The V.League 1 (Vietnamese: Giải bóng đá Vô địch Quốc gia Việt Nam, lit.

In that inaugural V-League 1 season, only ten clubs participated, with tighter restrictions meaning fewer teams.

Following a season marred by accusations of refereeing corruption and a cover-up by the V.League governing body Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), six clubs (Đồng Tâm Long An, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, Hanoi ACB, Vissai Ninh Bình, Khatoco Khánh Hòa and Lam Sơn Thanh Hóa[2]) threatened to leave the league and form an entirely new league for the 2012 season.

[2] From the 2012 season, the organising power was transferred from the VFF to the VPF (Vietnamese Professional Football), and the "V.League 1" was renamed the "Super League".

The 2023–24 V.League 1 season will also be played to mark the change, running from autumn 2023 to near summer 2024, in line with most domestic leagues in the world.

[16] Vissai Ninh Bình wrote to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) 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.

[19] On July 5, 2019, Đoàn Nguyên Đức, chairman of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai Club, commented on the situation of one owner owning multiple teams in the V.League.

Bầu Đức's statement was reminiscent of Đỗ Quang Hiển - who was then the owner and special sponsor of 7 clubs in the V.League 1 and V.League 2.

[21] Previously, in 2018, Đoàn Nguyên Đức also said that the situation of one owner owning multiple teams would reduce the motivation to invest in Vietnamese football.

[22] Public opinion believes that in the 10 years from 2009 to 2019, only two consecutive championships in 2018 and 2019 were Hanoi FC clearly demonstrating their strength, thanks to a national team squad that sometimes reached 10 people; the remaining championships all had the "fingerprints" of the point-scoring relationships between Hanoi - Da Nang - Quang Nam - Saigon - Quang Ninh - Hong Linh Ha Tinh (which are the clubs of Bầu Hiển).

[23][24] The 2022 season also met with controversy when there was a current of public opinion that the 2022 V.League championship of Hanoi FC was also partly due to referee decisions in favor of the purple team.

[26][27][28] In 2012, after Sài Gòn Xuân Thành failed to win the championship when they were held to a draw by Hà Nội T&T in the final round, allowing SHB Đà Nẵng to win, owner Nguyễn Đức Thụy announced that he would quit football because of too much injustice and oppression; in the 2013 season, he officially disbanded the team.

FLC Group chairman Trịnh Văn Quyết, after withdrawing sponsorship from Thanh Hóa in 2018, also hinted that "you can't win when you only have one team.

Not a few fans hope that VPF needs to take strong measures, specify regulations on banning one person from holding management positions or shares, capital contributions at more than 1 team in the same league to make V.League more fair, cleaner and improve the competitiveness of the tournament.

[30] Many matches have taken place with abnormal manifestations that have caused anger for fans because of the spirit of competition that is considered to be weak, not giving their all.

[32] The People's Police newspaper noted that the problem of match-fixing is also related to the issue of "one owner, multiple teams".

In 2017, the public raised many doubts when Hanoi FC, who were full of hope to win the championship, unexpectedly drew 4-4 with Than Quảng Ninh in a match that the capital team had led by 2 goals.

Many controversial decisions, even mistakes by referees, have eroded the trust of clubs and fans in the organizers, and the image of the tournament has also been affected.

[39] One of the temporary solutions proposed to address this situation is to hire foreign referees to officiate some of the tournament matches.

[40] Due to the continuous occurrence of refereeing errors, which have affected the results of matches, the need to equip VAR for V.League has become increasingly urgent to improve the quality of the tournament.

[45][46][47] The cases of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) in 2018 with VPMilk and in 2022 with Red Bull are typical examples of this exception.

[48] VPF's regulations were met with fierce backlash from fans who were accused of making it difficult for clubs, hindering the development of Vietnamese football.

[52] In order for a match to be broadcast live, VFF and the clubs had to pay a fee and even cover the cost of accommodation, travel, and allowances for the television station.

Key Sông Lam Nghệ An (1992–2003) Pjico Sông Lam Nghệ An (2004–2006) Tài chính Dầu khí Sông Lam Nghệ An (2007–2008) Sông Lam Nghệ An (2009–2022) Đà Nẵng (1999/00, 2001/02-2007) SHB Đà Nẵng (2008–2022) Thép Miền Nam Cảng Sài Gòn (2005–2008) Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh (2009, 2017–2022) Thép Việt-Úc Hải Phòng (2004) Mitsustar Hải Phòng (2005) Mitsustar Haier Hải Phòng (2006) Xi măng Hải Phòng (2008–2010) Vicem Hải Phòng (2011–2012) Xi măng Vicem Hải Phòng (2013)[63] Hải Phòng (2014–2022) Thể Công (1999/00-2004) Thể Công-Viettel (2008 vòng 1–19)[64] Thể Công (2008 vòng 20–26 −2009) Viettel (2019–2022) Khánh Hòa (1992, 1995-2000/01) Khatoco Khánh Hòa (2006–2012) Sanna Khánh Hòa BVN (2015–2019) Bình Dương (1998, 2004–2006) Becamex Bình Dương (2007–2022) Hà Nội T&T (2009-2016) Hanoi FC (2017–2021) Nam Định (1998–2003;2018;2021-2022) Sông Đà Nam Định (2004–2005) Gạch men Mikado Nam Định (2006;2009) Đạm Phú Mỹ Nam Định (2007–2008) Megastar Nam Định (2010) Dược Nam Hà Nam Định (2019-2020) Thép Xanh Nam Định (2023) Gạch Đồng Tâm Long An (2003–2006) Đồng Tâm Long An (2007–2011, 2013–2015) Long An (2016–2017) Delta Đồng Tháp (2004–2005) Đồng Tháp (2007) Tập đoàn Cao su Đồng Tháp (2009–2012) Đồng Tháp (2015–2016) Ngân hàng Đông Á (2001/02 vòng 12–18 -2003)[65] Ngân hàng Đông Á Thép Pomina (2004) Xi măng The Vissai Ninh Bình (2010–2014)[66] Xi măng Công Thanh-Thanh Hóa (2008 vòng 14–26 – 2009 vòng 1–17) Thanh Hóa (2009 vòng 18–26)[68] Lam Sơn Thanh Hóa (2010) Thanh Hóa (2011–2015 vòng 1–12) FLC Thanh Hóa (2015 vòng 13–26 – 2018)[69] Thanh Hóa (2019–2020) Đông Á Thanh Hóa (2021) Hàng không Việt Nam (2003) Bình Định (1990–1995, 1998, 2001/02-2004) Hoa Lâm Bình Định (2005) Pisico Bình Định (2006–2007) Boss Bình Định (2008) Topenland Bình Định (2021) Công nhân Quảng Ninh (1991) Than Quảng Ninh (2014–2021) Đường sắt Việt Nam (1990-1993/94)

LG Hà Nội ACB (2004–2006 vòng 1–13)[70] Hà Nội ACB (2006 vòng 14–24-2008, 2011) CLB Bóng đá Hà Nội (2012)[71] Quảng Nam (2017–2020) Hùng Vương An Giang (2014) CLB Sài Gòn (2016 vòng 6–26 – 2021) Huda Huế (2007) Navibank Sài Gòn (2010–2012)[73] Xổ số Kiến thiết Cần Thơ (2015–2018) Thép Pomina Tiền Giang (2006) Sài Gòn Xuân Thành (2012 vòng 18–26) Xi măng Xuân Thành Sài Gòn (2013) Boldface indicates clubs playing in 2021 season Boldface indicates a player still active in the V.League 1.