The National Women's Football Championship will kick off on April 9 in the northern province of Ha Nam with the participation of six teams.

The annual tournament which sees teams competing in round robin format will be played over two legs. The first leg will conclude on April 27, with the second round of matches to take place from July 2-20.

Hosts Phong Phu Ha Nam will meet defending champions HCM City in the opening game. Later, Thai Nguyen will play Vietnam Coal and Minerals while Hanoi Trang An 2 will clash with Hanoi Trang An 1 in the next day.

This year the championship promises some surprises with several senior players from stronger teams having retired.

HCM City's and best ever national player Doan Kim Chi, Hanoi Trang An 1's Dao Thi Mien and Do Thi Ngoc Cham and Phong Phu Ha Nam's Van Thi Thanh now work as team coaches.

The winning team who grab most points after the two legs will take 150 million VND (7,500 USD) in prize money, double last year's award.

The runners-up will pocket 100 million VND (5,000 USD) and 50 million VND (2,500 USD), respectively.

Organisers will also present bonuses to the best player, top scorer, goalie and fair-play team.

Vietnam Football Federation officials hope that the tournament will reveal talented representatives for the national team which will compete at the Southeast Asian Women's Football Championship in Laos this October./.