Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup 2026 Draw: Information about Ninh Binh, the mystery of Hanoi?

This year's Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup promises to deliver exciting matches.

Recently, the list of participating teams, groups, and the schedule for the 2026 Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup has been announced. This is the first official professional volleyball tournament of the year in Vietnam, taking place from March 18th to 23rd in Ninh Binh - approximately two weeks before the start of the National Championship Phase 1.

Accordingly, the women's event of the 2026 Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup includes 6 participating teams: the host and defending champion LPB Ninh Binh, Thong Tin - Dong Bac, VTV Binh Dien Long An, VietinBank, XMLS Thanh Hoa, and Hanoi Tasco Auto, divided into the following groups:

• Group A: VTV Binh Dien Long An, Hanoi Tasco Auto, VietinBank
• Group B: LPB Ninh Binh, Thong Tin - Dong Bac, XMLS Thanh Hoa

Both groups promise to deliver exciting and unpredictable developments, with not too much disparity in skill level. Group A features the highly anticipated debut of the newcomer Hanoi Tasco Auto with its impressive roster of new talents: Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, Nguyen Khanh Dang, Le Thanh Thuy, and coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet.

Meanwhile, Group B will see an early clash between two championship contenders: LPB Ninh Binh and Thong Tin - Dong Bac. The two sides met in last year's final, where the host Ninh Binh staged an impressive comeback to keep the cup in the "ancient capital".

However, the absence of star player number 1, Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, from the lineup could significantly weaken the strength of the defending champion.

The men's event of the 2026 Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup also includes 6 teams, divided into 2 groups:

• Group A: Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Phong, Cong An Ho Chi Minh City
• Group B: LPB Ninh Binh, Hanoi, The Cong Tan Cang

In Group A, Ho Chi Minh City - a newcomer to the National Championship - is a very interesting unknown, but it might be quite difficult for the team to compete for a spot in the knockout stage against the defending champion Bien Phong and Cong An HCMC. In the other group, Hanoi might be rated slightly lower than the host LPB Ninh Binh and The Cong, but stars of the Capital's representative like Ly Van Chuong or Nguyen Xuan Duc are ready to create an upset.

According to the tournament regulations, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals to compete for the championship, while the bottom two teams from each group will play in the 5th-6th place classification match.