The club's recent history has been more difficult. After returning to V.League 1 in 2015, Đồng Tháp were relegated in 2016 and subsequently spent several seasons rebuilding in the lower divisions. They returned to V.League 2 and played there through the 2025-26 season, finishing 10th before the club underwent another major change ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Club at a glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Club | Đồng Tháp FC |
| Home city | Cao Lãnh, Đồng Tháp |
| Home stadium | Cao Lãnh Stadium |
| V.League 1 titles | 2 |
| V.League 1 titles | 1989, 1996 |
| V.League 2 titles | 2 |
| V.League 2 titles | 2006, 2014 |
| Best recent V.League 2 finish | Champions, 2014 |
| Latest V.League 2 season | 2025-26, 10th |
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| Đồng Tháp FC and its history in Vietnamese football, including V.League 1 and V.League 2 seasons, results and major achievements. |
Rise of Đồng Tháp football
Football in Đồng Tháp developed into a strong regional force before the club established itself nationally. The team eventually became one of the important sides from southern Vietnam and began competing at the highest levels of the national championship.
One of the earliest recorded appearances in the national top-level competition came in 1980. The competition format was very different from the modern V.League, with teams playing in regional groups before later stages.
1989: First national championship
Đồng Tháp's first major national success came in 1989. The club won the Vietnamese national championship after recording eight wins, four draws and four defeats from 16 matches. They scored 17 goals and conceded 11.
The championship established Đồng Tháp as one of the strongest clubs in Vietnamese football at the time.
The 1990s and a second title
Đồng Tháp remained competitive during the 1990s. The club reached the later stages of the national championship in several seasons and finished third in the group stage in 1995 before qualifying for the final round.
The second championship arrived in 1996. Đồng Tháp won seven, drew four and lost five of their 16 matches, scoring 23 goals and conceding 15.
The 1996 title remains one of the defining achievements in the club's history. The following season, Đồng Tháp also qualified for the 1997-98 Asian Club Championship, giving the club its first appearance in a major continental club competition.
Asian Club Championship
Đồng Tháp represented Vietnam in the 1997-98 Asian Club Championship. In the first round, they faced India's Churchill Brothers and progressed after a 0-0 draw followed by a 1-0 victory.
In the second round, Đồng Tháp met Finance and Revenue FC of Myanmar. The Vietnamese club lost the first leg 4-3 but won the return match 1-0. The result was not enough to take them into the next round, but the campaign remains the club's most notable continental appearance.
2000-01 relegation and the 2002 comeback
After several seasons in the top division, Đồng Tháp finished ninth in the 2000-01 V.League season and were relegated to the First League.
The response was immediate. In 2002, Đồng Tháp finished second in the First League after winning 15 of 22 matches. They scored 37 goals and conceded only 17, collecting 47 points and earning promotion back to the top division.
2003 to 2005
Đồng Tháp returned to the top flight in 2003 and finished seventh with eight wins, six draws and eight defeats.
The club remained in the division in 2004 but dropped to eighth after seven wins, four draws and 11 defeats. The 2005 season proved much more difficult. Đồng Tháp won only three of 22 matches, lost 13 and finished 12th, resulting in relegation.
2006: V.League 2 champions
Đồng Tháp responded with one of the strongest campaigns in their second-tier history. In 2006, they won 16 of 26 First League matches, drew five and lost five. They scored 39 goals and conceded only 17.
The 53 points earned the club the First League championship and another promotion to the top division.
2007 to 2012
The return to the top flight in 2007 was difficult. Đồng Tháp finished 13th after recording three wins, 11 draws and 12 defeats and were relegated again.
The club bounced back immediately. In the 2008 First League, Đồng Tháp finished third with 13 wins, eight draws and five defeats. The 47-point campaign was enough to secure promotion to the 2009 V.League.
The following period became one of the club's strongest modern runs. Đồng Tháp finished fifth in 2009, third in 2010 and fifth again in 2011.
The 2010 campaign was particularly impressive. The club won 13 of 26 matches, drew five and lost eight, scoring 43 goals and conceding 34. Their third-place finish was the club's best V.League 1 placing since the 1990s.
In 2012, however, Đồng Tháp dropped to 13th and were relegated to V.League 2.
2013 and 2014: Another promotion
Đồng Tháp returned to V.League 2 in 2013 and finished fourth with seven wins, three draws and four defeats.
The following season was much stronger. In 2014, Đồng Tháp won seven, drew five and lost only two of their 14 matches. They scored 22 goals and conceded just seven.
With 26 points, the club won the V.League 2 championship and secured promotion to V.League 1 for 2015.
2015 and 2016: Top-flight return and relegation
Đồng Tháp returned to V.League 1 in 2015 but struggled against stronger opposition. The club won seven, drew three and lost 16 matches, finishing 12th with 24 points.
The 2016 season was considerably worse. Đồng Tháp won only once in 26 matches, drew five and lost 20. They scored 22 goals and conceded 67, finishing 14th with eight points.
The result sent the club back to V.League 2 for 2017.
2017: Struggle in V.League 2
Đồng Tháp's 2017 V.League 2 campaign lasted only 12 recorded matches in the available season record. The club won once, drew four times and lost seven, scoring 15 goals and conceding 23.
They finished seventh and entered the relegation play-off phase.
2018: Third place
Đồng Tháp recovered in 2018 and finished third in V.League 2. The club recorded 10 wins, five draws and three defeats from 18 matches, scoring 28 goals and conceding 16.
The strong season put Đồng Tháp back among the leading teams in the second tier, although they did not earn promotion.
2019 and 2020
In 2019, Đồng Tháp finished ninth in V.League 2. The club recorded five wins, six draws and 11 defeats, scoring 19 goals and conceding 29.
The 2020 campaign was played under a competition format affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Đồng Tháp finished 12th in the final standings after the available league matches.
Return to the lower divisions
After the 2020 season, Đồng Tháp dropped out of V.League 2 and spent time in the lower levels of Vietnamese football.
The club competed in the Second Division in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, Đồng Tháp finished second in their group and returned to V.League 2 for the 2023-24 season.
2023-24: Return to V.League 2
The return to the professional second tier was successful. Đồng Tháp finished 10th in the 2023-24 V.League 2 season.
The club's return was important because it restored Đồng Tháp to the national professional league after several seasons outside the second tier.
2024-25 season
Đồng Tháp remained in V.League 2 for the 2024-25 season and finished sixth in the final table according to the club's league record.
The season was part of a larger rebuilding period as the club attempted to establish itself again in the national professional system.
2025-26: Cao Lãnh and the final Đồng Tháp season
The 2025-26 V.League 2 season was the final campaign played under the Đồng Tháp name before the club's move for the following season. The competition featured 12 teams after changes were made to the original competition structure.
Đồng Tháp finished 10th with five wins, nine draws and eight defeats from 22 matches. They scored 16 goals and conceded 21, finishing with 24 points.
The club ended its home campaign at Cao Lãnh Stadium with a 1-0 victory over Đại Học Văn Hiến on 30 May 2026. They then lost 2-0 away to TP. Hồ Chí Minh in the final round on 6 June.
Cao Lãnh Stadium
Cao Lãnh Stadium has been closely associated with Đồng Tháp football and served as the club's home ground for many years.
The stadium became an important part of the club's identity, particularly during the successful periods that produced the 1989 and 1996 national championships and the later promotion campaigns.
In 2026, the club announced that it would temporarily leave Cao Lãnh Stadium. Ahead of the 2026-27 season, the club was preparing to operate under a new name and home arrangement.
Change to Bình Minh Sài Gòn
In September 2026, the club announced a change of name and brand identity from Đồng Tháp FC to Bình Minh Sài Gòn FC. The change marked another major chapter in the history of a club that had traditionally been identified with Cao Lãnh and Đồng Tháp Province.
VPF's current club profile lists Bình Minh Sài Gòn as the successor to Đồng Tháp and gives Thống Nhất Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City as its home venue.
Major honours
| Competition | Achievement | Years |
|---|---|---|
| V.League 1 | Champions | 1989, 1996 |
| V.League 1 | Third place | 2010 |
| V.League 2 | Champions | 2006, 2014 |
| V.League 2 | Runners-up | 2002 |
| V.League 2 | Third place | 2008 |
| Asian Club Championship | Second round | 1997-98 |
Promotion and relegation history
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2002 | First League runners-up and promoted |
| 2005 | Relegated to the First League |
| 2006 | First League champions and promoted |
| 2007 | Relegated to the First League |
| 2008 | Third in First League and promoted |
| 2012 | Relegated to V.League 2 |
| 2014 | V.League 2 champions and promoted |
| 2016 | Relegated to V.League 2 |
| 2020s | Dropped to the Second Division before returning to V.League 2 |
| 2023 | Returned to V.League 2 |
Selected season records
| Season | Competition | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | V.League | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 17 | 11 | 12 | Champions |
| 1995 | V.League | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 3rd group stage |
| 1996 | V.League | 16 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 23 | 15 | 18 | Champions |
| 1997 | V.League | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 21 | 30 | 8th |
| 1998 | V.League | 26 | 8 | 12 | 6 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 7th |
| 1999-00 | V.League | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 23 | 34 | 5th |
| 2000-01 | V.League | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 23 | 32 | 19 | 9th |
| 2002 | First League | 22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 37 | 17 | 47 | 2nd |
| 2003 | V.League | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 7th |
| 2004 | V.League | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 23 | 29 | 25 | 8th |
| 2005 | V.League | 22 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 40 | 15 | 12th |
| 2006 | First League | 26 | 16 | 5 | 5 | 39 | 17 | 53 | Champions |
| 2007 | V.League | 26 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 21 | 35 | 20 | 13th |
| 2008 | First League | 26 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 42 | 23 | 47 | 3rd |
| 2009 | V.League | 26 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 43 | 31 | 38 | 5th |
| 2010 | V.League | 26 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 43 | 34 | 44 | 3rd |
| 2011 | V.League | 26 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 38 | 44 | 37 | 5th |
| 2012 | V.League | 26 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 32 | 38 | 30 | 13th |
| 2013 | V.League 2 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 4th |
| 2014 | V.League 2 | 14 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 22 | 7 | 26 | Champions |
| 2015 | V.League 1 | 26 | 7 | 3 | 16 | 34 | 54 | 24 | 12th |
| 2016 | V.League 1 | 26 | 1 | 5 | 20 | 22 | 67 | 8 | 14th |
| 2017 | V.League 2 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 7 | 7th |
| 2018 | V.League 2 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 6 | 13 | 24 | 18 | 8th |
| 2019 | V.League 2 | 22 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 33 | 25 | 37 | 3rd |
| 2020 | V.League 2 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 18 | 5th |
| 2021 | V.League 2 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 11th* |
| 2022 | Second Division | Returned to the lower national division | 8th | ||||||
| 2023 | Second Division | Finished 2nd in group and promoted | 2nd | ||||||
| 2023-24 | V.League 2 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 28 | 15 | 35 | 3rd |
| 2024-25 | V.League 2 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 20 | 23 | 26 | 6th |
| 2025-26 | V.League 2 | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 16 | 21 | 24 | 10th |
*2021: The V.League 2 season was abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the six matches are not comparable with a normal completed season.
Club identity
For much of its history, the club has been identified with Đồng Tháp Province and the city of Cao Lãnh. That connection was particularly strong during the club's championship years and its successful runs in the national league.
The club's official website continued to use the Đồng Tháp FC identity during the 2025-26 season, including coverage of its final home match at Cao Lãnh Stadium.
In September 2026, however, the club announced a new name and brand identity as Bình Minh Sài Gòn FC. VPF subsequently listed Bình Minh Sài Gòn as the club's current identity.
Why Đồng Tháp is important in Vietnamese football
Đồng Tháp's importance comes from its long presence in the national championship and its two V.League 1 titles. The 1989 championship made the club one of the early national champions, while the 1996 title confirmed its ability to compete successfully during another era of Vietnamese football.
The club also developed a reputation for repeatedly rebuilding after relegation. Promotion in 2002, the 2006 First League championship, the 2008 promotion campaign and the 2014 V.League 2 title all demonstrate the club's ability to return to higher levels.
Its third-place V.League 1 finish in 2010 was another highlight, coming during a strong period between 2009 and 2012.
References:
- https://vpf.vn/team/dong-thap/
- https://dongthapfc.org/
- https://www.rsssf.org/tablesv/viet2026.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dong_Thap_FC
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