Three Vietnamese female volleyball stars face a major turning point in their careers.

The Vietnamese female volleyball community could see a career milestone for three stars after a shocking event occurred.

The indictment of Mr. Đào Hữu Huyền, owner of the Hóa Chất Đức Giang (HCĐG) Lào Cai Club, is shaking up Vietnamese volleyball and this upheaval may lead to an unexpected career shift for Bích Thủy, Lý Thị Luyến, and Trần Tú Linh. All three have been or are currently members of the national female volleyball team and are under contract with the chemical industry's female volleyball club.

HCĐG Lào Cai operates based on funding provided by Mr. Huyền. The salaries and bonuses paid to athletes, coaches, and other staff of this female volleyball club, which has been runner-up in the Vietnamese National Championship for five consecutive seasons from 2020 to 2024, are all determined by Mr. Đào Hữu Huyền.

However, with Mr. Huyền facing legal issues, the financial resources to sustain HCĐG Lào Cai's normal operations are under serious question. Until before Mr. Huyền's legal troubles, the players of HCĐG Lào Cai, including the three stars mentioned, enjoyed top-tier待遇 in Vietnamese female volleyball.

But with the financial resources to maintain HCĐG Lào Cai's operations being questioned as investment funds risk being cut off, Bích Thủy, Lý Thị Luyến, or Trần Tú Linh could very well experience a new career turning point in a way they themselves might not have anticipated.

Although all three still have playing contracts with HCĐG Lào Cai, they could be facilitated to seek new clubs in the near future for their own careers. Alternatively, they might propose leaving HCĐG Lào Cai to join a new club soon.

Currently, Bích Thủy is playing as a foreign player for Okayama Seagulls in the Japanese National Volleyball League. Lý Thị Luyến is playing as a foreign player for Nakhon Ratchasima in the Thai National Volleyball League. Meanwhile, Trần Tú Linh has resumed training after a long break due to a knee injury.

If Bích Thủy and Lý Thị Luyến finish their contracts with the clubs they are playing for in Japan and Thailand, and do not receive offers or reach agreements to join any other teams, they will return to HCĐG Lào Cai and consider their next steps. Trần Tú Linh will also have to make a decision about her future amid the current instability of HCĐG Lào Cai.

The 2026 season kicks off today (March 18) with the first matches of the Hoa Lư Bình Điền Cup, before clubs compete in Stage 1 of the 2026 National Volleyball Championship.

However, the incident involving Mr. Đào Hữu Huyền could push HCĐG Lào Cai into a "brain drain" situation soon, as their players, including the three stars Bích Thủy, Lý Thị Luyến, and Trần Tú Linh, must consider finding new clubs for their careers.