Hà Nội | Chu Đình Nghiêm | Nguyễn Văn Quyết | Kappa | SCG |
| Hải Phòng | Phạm Anh Tuấn | Doãn Ngọc Tân | Jogarbola | Asanzo |
| Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |  Lee Tae-hoon | Nguyễn Tuấn Anh | Mizuno | Thaco |
| Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh | Phạm Minh Đức | Ma Văn Tuấn | Kelme | SCG |
| Quảng Nam | Vũ Hồng Việt | Đinh Thanh Trung | Jogarbola | LS Group |
| Sài Gòn | Hoàng Văn Phúc | Nguyễn Ngọc Duy | Ari | Naga |
| SHB Đà Nẵng | Lê Huỳnh Đức | Hà Đức Chinh | Kamito | SHB |
| Sông Lam Nghệ An | Ngô Quang Trường | Trần Nguyên Mạnh | Mitre | Bac A Bank |
| Than Quảng Ninh | Phan Thanh Hùng | Huỳnh Tuấn Linh | Joma | Vinacomin |
| Thanh Hóa | Nguyễn Thành Công | Lê Văn Thắng | Jogarbola | Rapido |
| TP Hồ Chí Minh | Jung Hae-seong | Trần Phi Sơn | Kappa | CityLand |
| Viettel | Trương Việt Hoàng | Bùi Tiến Dũng | FBT | Viettel |
Managerial changes
Stadiums
Primary venues used in the 2020 V.League 1:| Becamex Bình Dương | Sài Gòn | Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh | TP Hồ Chí Minh | Hà Nội |
| Gò Đậu Stadium | Thống Nhất Stadium | Hà Tĩnh Stadium | Thống Nhất Stadium | Hàng Đẫy Stadium |
| Capacity: 18,250 | Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 25,000 |
| Hải Phòng | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | Quảng Nam | SHB Đà Nẵng | Sông Lam Nghệ An |
| Lạch Tray Stadium | Pleiku Stadium | Tam Kỳ Stadium | Hòa Xuân Stadium | Vinh Stadium |
| Capacity: 28,000 | Capacity: 12,000 | Capacity: 15,624 | Capacity: 20,500 | Capacity: 18,000 |
| Than Quảng Ninh | Thanh Hóa | Viettel | Nam Định | - |
| Cẩm Phả Stadium | Thanh Hóa Stadium | Hàng Đẫy Stadium | Thiên Trường Stadium | - |
| Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 14,000 | Capacity: 25,000 | capacity :25,000 | - |
| - |
Players
Rules on foreign players
Clubs are only allowed to register three foreign players per season. In prior seasons, clubs were allowed to register two foreign players.Starting from 2015 season, the number of foreign players allowed by clubs is reduced to 2 players plus 1 naturalised player.
From 2019 season, the rules on foreign players is change again, the number of foreign players allowed by clubs is 3 players and 1 naturalised player.
Top scorers by season
| Season | Name | Club | Goals |
| 1980 |  Lê Văn Đặng | Công an Hà Nội | 10 |
| 1981–82 | Võ Thành Sơn | Sở Công Nghiệp | 15 |
| 1982–83 | Nguyễn Cao Cường | Thể Công | 22 |
| 1984 | Nguyễn Văn Dũng | Nam Định | 15 |
| 1985 | Nguyễn Văn Dũng | Nam Định | 15 |
| 1986 | Nguyễn Văn Dũng Nguyễn Minh Huy | Nam Định Hải Quan | 12 |
| 1987–88 | Lưu Tấn Liêm | Hải Quan | 15 |
| 1989 | Hà Vương Ngầu Nại | Cảng Sài Gòn | 10 |
| 1990 | Nguyễn Hồng Sơn | Thể Công | 10 |
| 1991 | Hà Vương Ngầu Nại | Cảng Sài Gòn | 10 |
| 1992 | Trần Minh Toàn | Quảng Nam-Đà Nẵng | 6 |
| 1993–94 | Nguyễn Công Long Bùi Sĩ Thành | Bình Định Long An | 12 |
| 1995 | Trần Minh Chiến | Công an Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh | 14 |
| 1996 | Lê Huỳnh Đức | Công an Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh | 25 |
| 1997 | Lê Huỳnh Đức | Công an Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh | 16 |
| 1998 | Nguyễn Văn Dũng | Nam Định | 17 |
| 1999 Unofficial | Vũ Minh Hiếu | Công an Hà Nội | 8 |
| 1999–2000 | Văn Sỹ Thủy | Sông Lam Nghệ An | 14 |
| 2000–01 | Đặng Đạo | Khánh Hòa | 11 |
| 2001–02 | Hồ Văn Lợi | Cảng Sài Gòn | 9 |
| 2003 |  Emeka Achilefu | Nam Định | 11 |
| 2004 | Amaobi Uzowuru | Nam Định | 15 |
| 2005 |  Kesley Alves | Becamex Bình Dương | 21 |
| 2006 | Elenildo de Jesus | Thép Miền Nam Cảng Sài Gòn | 18 |
| 2007 | Jose Emidio de Almeida | SHB Đà Nẵng | 16 |
| 2008 | Jose Emidio de Almeida | SHB Đà Nẵng | 23 |
| 2009 | Đỗ Merlo Lazaro de Souza | SHB Đà Nẵng Quân khu 4 | 15 |
| 2010 | Đỗ Merlo | SHB Đà Nẵng | 19 |
| 2011 | Đỗ Merlo | SHB Đà Nẵng | 22 |
| 2012 | Timothy Anjembe | Hà Nội ACB | 17 |
| 2013 |  Gonzalo Marronkle Hoàng Vũ Samson | Hà Nội | 14 |
| 2014 | Hoàng Vũ Samson | Hà Nội | 23 |
| 2015 |  Patiyo Tambwe | QNK Quảng Nam | 18 |
| 2016 | Đỗ Merlo | SHB Đà Nẵng | 24 |
| 2017 | Nguyễn Anh Đức | Becamex Bình Dương | 17 |
| 2018 |  Oseni Ganiyu | Hà Nội | 17 |
| 2019 |  Pape Omar Faye Bruno Cantanhede | Hà Nội Viettel | 15 |
Starting from the 2000 season when foreign players can played in the league, the top goalscorer are always foreign players
Statistics
List of champions
The following is a historical list of champions and runners-up of the V.League 1 by season. Superscripts in brackets indicate a repeat win.| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Third Place |
| 1980 | Tổng Cục Đường Sắt | Công An Hà Nội | Hải Quan |
| 1981–82 | Thể Công | Quân Khu Thủ đô | Công An Hà Nội |
| 1982–83 | Thể Công | Hải Quan | Cảng Hải Phòng |
| 1984 | Công An Hà Nội | Thể Công | Sở Công Nghiệp Trà Vinh |
| 1985 | Nam Định | Sở Công Nghiệp Trà Vinh | Cảng Sài Gòn |
| 1986 | Cảng Sài Gòn | Thể Công | Hải Quan |
| 1987–88 | Thể Công | Công Nhân Quảng Nam Đà Nẵng | An Giang |
| 1989 | Đồng Tháp | Thể Công | Công An Hà Nội |
| 1990 | Thể Công | Công Nhân Quảng Nam Đà Nẵng | Hải Quan |
| 1991 | Hải Quan | Công Nhân Quảng Nam Đà Nẵng | Cảng Sài Gòn |
| 1992 | Đà Nẵng | Công An Hải Phòng | Thể Công |
| 1993–94 | Cảng Sài Gòn | Công An Thành Phố | Thể Công |
| 1995 | Công An Thành Phố | Huế | Cảng Sài Gòn |
| 1996 | Đồng Tháp | Công An Thành Phố | Sông Lam Nghệ An |
| 1997 | Cảng Sài Gòn | Sông Lam Nghệ An | Thể Công |
| 1998 | Thể Công | Sông Lam Nghệ An | Công An Thành Phố |
| 1999–2000 | Sông Lam Nghệ An | Công An Thành Phố | Công An Hà Nội |
| 2000–01 | Sông Lam Nghệ An | Đạm Phú Mỹ Nam Định | Thể Công |
| 2001–02 | Cảng Sài Gòn | Công An Thành Phố | Sông Lam Nghệ An |
| 2003 | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | Gạch Đồng Tâm Long An | Đạm Phú Mỹ Nam Định |
| 2004 | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | Đạm Phú Mỹ Nam Định | Gạch Đồng Tâm Long An |
| 2005 | Long An | SHB Đà Nẵng | Becamex Bình Dương |
| 2006 | Long An | Becamex Bình Dương | Boss Bình Định |
| 2007 | Becamex Bình Dương | Gạch Đồng Tâm Long An | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |
| 2008 | Becamex Bình Dương | Gạch Đồng Tâm Long An | Xi Măng Hải Phòng |
| 2009 | SHB Đà Nẵng | Becamex Bình Dương | Sông Lam Nghệ An |
| 2010 | Hà Nội | Xi Măng Hải Phòng | TĐCS Đồng Tháp |
| 2011 | Sông Lam Nghệ An | Hà Nội | SHB Đà Nẵng |
| 2012 | SHB Đà Nẵng | Hà Nội | Sài Gòn Xuân Thành |
| 2013 | Hà Nội | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | SHB Đà Nẵng |
| 2014 | Becamex Bình Dương | Hà Nội | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| 2015 | Becamex Bình Dương | Hà Nội | FLC Thanh Hóa |
| 2016 | Hà Nội | Hải Phòng | SHB Đà Nẵng |
| 2017 | Quảng Nam | FLC Thanh Hóa | Hà Nội |
| 2018 | Hà Nội | FLC Thanh Hóa | Sanna Khánh Hòa BVN |
| 2019 | Hà Nội | TP Hồ Chí Minh | Than Quảng Ninh |