The 2026 Hoa Lu Cup sparked controversy on the final day of competition.

This year's Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup officially concluded on March 23, with the championships won by Border Guard (men) and VTV Binh Dien Long An (women).

Volleyball tournament Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup 2026 held at the Ninh Binh Provincial Sports Competition Hall officially ended late on March 23 with the men's final between Border Guard and the host team LPB Ninh Binh. The tournament delivered exciting, dramatic matches with many surprises, but also featured a controversial moment that sparked significant debate among Vietnamese volleyball fans.

Specifically, during the individual awards ceremony of this year's Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup, the national team's main attacker Nguyen Thi Uyen (LPB Ninh Binh) unexpectedly received the Best Attacker award. Many opinions suggested Nguyen Uyen was not sufficiently outstanding to be honored in this category, despite the former main attacker of Geleximco Thai Binh performing very well in recent matches.

Fans pointed out other more deserving candidates such as foreign player Lianet Garcia (VTV Binh Dien Long An), H'Mia Eban (VietinBank) or Nguyen Huynh Phuong Thuy (Information - Northeast). These attackers all scored excellently, and their respective teams also achieved better rankings than the host LPB Ninh Binh.

Similarly in the men's category, some opinions argued that Nguyen Ngoc Thuan with his "monstrous" form helping Border Guard successfully defend their title at the Hoa Lu Cup deserved the Best Attacker award, rather than the Mongolian foreign player of the host Ninh Binh - Batsuuri Battur.

In other categories, Vo Thi Kim Thoa (VTV Binh Dien Long An) and Dinh Van Duy (Border Guard) received the Best Setter awards, while the Best Defender awards were given to Nguyen Thi Ninh Anh (VietinBank) and Trinh Duy Phuc (LPB Ninh Binh).

Additionally, the absence of video assistant referee technology on the final competition day also left many fans dissatisfied.

Following the conclusion of the Hoa Lu - Binh Dien Cup, clubs will return to training, preparing for Stage 1 of the 2026 National Championship to be held in Dong Anh, Hanoi next April.