Vietnam Esports Whitebook 2022–2023
Published by the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA) and produced by OTA Network, the Vietnam Esports Whitebook 2022–2023 examines domestic market scale, international tournament milestones, and five structural shifts. Vietnam's esports revenue reached USD 5.78 million in 2023 (+11.15%), backed by 618 active professional players, over VND 41 billion in domestic prize pools, and back-to-back socialized SEA Games operations.
An executive breakdown of Vietnam's USD 5.78 million esports market, 618 active pro players, socialized SEA Games delivery, and five growth trends from VIRESA and OTA Network.
Key findings
- USD 5.78MTotal Vietnam esports industry revenue in 2023 (+11.15% YoY), projected to reach USD 8.73 million by 2027 at a 10.95% compound annual growth rate (Statista).
- USD 1.7MSponsorship and advertising revenue in 2023—the largest commercial stream in Vietnam's esports sector (Appota Group)—ahead of media broadcasting rights at over USD 1.4 million (+31.7% YoY).
- 16% of populationShare of Vietnam's population following esports in 2023, tied with Indonesia and Taiwan and trailing only China and the Philippines at 20% each (YouGov).
- Over VND 41BTotal prize pool across domestic esports tournaments in Vietnam in 2023 (+32.26% YoY), led by Arena of Valor (Liên Quân Mobile) with over VND 12 billion (Esports Earnings).
- 618 pro playersActive professional esports players in Vietnam in 2023—ranking first among six benchmarked Southeast Asian markets, ahead of Indonesia (441) and Thailand (439) (Esports Earnings).
- 1,367,274 viewersPeak concurrent viewers during the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's Grand Final at SEA Games 32 (May 11, 2023), setting a then-world record for female esports (Esports Charts).
- 71% and 58.1%Share of surveyed participants using bank accounts (71%) and the MoMo e-wallet (58.1%) for esports spending and fan donations in 2023, while only 1.6% reported zero spending (OTA Network).
How is the USD 5.78 million Vietnam esports market structured by audience and revenue?
In 2023, the Vietnam esports market generated USD 5.78 million in total industry revenue, rising 11.15% year-on-year according to Statista. Expanding at a 10.95% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), domestic revenue is projected to reach USD 8.73 million by 2027. That momentum reflects the return of offline arena tournaments and rising brand sponsorships across Southeast Asia.
Globally, Newzoo recorded 532 million esports viewers in 2022. That audience comprised 271 million occasional viewers and 261 million esports enthusiasts. Enthusiast viewership is projected to reach 318 million by 2025, growing roughly 8.1% per year. Global esports revenue is forecast to surpass USD 1.86 billion by 2025 (13.4% CAGR). Southeast Asia leads all regions in growth at 27.6% annually, ahead of Central and Southern Asia (23.4%) and Latin America (19%).
Mobile-first audience reach and four flagship tournament titles
Vietnam's digital infrastructure strongly supports competitive gaming. Data compiled from the Ministry of Science and Technology (formerly the Ministry of Information and Communications) and We Are Social's Digital 2023 report records 98.53 million residents. Internet penetration stands at 79.1%, smartphone adoption reaches 84.4%, broadband averages 80.27 Mbps, and 28.2 million people play digital games. Roughly 40 professional clubs currently compete across more than 10 popular esports titles nationwide.
According to YouGov's 2023 survey, 16% of Vietnam's population actively follows esports. That share matches Indonesia (16%) and Taiwan (16%), trailing only China (20%) and the Philippines (20%). Appota Group tracking shows Vietnam's occasional esports viewers growing from over 17 million in 2019 to over 20 million in 2021–2022. Regular viewers increased from over 3 million to more than 5.5 million over the same period.
Domestic viewership concentrates heavily around mobile leagues. In May 2023, the Arena of Valor (Liên Quân Mobile) Đấu Trường Danh Vọng Spring 2023 Grand Final between Saigon Phantom and V Gaming hit a domestic record of 650,000 peak concurrent viewers. Appota Group's 2021–2023 download figures highlight the large player base feeding Vietnam's four flagship mobile esports titles:
| Flagship Mobile Esports Title | 2021 Downloads | 2022 Downloads | 2023 Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Fire | Over 12 million | Over 17 million | Over 14.5 million |
| Arena of Valor (Liên Quân Mobile) | Over 12 million | Over 15 million | Over 12 million |
| PUBG Mobile | Over 0.5 million | Over 4.7 million | Over 4 million |
| League of Legends: Wild Rift | Over 3 million | Over 4 million | Over 1.5 million |
Commercial revenue streams and domestic prize-pool expansion
Appota Group identifies sponsorship and advertising as the largest commercial stream, generating roughly USD 1.7 million in 2023 after six years of steady expansion. Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and consumer electronics brands lead sponsorship spending. Key activations included Samsung partnering with OTA Network on the PUBG Mobile Community League and UEC 2022. Acecook's Hảo Hảo sponsored Đấu Trường Danh Vọng 2023, while Yomost backed the Vietnam Free Fire League 2023.
Media and broadcasting rights rank second at over USD 1.4 million in 2023, up 31.7% year-on-year. Ticket sales and event merchandise remain a smaller revenue share, yet surged roughly 57.89% as major finals returned to live venues. Direct creator streaming and ancillary segments stayed relatively flat compared with 2022.
Growing brand budgets supported larger tournament stakes. According to Esports Earnings, total prize money across domestic Vietnamese tournaments exceeded VND 41 billion in 2023, up 32.26% year-on-year. Arena of Valor led domestic investment with over VND 12 billion in local prizes (VND 6 billion per Spring and Winter 2023 split). Ho Chi Minh City also hosted the international Arena of Valor Premier League 2022, featuring a VND 23 billion prize pool.
Where do publishers, professional clubs, and Vietnam's regional standing sit today?
Part 1 maps a closely linked domestic ecosystem guided by VIRESA under the state oversight of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Three commercial pillars anchor the value chain: game publishers, professional clubs, and broadcast networks.
Three core publishers, club operating economics, and MCN career pathways
During 2022–2023, Vietnam's major competitive titles were operated primarily by three licensed domestic publishers:
- VNGGames: Operated PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Wild Rift, VALORANT, Rules of Survival (through June 2022), and assumed League of Legends publishing from January 2023.
- Garena: Published Arena of Valor, Free Fire, FIFA Online 4, FIFA Online 3, and managed League of Legends through December 2022.
- VTC: Operated PC shooter and rhythm titles including Crossfire (Đột Kích), Battle Teams 2 (Truy Kích PC), and Audition.
For professional clubs, operating costs and roster renewal remain difficult challenges. Specialists estimate that running a top-division team costs at least VND 300 million per month across gaming houses, salaries, and coaching staff. Because sponsorship income fluctuates, prominent clubs like Saigon Phantom sell branded apparel and partner with 5G telecom carriers and digital banks.
Dingoz Xavier Head Coach Nguyễn Xuân Tuấn notes that a player's prime competitive window spans ages 18 to 22. Meanwhile, Lê Quang Duy—Head Coach of Vietnam's ASIAD 19 League of Legends national squad—points to the absence of fixed youth academy leagues. Vietnam's top-tier Vietnam Championship Series (VCS) fields fewer than 10 teams without a formal secondary division.
On the broadcast side, YouTube and Facebook draw the largest audiences, while TikTok grows quickly among fans aged 14 and above. VTVcab exclusively localizes and distributes over 50 ESL Faceit Group tournaments each year across TV, OTT, and social platforms. Meanwhile, Multi-Channel Networks (MCNs) such as OTA Network, POPS, Yeah1 Network, MeTub, Box Studio, and VTVcab Network help retired pros (including Levi, Jisoo, and Dennis) transition into multi-platform streaming and live commerce.
Southeast Asia benchmark: Leading in pro talent, under-monetized per viewer
Benchmarking Vietnam against five neighboring markets in 2023 via Statista and Esports Earnings highlights a wide gap between pro player supply and commercial monetization:
| Market (2023) | Revenue (USD million) | Active Pro Players | Domestic Prize Pool (USD) | Most Popular Titles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | >22.17 | 389 | 21,533,705.94 | MLBB, LoL: Wild Rift |
| Thailand | >19.68 | 439 | 28,691,944.99 | VALORANT, Arena of Valor, Free Fire |
| Indonesia | >9.73 | 441 | 17,803,718.74 | MLBB, PUBG Mobile, DOTA 2 |
| Singapore | >8.00 | 176 | 7,394,800.87 | DOTA 2, MLBB, VALORANT |
| Vietnam | >5.78 | 618 | 17,156,839.99 | PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, Free Fire, LoL |
| Malaysia | >5.31 | 326 | 20,037,140.58 | DOTA 2, PUBG Mobile, MLBB |
Vietnam overtook Malaysia in market revenue (>USD 5.78 million vs. >USD 5.31 million) and leads Southeast Asia with 618 active pro players. That talent pool is 40% larger than second-ranked Indonesia (441 pros). However, commercial revenue per pro player and per viewer stands at roughly one-third to one-quarter of Thailand and the Philippines. Within a Southeast Asian digital gaming market estimated at USD 14.8 billion in 2024 (Technavio), closing that monetization gap offers substantial commercial upside.
What did socialized execution at SEA Games 31–32 and global arenas prove?
Part 2 documents how Vietnam evolved during 2022–2023 from a national medal contender into an international tournament operator funded wholly through private socialization.
Back-to-back SEA Games operations within 12 months via 100% socialized funding
At SEA Games 31 in Hanoi (May 2022), esports stood out among 40 official sports by running entirely on 100% socialized private funding coordinated by VIRESA. Twelve months later, Cambodia's CAMSOC authorized VIRESA alongside the Esports Federation Cambodia (EFC) to co-deliver esports at SEA Games 32 in Phnom Penh. VIRESA and Vietnamese partners (including VNGGames, VTC Online, and Moonton) mobilized over 200 personnel on-site in Cambodia plus over 50 remote staff:
| Operational & Media Metric | SEA Games 31 (May 2022, Hanoi) | SEA Games 32 (May 2023, Phnom Penh) |
|---|---|---|
| Titles, medal sets, and stages | 8 titles, 10 medal events, 5 stages | 6 titles, 9 medal events, 3 stages |
| Nations and athletes | 10 nations; 423 athletes (25 female) | All 11 SEA nations; 313 athletes (34 female) |
| Technical referees | 70 referees (63 Vietnam, 7 foreign) | 33 referees (2 Vietnam, 4 foreign, 23 host) |
| Vietnam medal standing | 1st overall (4 Gold; p.25 prints 2 Silver, actual 3 Silver) | 4th overall (1 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze) |
| Press coverage | ~100 reporters, 40 outlets, 840 articles | 120 reporters, 54 outlets, 612 articles |
| Peak concurrent viewers | 2,217,170 (MLBB); 903,011 (PUBG Mobile) | 1,462,871 (MLBB Men); 1,367,274 (MLBB Women) |
Digital viewership set historic marks. On May 11, 2023 at SEA Games 32, the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Women's Grand Final hit 1,367,274 peak concurrent viewers across over 70 channels (Esports Charts). That audience more than tripled the previous record to become the most-watched female esports match worldwide at the time. Vietnam's women's semifinal against Indonesia also drew 627,777 peak viewers.
Milestones across ASIAD 19 and global championship circuits
Vietnamese national teams and clubs also delivered strong results across continental and world events in 2022–2023:
- World federation events: Vietnam competed at IESF WEC 2022 in Bali (106 nations, USD 500,000 prize pool—placing Top 5 in MLBB and Top 7 in CS:GO) and IESF WEC 2023 in Romania (111 nations). At Global Esports Games 2022 in Istanbul (over 50 nations), Vietnam won the PUBG Mobile title and stayed near the top at GEG 2023 in Riyadh.
- 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou (September–October 2023): As esports debuted as an official medal program, Vietnam entered six of seven titles. Squads earned three Top 4 finishes in Arena of Valor, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, and League of Legends. Winning Game 1 against host China in the League of Legends Bronze match propelled the series to the top of Weibo searches before ending 1–2. Vietnam also placed Top 5 in EA Sports FC Online (Hồ Gia Huy), Top 9 in PUBG Mobile and Street Fighter V (Huỳnh Thoại Chương), and won Bronze in the XR Sports demonstration event.
- International club circuits: Vietnamese clubs won AIC 2022 (Arena of Valor) and FIFAe Continental Cup 2022, alongside Top 4 at Wild Rift Icons 2022, Top 3 at EACC Spring 2023, and Top 5 at PMGC 2023.
Which five structural trends shape Vietnam's next esports growth cycle?
Part 3 examines five structural shifts expanding Vietnam's esports industry across school sports, female creator media, policy frameworks, digital payments, and university education.
Phygital Sports bridging digital simulation and physical arenas
Phygital Sports pairs two stages in one contest: athletes play a digital sport simulation first, then compete on a physical court for a combined score. At the inaugural Games of the Future in Kazan, Russia (February–March 2024; 20 disciplines; RUB 1 billion prize pool), Vietnam's Thang Long Warriors beat Venezuela's Libertadores 35–31 on February 26, 2024 to claim the Phygital Basketball Invitational crown.
At home, VIRESA joined the Vietnam Olympic Committee, the Hanoi Recreational Sports Association, and Bắc Ninh Sports University on January 6–7, 2024 to host EPF 24. Over 5,500 athletes contested 108 medal sets across four groups, including Phygital Football, Basketball, and Dance. VIRESA's 2030 roadmap (vision to 2050) aims to bring phygital events into schools, the National Phù Đổng Sports Festival, and the National Sports Games.
Rising female participation across competitive rosters and creator media
Global studies cited in the report show women accounting for roughly 48% of gamers worldwide in 2022 (ESA) and 37% of European esports fans (Deloitte). In Vietnam, following SEA Games 32 women's Bronze in MLBB and Top 4 in Wild Rift, OTA Network's 2023 survey found 60.5% of respondents follow female esports.
OTA Network's findings reveal creator reach outpacing tournament supply. Roughly 65.1% of fans follow female esports through female streamers and 38.6% via KOL/KOC content, while only 25.3% watch female tournaments (9.6% report no interest). Leading female streamers held large followings as of March 2024, including Misthy (6.5 million on Facebook; 6.32 million on YouTube), Xuka Nhật Hoa (987,000), Nắng (909,000), Mèo 2k4 (818,000), Lyly Sury (802,000), and Minh Nghi (492,000 on Facebook). Still, only 27% of respondents rate women's contribution to national achievements as high (versus 39% rating none or low), highlighting the need for regular women's leagues.
International federation ties, national policy support, and infrastructure gaps
Vietnam participates actively in international federations, including SEAEF (10 nations, October 2021), GEF (154 federations by January 2024), IESF (144 members by April 2024), and VIRESA's April 2023 pact with AESF. Four practical hurdles remain: unstable club income; small local player bases or missing licensed domestic publishers for global PC/console staples (Tekken, Street Fighter, DOTA 2, CS:GO); high ping to European and North American servers; and international athlete visa delays.
Domestically, national policy provides clearer recognition and compliance rules:
- Athlete rank recognition: Under Circular 06/2021/TT-BVHTTDL (effective September 15, 2021; amended by Circular 14/2025/TT-BVHTTDL effective January 1, 2026), VIRESA honored 62 high-achieving esports athletes in 2022 and 63 in 2023.
- Sports economy and cultural industries: Politburo Conclusion 70-KL/TW (January 31, 2024) promotes legal frameworks for sports economics, media rights, sponsorships, and socialization. Software and entertainment games—prioritized under Decision 1755/QD-TTg (2016)—continue under the updated Cultural Industries Strategy in Decision 2486/QD-TTg (effective November 14, 2025).
- Online game licensing: G1–G4 licensing, minor protections, and virtual-item rules operate under Decree 147/2024/ND-CP (effective December 25, 2024).
Virtual production stages, digital fan payments, and XR simulation
Virtual stages are now widely used across AIC 2022, AIC 2023, OTA Network broadcasts, and OEG Esports events. VPT Media notes that virtual studios lower venue staffing costs for online qualifiers, though each broadcast requires tracking cameras, licensed 3D software, and at least 10 specialized 2D/3D technicians. On blockchain, the Whitebook explores transparent tournament data infrastructure while noting cautious domestic regulation. Publishers in Vietnam must strictly obey Decree 147/2024/ND-CP rules prohibiting real-money trading or conversion of virtual items among players.
OTA Network's 2023 payment survey confirms strong cashless adoption for tickets, official team merchandise, and creator donations. Bank accounts lead at 71%, followed by e-wallets MoMo (58.1%), ZaloPay (30.6%), and ShopeePay (17.7%), ahead of credit cards (21%) and debit cards (9.7%). Only 1.6% of respondents do not spend. Banks actively court Gen Z fans—such as MB Bank and Mastercard's July 2023 MB Hi Collection LoL card—while unbanked users under 18 and rural fans remain key bottlenecks.
In sports simulation and Extended Reality (XR), FIFA Online 4 exceeds 1 million PC and mobile downloads, while XR shooter Mission X gained momentum. Following Vietnam's XR Sports Bronze at ASIAD 19, VIRESA and Holomia piloted Mission X competitions at EPF 24 (January 2024) and TECH BEAT II 2024 (August 2024).
University grassroots leagues, the ECU alliance, and formal BTEC degrees
Long-term talent development relies on collegiate leagues. Campus competition expanded rapidly during 2022–2023 via the University Esports Championship (UEC) backed by VNG, Viettel, VTVcab, and FPT; VIRESA and OEG's NSOC 2023; HOSC 2023 at National Economics University; ESCA Campus Series 2023; and OTA Network's Try Hard Dogs 2024 series.
To coordinate campus clubs nationwide, VIRESA launched the Esports Clubs Union (ECU) in Ho Chi Minh City on May 10, 2024. Alongside VIRESA and IESF sending young players to the 2023 World Esports Training Camp, higher education reached a milestone in November 2023. Hữu Nghị University of Technology and Management (UTM) partnered with Pearson UK to pioneer Vietnam's collegiate BTEC Esports program covering event operations, analytics, and club management.
What actions should publishers, brands, and tournament operators prioritize?
Drawing on the 2022–2023 benchmarks and five structural trends above, publishers, brand leaders, and tournament organizers should focus on four execution priorities:
- Complete local publishing licensing and localization before building leagues. Closing Vietnam's gap in global PC and console titles starts with licensed local operations. Studios and partners should complete G1–G4 licensing under Decree 147/2024/ND-CP using our six-stage guide to mobile game publishing in Vietnam.
- Pair year-round club sponsorships with creator networks. Top clubs spend at least VND 300 million monthly, and 65.1% of fans engage with female esports through streamers. Brands achieve stronger returns from full-season club and MCN partnerships structured via our framework for choosing and combining KOLs and KOCs.
- Optimize mobile bank-transfer and e-wallet checkouts for peak match traffic. Because 71% of participants pay via bank accounts and 58.1% use MoMo, frictionless mobile checkout is essential for tickets, licensed digital goods, and fan support. Engineering teams should verify webhook security using our payment gateway integration checklist for websites and mobile apps.
- Use virtual stages for qualifiers and connect with ECU campus talent pipelines. Organizers can cut venue overhead during online rounds with virtual studios while scouting 18-to-22-year-old prospects through ECU university clubs. Decision-makers can explore further market analyses in our Gaming industry insights hub.
This web edition synthesizes the verified market benchmarks and strategic priorities from the official Whitebook. Submit the download form on this page to receive the full 71-page PDF published by VIRESA and produced by OTA Network, including prize tables for 22 domestic league splits, title-by-title SEA Games broadcast hours, and insights from 21 industry specialists.
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