The first season of the tournament in Hanoi last year gathered 24 high school teams, attracting nearly 4,000 spectators in person and tens of thousands of online viewers per match. Building on that success, the event expanded to southern Vietnam in May this year with a friendly match series between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together the top 16 high school teams from both regions.

The event is co-hosted by Read and FPT Online, with technical guidance provided by the Vietnam Basketball Federation.

Ngo Manh Cuong, deputy head of the organizers, announced at the press conference launching the 2025 Youth Basketball tournament on Oct. 2, 2025, in Hanoi that the tournament has marked a new model of organization, creating a space for sports exchange among top high school basketball teams in Vietnam’s two most dynamic cities and affirming the organizers’ commitment to building a reputable, quality sporting playground for high school students nationwide.

The organizers are again staging the tournament in the Hanoi area to help promote the school sports movement in the capital. “We hope this becomes a place to nurture courage, teamwork spirit, and inspire passion in the students. With technical cooperation from the Vietnam Basketball Federation and support from sponsors, we expect it to serve as a launchpad for young faces to reach further, perhaps even on the international arena,” Cuong said.

In 2025, each high school in Hanoi may enter up to two teams—one male and one female—with the total scale growing to 36 teams. Registration is open until Oct. 7. The matches will run from Oct. 25 to Dec. 6, across four rounds: group stage, quarterfinals, semifinals, and final. The last two rounds will be livestreamed on digital platforms, and the closing ceremony is scheduled for Dec. 6.

Organizers’ representatives at a press conference in Hanoi. Photo by Read/Tung Dinh

The tournament follows FIBA 5×5 rules (2020). The prize structure includes VND15 million for the champion, VND10 million for the runner-up, and VND7 million each for two third-place winners. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive VND5 million, in addition to trophies, flags, medals, and gifts from sponsors, applicable to both male and female divisions.

Accompanying the tournament are side activities to encourage spirit and spread the competitive atmosphere. Media Day provides teams the opportunity to take photos, record videos, and participate in interviews.

Additionally, the “Slay Hard, Play Harder—Be More Composed, Play with Quality” training program is scheduled to run from October to November across several high schools. This program will include workshops focusing on health, puberty counseling, and sports experiences.

The tournament’s partner is Polish skincare and pharmaceutical brand Ziaja, distributed in Vietnam by Bac Ninh Pharmaceutical and the European Cosmetics & Pharmaceuticals Group (EUPC). Updates and participant information will be continuously posted on Read and the tournament’s official fanpage.