Vietnam has been chosen to host the Southern Conference of the 2026-27 Asian University Basketball League (AUBL), with games in Hanoi from 7 to 11 April 2027, according to the Vietnam Sports Administration. Six university teams representing six countries and territories in the Asia-Pacific region will take part, and it is the first time Vietnam will stage an official group of the competition.
Six teams, two groups, three places
| Team | Country or territory |
|---|---|
| University of Sydney | Australia |
| National Chengchi University | Chinese Taipei |
| The Chinese University of Hong Kong | Hong Kong |
| Perbanas Institute | Indonesia |
| City University of Macau | China |
| Host representative | Vietnam |
The announcement does not name the university that will represent Vietnam. The six teams will be split into two groups of three for a single round robin. The top two in each group go through to the semi-finals, and the conference's best three teams qualify for the season's Championship Week. The administration expects the universities' sporting pedigree to make for high-quality games.
The season at a glance
The Southern Conference runs alongside an Eastern Conference of 12 teams from China, Japan, South Korea, Mongolia and the Philippines, split into four groups playing home and away.
- 22 November 2026: opening ceremony in Seoul.
- November 2026 to March 2027: Eastern Conference home-and-away games.
- 7 to 11 April 2027: Southern Conference in Hanoi.
- 16 to 22 August 2027 (planned): Championship Week, with the top nine Eastern teams and the three Southern qualifiers.
The AUBL is recognised by the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF) and aims to give student-athletes a professional environment in which to test themselves and improve.
What it means for Vietnamese basketball
Operations in Hanoi have been handed to New Sports, an organiser with experience of events such as the Vietnam Pro-Am Basketball Championship (VBC), the Vietnam Collegiate Basketball Championship (VCBC) and the PPA Hanoi Cup 2026. It must meet the AUSF's technical, facility and officiating requirements.
The administration sees the event as a chance for young Vietnamese players to learn training and competition methods from more developed basketball nations in the region, and to raise the international profile of Vietnamese sport. For the host team it means a home tournament against university sides from Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei, with three Championship Week places at stake among six teams.
What comes next
The first milestone of the season is the opening ceremony in Seoul on 22 November 2026. The Hanoi games will begin on 7 April 2027, and Championship Week is planned for 16 to 22 August 2027. The announcement has yet to name the Vietnamese representative or the venue in Hanoi.