Vietnam stadium that once hosted MU players unexpectedly renamed

Da Nang city’s decision to rename the stadium has drawn considerable interest, given it was previously the site where Manchester United legends competed in Vietnam.

On December 24, the Da Nang City People's Council approved a resolution regarding the naming of streets and public works in the area. Accordingly, the 20,000-seat football stadium within the Hoa Xuan Sports Complex, Hoa Xuan ward, previously known as Hoa Xuan Stadium, is now officially named Chi Lang Stadium.

Hoa Xuan Stadium, which has been in use since 2016, covers an area of over 66,500 square meters and has a capacity of 20,000 seats, consisting of 4 stands. The main stand is two stories high and equipped with a roof, while the other stands are designed lower. Functional rooms, refreshment areas, and restrooms are fully arranged under the stands, meeting the standards for hosting professional tournaments.

Currently, Hoa Xuan Stadium (now Chi Lang Stadium) is the home ground of Da Nang Club and is considered the largest stadium in Vietnam specifically built for football. Naming it Chi Lang is not only an administrative decision but also a way to preserve historical and cultural values, as the name Chi Lang is historically linked to the “holy ground” of football in the city by the Han River.

In the past, the old Chi Lang Stadium, located on Chi Lang street, Hai Chau district (now Hai Chau ward), had a capacity of about 28,000 seats and was a source of pride for Da Nang football for many years. Beyond sports, Chi Lang Stadium was a familiar cultural space hosting many major city events.

Not only associated with domestic football, Hoa Xuan Stadium also made an international mark by welcoming legends from Manchester United. On the evening of June 27, 2025, this stadium became the center of attention when it hosted a friendly match between the Manchester Red team and the Vietnamese All-Star teamas part of the Vietnam – United Kingdom Football Festival 2025.

The match featured numerous famous “Red Devils” stars such as Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Michael Owen, Teddy Sheringham, Dwight Yorke, Wes Brown… and attracted over 10,000 spectators filling the stands. The Vietnamese team included legends like Le Huynh Duc, Nguyen Hong Son, Le Cong Vinh, along with current players such as Nguyen Van Quyet and Nguyen Hai Long.