[3] Đồng Tâm Long An were relegated to the 2012 Vietnamese First Division after finishing the 2011 season in the bottom two after a season of upheaval and numerous coaches hired and fired.

Hà Nội ACB were also relegated after finishing bottom, but later merged with Hòa Phát Hà Nội to retain their place in the top flight.

[4] They were replaced by Vietnamese First Division champions Sài Gòn Xuân Thành who were renamed to Sàigòn for the start of the campaign and then renamed back during mid season.

Kiên Giang are based in the southern city of Rạch Giá.

Mykola Lytovka Theophilus Esele Nirut Surasiang Friday Ibeji Marcelo Barbieri Tostao Kwashi Rogerio M. Pereira The Top Scorers as of 20 August 2012: Lê Huỳnh Đức (SHB Đà Nẵng) Alexander Prent (SHB Đà Nẵng) Võ Quang Vinh