Strange 'household registration' changes of Vietnamese football

The recent move of Gia Dinh Club from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Tho is just one of many strange "household registration" moves in Vietnamese football.

Saigon FC players celebrate in V-League 2022 before disbanding at the end of the season - Photo: NK

The first case of changing "household registration" was the first-class Dong A Bank Club (HCMC) when it was transferred to Dong Tam Group and renamed Son Dong Tam Long An at the end of 2005.

But it only existed for one year, Son Dong Tam Long An Club was transferred again. This time the team moved to the North and changed its name to Vinakansai Ninh Binh .

With the large investment of Mr. Hoang Manh Truong, Vinakansai Ninh Binh Club (later renamed Vissai Ninh Binh) won the 2009 First Division Championship and then played brilliantly in the V-League. But in early 2015, this team was dissolved after the incident of 9 players fixing the score in a match in the 2014 AFC Cup.

Ho Chi Minh City is the place where the most "household registration" transfer teams go.

In 2010, another Ninh Binh-born boss, Nguyen Duc Thuy, also bought a first-class ticket from Hoa Phat V&V Club to move his "household registration" to Ho Chi Minh City and changed his name to Saigon Xuan Thanh.

With the huge investment of Mr. Thuy, Saigon Xuan Thanh Club immediately won the 2011 First Division Championship and won the right to be promoted. But after only winning 3rd place in V-League 2012 because it could not cope with the situation of "one owner, many teams", Mr. Thuy got bored and quit football in 2013.

Before Mr. Nguyen Duc Thuy, Ho Chi Minh City football was also happy and then disappointed with Navibank Saigon Club, the Military Zone 4 football team (Nghe An) was transferred to the South at the end of October 2009. But it only existed for 3 seasons, this banking football team also dissolved.

Mr. Thuy was cheered by Saigon Xuan Thanh players after winning the 2012 National Cup - Photo: NK

Most recently, Hanoi FC moved its "household registration" to Ho Chi Minh City and changed its name to Saigon FC in 2016. This team won 3rd place in V-League 2020 and then dissolved in 2023 after finishing last in V-League 2022 and being relegated.

The 2023 First Division competition spot was transferred by Saigon Club to Lam Dong Club, which is competing in the Second Division.

The name change was not possible immediately due to the violation of regulations, but the transfer was still carried out, causing many fans to mock at the time: "A club named Saigon but playing in Da Lat". Fortunately, in the end, the transfer could not be carried out.

Not as bustling as in V-League, but moving "household registration" to or from Ho Chi Minh City has also recently happened in the second division.

In 2024, Gia Dinh Club transferred the second place to Bac Ninh Club, and Tre Quang Nam transferred the second place to Van Hien University (HCMC).

Buy a place to stay in the league

Not only transferring to have a place to compete, many transfers are also to continue to stay in the league after being relegated.

Relegated after V-League 2009, Thanh Hoa Club decided to buy the slot of The Cong Club - which was removed from the Ministry of National Defense at that time - to play in V-League 2010.

Similarly, after being relegated from V-League 2012, Hai Phong Club bought back the V-League slot from K.Khanh Hoa - which was dissolved at that time because Khatoco was not allowed to invest outside the industry - to compete in V-League 2013.

Unlike the fate of the football teams that moved their "residence registration" to Ho Chi Minh City and had to be dissolved, both Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong clubs after being transferred their playing positions have not been relegated since then until now.

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NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nhung-lan-chuyen-ho-khau-ky-la-cua-bong-da-viet-20250912095124174.htm