Hanoi, May 5, 2025 – The Europe Today: Vietnam’s gaming industry is projected to generate US$2.42 billion in revenue by 2029, reflecting rapid growth and expanding global influence, according to a newly released national strategy on the management and development of online games from 2025 to 2030.
The sector is forecast to reach US$1.66 billion in revenue by 2025, supported by a robust compound annual growth rate of 9.77 per cent. These projections highlight the growing importance of the gaming sector as a pillar of Vietnam’s digital economy, where online entertainment is increasingly integral to economic and technological advancement.
Industry experts credit the sector’s momentum to Vietnam’s favourable demographics, including a young, digitally savvy population with a high adaptability to emerging technologies. The number of online games licensed and released annually continues to rise, underscoring the rising demand for interactive digital content.
Việt Nam has emerged not only as a major consumer market but also as a key development and outsourcing hub in the global gaming landscape. Several games fully developed by Vietnamese teams — including Free Fire, Caravan War, Metal Squad, and Arena of Survivors — have garnered international acclaim, demonstrating the growing capability of domestic developers in content creation and production.
Recognised officially as a sub-sector of the digital content industry, online games contribute significantly to Vietnam’s economy by generating revenue, creating high-skilled employment opportunities, and driving the export of digital products. The Ministry of Information and Communications has underscored Vietnam’s strong position in global mobile gaming, projecting the highest regional growth rate in Southeast Asia — 7.4 per cent annually — between 2022 and 2025.
Statista’s 2024 report estimates mobile game revenue in Vietnam will reach US$712 million by 2029. Bloomberg ranked Vietnam among the world’s top five mobile game-producing countries in 2023, with 4.2 billion global downloads — 2.5 times the global average.
Digital platforms, particularly TikTok, are playing a transformative role in game marketing and discovery. According to the 2024 TikTok Marketing Science Global Gaming LiveOps Survey, 59 per cent of users discovered new games via creative content on the platform, and 64 per cent engaged with game content that integrated music, lifestyle, and entertainment themes.
TikTok’s algorithms and marketing tools have enabled Vietnamese game publishers to significantly enhance performance. Some titles saw installs increase by over 313 per cent, while certain campaigns achieved return on advertising spend (ROAS) 58 times higher than industry averages. Cost-per-install (CPI) also fell by 35 to 72 per cent in specific campaigns, showcasing how digital platforms are reshaping Việt Nam’s game market dynamics.
At the Gaming on TikTok Hanoi Summit 2025, Maayan Kolter, Global Development Director of Gaming at TikTok, remarked, “Vietnam is currently emerging as one of the leading creative centres of the gaming industry in Southeast Asia. With the strong development of a passionate game-building community and Government support, Vietnamese game publishers not only create successful games domestically but also reach international audiences.”
Đỗ Việt Hùng, Vice President of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF) and President of the Việt Nam Entertainment Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA), echoed this sentiment, stating that the industry is undergoing a “strong transformation” in both game development and user engagement.
“Leveraging platforms like TikTok to promote creative content and build community is a strategic step that enables Vietnamese publishers to remain globally competitive,” he added.
The summit also introduced new strategic marketing tools designed to assist publishers in optimising game performance throughout its lifecycle — from pre-launch promotion to long-term player retention.
TikTok reaffirmed its commitment to Vietnam’s gaming sector, offering tailored solutions for content localisation, trend forecasting, and cross-platform promotion, all aimed at supporting sustainable industry growth.
As Việt Nam continues to assert its presence on the global gaming stage, collaboration among government agencies, technology platforms, and private developers is expected to be vital in maintaining momentum, enhancing competitiveness, and fostering innovation.
With strategic direction, robust market fundamentals, and international support, Vietnam is poised to become a major player in the future of global gaming.
