The Rise Begins — Đà Nẵng Rising W.F.C.

Written by Đỗ Nhật Huy and Jenny Lê

Where This Vision Came From — And Why

My name is Jenny Lê. I was born in Việt Nam and raised in the U.S. — a daughter of war, work, and women who made everything out of nothing.
My first language was food.
My first dream was safety.
My second language was survival.
And my last was to build something that could last.

I grew up between worlds — one foot in a refugee household, the other in American classrooms that never pronounced my name right.
I worked through kitchens, across brand-name food firms, and into my own restaurants.
Eventually, I wrote a book about it: From an Empty Bowl to Empire — a memoir about hunger, both literal and emotional, and how I learned to feed myself, then others.

But I always knew the empire couldn’t end in a kitchen.

This Is the Sequel to the Memoir

Đà Nẵng Rising W.F.C. is the next chapter — not just of my story,
but of every girl who was told to stay small, quiet, or invisible.

I created this club because I was tired of waiting for change.
Tired of watching women’s sports underfunded, girls underfed, and talent left undeveloped.
Tired of watching leadership, legacy, and land passed down to sons.

This isn’t just a football club.
It’s a radical act of memory, nourishment, and return.

Why Việt Nam?

Because this is where my family comes from.
From Huế — the city of the imperial palace.
Twenty-two days at sea. Too big for dreams. Too dangerous for survival.
But we made it.

Because the girls here deserve a team that believes in them before the world does.
Because I’m not just building a team —
I’m building home.
And I am coming home.

We’re reclaiming the field.
The story.
The spotlight.
One girl at a time.

We are drafting seven women not just to play —
but to teach, lead, and rise.
And we plan to give them the best support anyone can afford.

Why I’m Starting a Women’s Football Team in Đà Nẵng

A Beginning Born from Disparity—and Hope

When Vietnam’s women’s national football team qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the whole country erupted in pride and joy. It was a historic milestone—proof of the determination, resilience, and talent of our female players.

But behind the medals and moments of glory lies a quieter reality:
Women’s football in Vietnam is still deeply underfunded, undervalued, and overlooked.

The Real Numbers

Most female players at local clubs earn just 3 to 5 million VND per month—around $120 to $200. At one point, players on the Thái Nguyên women’s team earned just 1.5 million VND—less than a factory worker’s wage.
Meanwhile, male players in the V-League start at 15 to 20 million VND, not including bonuses or sponsorships.

🗭 A Note of Respect
We deeply respect the players and coaches at clubs like Thái Nguyên.
They’ve paved the way for all of us—fighting quietly, often invisibly, to keep women’s football alive in Vietnam despite the odds.
This project is not in competition with them.
It exists because of them.

It’s Not Just About the Money

Many female players pay for their own kits, equipment, and medical care.
They train on outdated fields, often with no access to proper nutrition or physical therapy.

Some are forced to give up completely—taking jobs in factories, opening small shops, or becoming amateur coaches—because football simply can’t sustain them.

Even our national team, after qualifying for the World Cup, received only token bonuses.

So Why Start a Team?

We often say “women’s football is disadvantaged.”
But how many talents have quietly disappeared because there was no place to grow?
How many dreams were shelved—or lost entirely—for lack of support?

That’s why I’m starting small.
Right here in Đà Nẵng.

What We’re Building

I don’t expect this team to go pro overnight.
But I do want to build a stable, supportive place — with real fields, real coaches, and a real chance for girls who love football to train, learn, and grow.

  • A place where football doesn’t discriminate by gender

  • A place where passion and effort matter more than anything else

  • A place where no girl has to give up her dream because there was nowhere to begin

This Isn’t About Stars.
It’s About Beginnings.

I believe real change won’t come top-down.
It has to start in the community—
with people who care,
and people who believe girls deserve the same chance as boys.

What We’re Really Building

We’re building emotional infrastructure.
A system where girls can grow — with salary, housing, mentorship, healing, and visibility.

We’re designing it from the ground up —
ethically, transparently, and beautifully.

This is legacy work.
This is empire work.
This is the field I wish I had.

Let’s Build It Together

If this speaks to you — walk with us.
If you’ve ever felt underestimated — this is your team too.

All it takes is a field, a ball, and a little faith.

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