Ho Chi Minh City FC
Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC is a professional football club based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, founded in 1975 as Saigon Port Workers Football Club. The club currently competes in the V.League 1, the highest level of Vietnamese football, and plays their home matches at Thống Nhất Stadium. Throughout their history, the club has achieved significant success in Vietnamese football, winning the V.League 1 title four times (1986, 1993–94, 1997, 2001–02) and claiming multiple cup victories including the Vietnamese Cup in 1992 and 1999–2000.
History
Overview
General information about the club
Cong An Ho Chi Minh City Football Club, also known as CAHCMC and Ho Chi Minh City Police, has undergone several name changes throughout its existence. The club was formerly known as Thương Cảng Sài Gòn (Saigon Harbour) before 1975, then Cảng Sài Gòn (Saigon Port) between 1975 and 2009, and Ho Chi Minh City FC between 2009 and 2025. The club competes in the V.League 1 since the 2017 season after winning Vietnam's 2016 V.League 2.
Most recent season and achievements
The club was officially rebranded to Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC on 14 July 2025, following the transfer of ownership to the Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Department. This marked the return of the Cong An Ho Chi Minh City name in Vietnamese football since 2002 when the previously established team had dissolved.
History
Early years
On 1 November 1975, the Saigon Port Workers Football Club was officially established, inheriting many players and staff from the previous Saigon Harbour Football Club that competed in the South Vietnam Football Championship. The team quickly became well known in Southern Vietnam, together with Hải Quan - their local rivals. In 1980, Saigon Port was one of 10 clubs based in Southern Vietnam to participate in the 1980 Vietnamese National A1 League - the first football championship in Vietnam.
Successful period
In 1983, former defender Phạm Huỳnh Tam Lang returned from Germany and was appointed as head coach for the club. In 1984, the club began focusing on recruiting young players from their youth academy, including Đặng Trần Chỉnh, Hà Vương Ngầu Nại, Nguyễn Hoàng Châu, and Phạm Văn Tám. This squad was later regarded as the club's "Golden Generation". Among them, midfielder Hà Vương Ngầu Nại received recognition by becoming the top scorer of the 1989 V-League, scoring a total of 10 goals.
From 1990 to 2001, many players were called up to the Vietnam national team, including Nguyễn Hồng Phẩm, Hà Vương Ngầu Nại, Lư Đình Tuấn, Hồ Văn Lợi, and Huỳnh Hồng Sơn. In 2001, under the new name Saigon Port Football Club, they won another league title in the 2001–02 season.
Crisis and recovery
The Saigon Port Corporation's officials claimed at the end of 2008 that they no longer had enough money to support the club. The club's leadership decided to alter the team's name to operate on a professional model. The name Ho Chi Minh City Football Club was adopted on 22 January 2009, with the Vietnam Steel Corporation serving as the team's primary sponsor.
The supporters were vehemently opposed to the name change, leading to the resignation of the entire Fans Association Executive Committee and dissolution of the Saigon Port Football Supporters Association. They were relegated to Vietnamese Football League Second Division after finishing 13th in the 2009 season. After struggling in lower divisions, Ho Chi Minh City successfully gained promotion to the V.League 1 after winning the 2016 V.League 2.
Current period
Following their return to the V.League 1 in 2017, the team focused on drawing spectators by listening to supporters' criticism and renovating facilities. In the 2019 season, Jung Hae-seong was named as the new head coach, leading the club to a runners-up finish - their best result since rebranding in 2012. The team also qualified for the 2020 AFC Champions League preliminary round.
In 2020, the club spent 20 billion ₫ on transfers, signing several reputable V.League 1 players such as Nguyễn Công Phượng and Võ Huy Toàn, as well as Costa Rican forwards Ariel Rodríguez and José Guillermo Ortiz. Before the 2021 season, Alexandré Pölking was appointed as head coach, and the club signed Vietnamese-American midfielder Lee Nguyen.
Achievements and Honors
Domestic competitions
The club has achieved considerable success in Vietnamese domestic competitions. In league competitions, they won the V.League 1 four times (1986, 1993–94, 1997, 2001–02), finished as runners-up in 2019, and claimed third place in 1985, 1990, and 1995. They also won the V.League 2 in 2004 and 2016, and achieved third place in 2015. During the South Vietnam era, they won the South Vietnam Football Championship three consecutive times (1977, 1978, 1979).
In cup competitions, the club won the Vietnamese Cup twice (1992, 1999–2000), reached the final four times (1994, 1996, 1997), and finished third twice (2019, 2020). They were runners-up in the Vietnamese Super Cup three times (2000, 2002, 2019).
Continental and global competitions
The club has made limited appearances in continental competitions. In the AFC Champions League, they participated twice - reaching the qualification round 3 in 2002–03 and the preliminary round 2 in 2020. They also participated in the 2020 AFC Cup group stage, where they topped their group with two wins and one defeat before the competition was cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic logistics issues.
Traditional Rivals
Hải Quan
Hải Quan serves as the club's primary local rival, with this rivalry dating back to the early years when both teams became well known in Southern Vietnam during the Saigon Port era.
Club Traditions and Behind the Scenes
Sponsors
The Vietnam Steel Corporation served as the team's primary sponsor during the Ho Chi Minh City FC era, providing crucial financial support following the club's rebranding in 2009.
Nicknames
The club is commonly known by several abbreviated names including CAHCMC and Ho Chi Minh City Police, reflecting their current ownership structure under the Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Department.
Ownership and finances
The club's ownership has evolved significantly over time. Originally operated by the Saigon Port Corporation, financial difficulties in 2008 led to a transition to the Ho Chi Minh City Football Company Ltd with a 15 billion Vietnam Dong investment. In 2025, ownership was transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Public Security Department, marking the beginning of the Cong An Ho Chi Minh City era.
Traditions and culture
The club's supporters showed strong devotion to their heritage, particularly during the controversial name change from Saigon Port to Ho Chi Minh City FC in 2009. This led to significant resistance, including the dissolution of the original supporters association. However, following the club's return to V.League 1 in 2017 and efforts to improve fan engagement, the Ho Chi Minh City Football Club Fans Association was eventually formed.
Stadium
The club's home ground is the Thống Nhất Stadium, where they have made efforts to improve facilities and spectator experience, particularly following their return to the top flight in 2017.