Brian Jeffrey
Vietnam’s E-Sports: Current Status and Future Prospects
During a seminar called ‘Where are Vietnam’s e-sports on the world’s map?” in Ho Chi Minh City, Do Viet Hung, the chair of the Vietnam Recreational and Electronic Sport Association (VIRESA), highlighted how Vietnam’s e-sports scene, despite being relatively new compared to global counterparts, is thriving and making noteworthy impacts internationally.
Vietnam has rapidly adapted to global e-sports trends, showcasing significant potential to enhance its status on the international level.
As part of its efforts, Vietnam has been actively participating in three SEA Games with selected e-sports teams, fostering support from various agencies and businesses, signalling a fresh chapter for this emerging sport.
Nguyen Tran Son from VNG Games noted the vast potential for e-sports growth in Vietnam.
In terms of organization, local entities are effectively acquiring insights from more experienced countries to enhance their own practices, resulting in numerous national and regional e-sports competitions being hosted.
Vietnam’s e-sports athletes possess the capacity to excel in intellectually demanding competitions.
Son emphasized that although Vietnam may lag in traditional sports, it shows promise in intellectual athletics, and he is optimistic about the future accomplishments of Vietnamese e-sports.
Hoang Viet Anh, president of FPT Telecom, expressed the company’s intention to collaborate with partners to facilitate e-sports tournaments, thereby providing a platform for competitors.
Hung acknowledged that the primary challenge facing Vietnam’s e-sports is the dual task of fostering growth both domestically and globally. Unlike traditional sports, e-sports are continuously evolving, introducing new genres and competition formats. Many gaming genres remain relatively unknown in Vietnam, falling behind the advancements seen globally in competition quality and player skills.
He further noted that VIRESA is in talks with the Ministry of Communication and Information (MIC) to create a strategic plan for online game development, asserting that e-sports need to be recognized as both a sport and a career, necessitating appropriate training and supportive policies for growth.
Another challenge highlighted by Hung is the lack of collaboration among domestic stakeholders, as significant players often view each other as competitors rather than partners.
Training for e-sports in Vietnam is also experiencing setbacks. The educational materials utilized for training are predominantly sourced from overseas, and the workforce often comes from external sectors.
Vu Chi Thanh, rector of FPT Polytechnic, criticized the inadequate societal support, which has led to a significant void in the professionalism of e-sports training institutions in Vietnam.
