The 2023 V.League 1, known as the Night Wolf V.League 1 (Vietnamese: Giải bóng đá Vô địch Quốc gia Night Wolf 2023) for sponsorship reasons, was the 40th season of the V.League 1, the highest division of Vietnamese football and the 23rd as a professional league.[1] The season started on 3 February 2023.[2]
This season was the last to have an intra-year schedule (spring-to-autumn). There was a break from 20 February to 6 April for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup and from 18 April to 19 May for the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia.
Promoted side Cong An Nhan Dan FC changed their name to Cong An Hanoi in November 2022.[4][5]
Nam Dinh FC changed their name to Thep Xanh Nam Dinh on 4 January 2023 due to sponsorship reasons.
Rule changes
The league will return to the split season format as played in the 2020 season where in the latter half the top eight teams will play each other in the championship group, while the remaining six teams will face each other in the relegation group. In addition, no teams will be qualified for the AFC Champions League or AFC Cup competitions this season (all 2023–24 AFC club competition slots were already distributed in the 2022 season). Teams will also be allotted a non-naturalized Vietnamese player slot that will not be counted towards their foreign player allotment.[2]
Prize money
1st place – 3 billion VND ($127,931) → 5 billion VND ($213,219)
2nd place – 1.5 billion VND ($63,965) → 2.5 billion VND ($106,609)
3rd place – 750 million VND ($31,982) → 1.25 billion VND ($53,304)
Teams are allowed to register 3 foreign players. Starting this season, teams will be allotted an extra slot for 1 unnaturalized overseas Vietnamese player that will not be counted against their foreign player allotment. Hanoi and Haiphong will be allowed to register 1 additional AFC player as they will compete in the AFC competitions.
Players name in bold indicates the player was registered after the start of the season.
Club
Player 1
Player 2
Player 3
Player 4 (AFC player, only Hanoi FC and Haiphong FC)
Players name in bold indicates the player was registered after the start of the season.
Player's name in italics indicates Overseas Vietnamese players whom have obtained a Vietnamese passport and citizenship, therefore being considered as local players.
Updated to match(es) played on 17 April 2023. Source: VPF Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Play-off (Only to decide champions, runners-up, third placed and relegation spots); 6) Drawing of lots
Updated to match(es) played on 10 August 2023. Source: VPF Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Disciplinary points; 5) Play-off (Only to decide champions, runners-up, third placed and relegation spots); 6) Drawing of lots (C) Champions Notes:
^Dong A Thanh Hoa qualified for the ASEAN Club Championship group stage as the 2023 Vietnamese Cup winners.
Positions by round
Below the positions per round are shown. As teams did not all start with an equal number of points, the initial pre-playoffs positions are also given.
