The 2026 Gia Lai Province's ethnic minority women’s football tournament for the VTV5 Cup, held from March 17 to 21 at the 15th Army Corps (Binh đoàn 15) Stadium in Thong Nhat Ward, brought together eight teams from Gia Lai, Đắk Lắk and Quảng Ngãi. Beyond its competitive level, the event stood out for its unique display of traditional ethnic attire on the pitch.
The tournament was highlighted by international media, including a feature published on the International Sports Press Association’s news portal titled “When football empowers Vietnamese ethnic minority women to rewrite their stories.” The article praised how participants have challenged stereotypes, embracing football to enrich their cultural and spiritual lives.
Players from long-established ethnic groups such as Bahnar, Jrai, Ê Đê and Giẻ Triêng competed alongside communities originating from Vietnam’s northern mountainous regions, including Tày, Nùng and Thái. Notably, the Ea Knốp team from Đắk Lắk represented four ethnic groups, Tày, Nùng, Thái and Mường, within a single squad.
A defining feature of the tournament was the adaptation of traditional brocade costumes for football. Typically reserved for festivals, these garments were redesigned to suit the physical demands of the sport while preserving distinctive patterns and motifs.
Participants said the experience fostered pride in their cultural heritage. “We rarely wear our traditional Tày costumes except during festivals or Tet”, said Bế Thị Xanh of the Ea Knốp team. “This tournament gave us the chance to wear them, appear on television and social media, and compete with other teams. We feel very proud of our identity”.
For others, the event offered a new way to represent their community. Thươn of the Đak Đoa team said it was the first time her squad had competed in traditional Bahnar attire.
“Previously, spectators only knew we were ethnic minorities from Gia Lai, but not which group. Now we can proudly show the image of strong, agile Bahnar women footballers”, she said.
According to Nguyễn Văn Ý, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, integrating cultural elements into sport has previously been limited to less physically demanding disciplines such as crossbow and slingshot competitions. The success of this tournament suggests the model could be expanded to other events.
Organisers said the competition not only promoted the unique cultural heritage of Gia Lai and the Central Highlands, but also highlighted efforts to support the cultural and spiritual life of ethnic minority communities while strengthening unity among different groups.