Park Hang-seo Guides Bac Ninh FC to Historic First Promotion to Vietnam’s Professional Leagues

Park Hang-seo’s return to Vietnamese football has already made headlines—this time not with the national team, but by helping guide Bac Ninh FC to their first-ever promotion to the professional ranks.

The club, based in northern Vietnam, has confirmed its place in the 2025 V.League 2 after topping their group in the third tier of the Vietnamese league system. The promotion marks a watershed moment for Bac Ninh FC, founded only recently, as they transition from a semi-professional setup into the full-time professional game.

Park, who took on the role of technical advisor to the club in 2024, has been instrumental in this transformation. Despite juggling commitments in both South Korea and Vietnam, the former Vietnam national team boss has been a regular presence at Bac Ninh matches and training sessions throughout the season.

His contributions have extended far beyond the touchline. Under his guidance, the club has undertaken structural reform at every level—revamping youth development, improving training conditions, and professionalising club operations. It’s an overhaul that has laid the foundations not just for promotion, but for long-term competitiveness in Vietnam’s professional pyramid.

Equally significant has been Park’s work in strengthening the club’s ties with the local community. He has actively participated in grassroots programmes, school visits, community events, and donation drives, helping Bac Ninh FC emerge as a club that represents more than just footballing ambition—it now stands as a pillar of local identity and pride.

Vietnam’s third tier is divided into northern and southern regional groups, with the top two teams from each group earning promotion to V.League 2. Bac Ninh FC secured top spot in the northern group early in June, before finishing the campaign with a celebratory final-day victory on 22 June.

While promotion itself is a sporting milestone, for Bac Ninh the leap to V.League 2 represents something far more fundamental: a structural shift from semi-professional to professional status. The club now faces a crucial period of preparation ahead of the new season, set to kick off on 19 September. Plans are already in motion to strengthen the playing squad, upgrade facilities, expand the backroom team, and meet the operational standards required at the next level.

Park’s appointment last year was seen as a coup for Bac Ninh, with club officials citing his coaching pedigree and deep understanding of Vietnamese football as key reasons behind the hire. From the outset, the club made clear that this was not a short-term project. Their stated ambition: to build one of the top clubs in Asia. With promotion now secured, that long-term vision has taken its first concrete step.

Park’s role is expected to grow even more significant in the coming months. In addition to his ongoing involvement on the technical side, he will play a leading part in shaping Bac Ninh FC’s mid- to long-term strategy, from recruitment to infrastructure to broader footballing philosophy.

As Bac Ninh prepare to enter Vietnam’s professional leagues for the first time, Park Hang-seo once again finds himself at the heart of a Vietnamese football story—this time, writing a new chapter from the ground up.