Lam Dong Football Club () is a Vietnamese football club based in Lâm Đồng. The club uses the 20,000-capacity as the home stadium. They currently play in the V.League 2, as winners in the 2026 Vietnamese Second Division play-offs.
History Golden era: "The Highland Whirlwind" (1990s) Founded in 1979, Lâm Đồng was promoted to the A1 League (currently V.League 1) in 1983 and remained the only representative from the Central Highlands in Vietnam's top league for 14 consecutive seasons. The 1990s were the club's most successful period.
With the advantage of their high-altitude, cold-climate home ground, Đà Lạt Stadium, Lâm Đồng was nearly unbeatable at home, turning it into a feared "fortress" for all opponents, including powerhouses like Thể Công and Cảng Sài Gòn.
In 1994, the club was part of an infamous "betrayal" incident with Công An Hải Phòng. After being double-crossed, coach Đoàn Phùng led his team to a 1–0 victory that saved Lâm Đồng and relegated Công An Hải Phòng. The peak of this era was a historic third-place finish in the 1997 Vietnamese First Division.
Period of instability (2003–2012) After its golden age, Lâm Đồng's performance declined, leading to relegation in 2003. In 2005, they won a dramatic playoff against Quân Khu 7 8–7 in a penalty shootout after 12 rounds to return to the First Division, only to be relegated again the next season.
In 2011, the team finished as runners-up in the Second Division to earn promotion once more. In the 2012 season, under the name XSKT Lâm Đồng and coach Vũ Quang Bảo, they successfully avoided relegation.
Crisis and rebuilding (2013–present) In 2013, the club faced a major financial crisis and had to withdraw from professional football, restarting from the Third Division.
Since then, Lâm Đồng has consistently competed in the Second Division. The 2025 season was particularly heartbreaking. They led their group until the final matchday, but a 0–2 loss against Gia Định saw them drop to third place due to head-to-head results, narrowly missing promotion. After several teams in upper divisions withdrew from the league, the club an invited by the VPF to be promoted to the 2025–26 V.League 2 but subsequently declined, citing the need for better preparation.
In the 2026 Second Division, Lâm Đồng finished first in their group and advanced to the promotion play-offs. They were defeated 0–3 by Huế in the first play-off round, leading them to play a second promotion play-off round against Trường Giang Gia Định. There, they beat their opponent in the penalty shootout and secured their spot in the 2026–27 V.League 2, returning to the Vietnamese professional league after 14 years.
Colours and crest The club's traditional colour is green. The nickname "The Highland Whirlwind" was coined in the 1990s to reflect the team's fast, physical, and unpredictable style of play, especially at their home ground in Đà Lạt.
Stadium The club's home ground is Đà Lạt Stadium, inaugurated on 31 December 2023 on the base of the former stadium. It has a capacity of approximately 20,000 and is one of the most modern sports facilities in the Central Highlands region.
Current squad Lâm Đồng - VPF
Coaching staff Position Name Head coach Trần Văn Toàn Assistant coach Nguyễn Duy Lợi Trương Quang Bình Logistics Nguyễn Minh Hoàng
Managerial history Dates Name 1990–2000 Đoàn Phùng 2000–? Đinh Xuân Thành 2006 Lưu Mộng Hùng 2008–2011 Nguyễn Mạnh Quý 2011–2012 Vũ Quang Bảo 2013–2017 Đoàn Quốc Việt 2018–2021 Nguyễn Mạnh Quý 2022 Hứa Hiền Vinh 2022–2023 Issawa Singthong 2023–2025 Đoàn Quốc Việt 2026–present Trần Văn Toàn
Honours V.League 1 Third place (1): 1997 Vietnamese Second Division Runners-up (1): 2011
References