From cultural house grounds to vacant plots of land, each training session offers an opportunity for women to exercise together, socialize, and build motivation to sustain and spread the sport more widely within the community. Football therefore not only brings a lively atmosphere to villages, but also creates a new cultural highlight, contributing to enhancing spiritual life and self-confidence among highland women.

During days when the commune organizes its women’s football tournament, the atmosphere across Mường Pồn commune’s villages turns more vibrant. After working hours, women take advantage of free time to practice and prepare for matches. Some villages maintain teams of about 15 members, while smaller squads comprise 7 to 10 participants. Those who know how to play guide those who do not; experienced players encourage newcomers who are just getting familiar with the ball. In this manner, through village practice sessions, the women’s football movement has gradually taken shape and developed. Ground conditions remain difficult because most villages lack formal pitches, leading women to practice primarily on village cultural house yards or empty clearings.

Giàng Thị Hải from Pú Chả village shared that pitch conditions in the village remain difficult, so practicing football requires taking advantage of the cultural house yard or searching for a vacant plot of land. Following rains, the surface is uneven and playing is difficult, but interested women still make every effort. Everyone encourages one another to practice, both to improve health and to prepare for tournaments so they can participate for fun and ensure their village has a team.

The initiative and enthusiasm of the women have become the driving force sustaining the movement. Moving beyond practicing only when tournaments arise, many teams have formed regular training habits. In Huổi Chan village, after the tournament concluded, squad members returned to the practice ground during free afternoons. The training atmosphere is therefore not burdensome, becoming an opportunity for women to exercise, interact, and bond.

Quàng Thị Bình Yến from Huổi Chan village stated that although the commune football tournament has ended, women still maintain playing football. On afternoons when work is settled, people call one another out to the cultural house ground. If that yard is occupied by other activities, women find an open plot of ground to play for fun. Some who previously did not know how to play saw others enjoying themselves and joined in, practicing gradually until they became accustomed.

While village sports grounds were formerly reserved mainly for men, highland girls wearing jerseys, competing for the ball, and scoring goals have now become familiar images. Football provides women with an additional community activity space, contributing to enriching spiritual life, building healthy lifestyles, and strengthening ties among families, clans, and villages.

Currently, Mường Pồn commune maintains 5 women’s football teams. The teams primarily practice on cultural house grounds across villages. The number of members varies by squad, with larger villages having around 15 players and smaller ones having 7 to 10 participants. Forming teams and sustaining training demonstrate the clear and growing desire among women to engage in cultural and athletic activities. Moving from the commune arena, Mường Pồn female players also had the chance to test themselves on a larger stage by taking part in the Việt Nam Ethnic Minority Women’s Football Tournament - VTV Cup. Competing in a large-scale tournament for the first time while meeting and exchanging with teams and players from various localities offered valuable lessons for the players.

On the pitch, Mường Pồn players demonstrated unity, determination, and dedication. As a result, the Mường Pồn commune women’s football team was honored with the title of “Most Favorite Team” of the tournament. The journey did not reach higher competitive targets, but the highland girls’ performance left a fine impression. For Mường Pồn female players, the experience gained following the tournament provides added motivation for squads to maintain regular practice.

Nguyễn Văn Lương, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Mường Pồn commune, stated that the women’s football movement across villages has seen positive changes recently. Through the tournament, women have a venue to play, interact, learn, and improve fitness. The commune will continue urging villages to maintain teams, facilitate training conditions, and organize appropriate friendly matches and competitions. Notably, having participated in the Việt Nam Ethnic Minority Women’s Football Tournament - VTV Cup, players gained valuable experience and should continue regular practice so the movement develops further.

The Việt Nam Ethnic Minority Women’s Football Tournament - VTV Cup has concluded, but its resonance lingers in Mường Pồn. Girls who stepped onto the major stage have returned to familiar village grounds, continuing practice and inspiring football enthusiasts. However, for the movement to develop sustainably alongside public enthusiasm, the locality needs to pay attention to providing appropriate playing spaces, maintaining exchange activities, and promoting the role of grassroots teams.

Sustaining teams and training sessions after the tournament ends affirms the vitality of a movement formed from the genuine needs of local residents across the commune. Although facilities and training conditions remain limited, driven by their passion for football, women across villages continue to pursue physical fitness, nurture aspirations, and spread the spirit of solidarity.