12,800 spectators is the statistic given by the organizers for the match between Hanoi Police and Ninh Binh.
This is also the match with the largest number of spectators at the stadium in round 12 of V.League 2025-2026, and the 3rd largest since the beginning of the season to date.
Ranked after the match between Ninh Binh and Thanh Hoa in round 2 (14,000 spectators), and the match between Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh in round 4 (13,200 spectators).
Round 12 also marks the return of the domestic playground after a long period of thinking for the Vietnam U23 team to focus on SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.
It can be viewed from 2 perspectives to explain the large number of spectators coming to Hang Day Stadium to watch this match.
Firstly, this is considered the "first leg final" when both teams are sharing two top positions in the rankings. Therefore, this clash is expected to bring excitement and drama to convince fans to come to the stadium to watch.
Secondly, this match had quite a few U23 Vietnam stars, namely Dinh Bac, Minh Phuc, Ly Duc of Hanoi Police, or Thai Son, Van Thuan, Le Phat of Ninh Binh.
The fact that spectators come to the stadium to watch the match, to see the "U23 Vietnam idols" is also a reason.
But it seems that the dramatic nature of a "first leg final" determines the number of spectators at Hang Day Stadium in this match rather than the effect from the success of the U23 Vietnam team.
Because many other matches also have the participation of many U23 Vietnam players, but the attraction is not really outstanding.
This is similar to the match between Hai Phong and The Cong Viettel. Because both of these teams are also competing for top positions in the new rankings, which is the factor attracting 8,500 spectators to Lach Tray stadium.
It is the uncompromising battles with important characteristics that affect the whole season that are the decisive factor in the attractiveness of the match.
Taking examples from PVF-CAND club of Thanh Nhan, Xuan Bac, Anh Quan who just returned from the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, playing at home but only welcoming 1,500 spectators to the stadium to watch and cheer for the Ho Chi Minh City Police team.
Or like Pleiku stadium, which is always bustling, now welcomes the return of U23 Vietnam goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien in the Hoang An Gia Lai jersey, but the number of spectators is only 3,500 in the reception of the opponent Da Nang.
Of course, the effect of Dinh Bac and the U23 Vietnam stars in the domestic arena cannot be denied.
But it is also necessary to have an objective view that Vietnamese fans or football fans who come to the stadium expect to watch eye-catching matches, worthy of the effort, time and money spent.
That is what is precious and respectable, not going to the stadium for temporary effects.
