In just over a decade, Vietnam has evolved from a quiet player in Southeast Asia’s gaming landscape into one of the world’s leading mobile game publishing hubs. Between 2020 and 2022, the country’s studios produced hundreds of mobile titles, reaching global audiences and securing Vietnam’s place among the top game-producing nations. This transformation wasn’t sudden - it was the result of years of talent development, government support, and calculated business growth.
Industry veteran Matthew Emery, Founder and Principal Product Manager at Turbine, examined the country’s trajectory, pointing to a combination of deliberate training programs, a startup-friendly ecosystem, and policy-driven incentives that gave Vietnam an edge over neighboring markets.
From Training Ground to Talent Pipeline
Vietnam’s gaming industry traces much of its foundation back to Gameloft’s arrival in 2004. The French publisher opened its first studio in Ho Chi Minh City, followed by another in Hanoi seven years later. These studios acted as informal training grounds for Vietnam’s early game development community. Thousands of developers, designers, and producers gained first-hand experience working on mobile titles long before smartphones became the global gaming standard.
This early exposure gave Vietnamese developers a competitive advantage. While countries like Indonesia and the Philippines had growing creative sectors, few had the same scale of structured, mobile-focused training that Gameloft provided. As a result, Vietnam developed a pool of professionals ready to take on international markets.
A New Generation of Game Studios
By the early 2010s, many former Gameloft employees began branching out to start their own studios. This wave of independent entrepreneurship gave rise to companies such as Senspark, Onesoft, Amanotes, and ABI - names that would soon dominate Vietnam’s mobile publishing landscape. Each studio built upon the foundations laid at Gameloft, focusing on efficiency, monetization, and accessibility.
These companies represented Vietnam’s first generation of global publishers. Their founders shared not only technical expertise but also a deep understanding of mobile-first game design and live operations. As more alumni joined or founded new teams, a tight-knit and highly skilled community began to take shape.
How Policy Helped Fuel Expansion
A major factor in Vietnam’s growth was the introduction of Circular 96/2015, a tax policy that recognized software development as a priority sector. The regulation offered tax holidays, reduced rates, and VAT exemptions for software exports, allowing studios to reinvest their earnings into user acquisition, talent recruitment, and game development.
While rising global costs challenged developers elsewhere, Vietnamese studios maintained sustainable operations. By reinvesting profits instead of relying on outside funding, publishers like Amanotes and Onesoft scaled faster than their peers in Indonesia or Brazil. This gave Vietnam a lasting cost advantage that would later prove crucial during the mobile boom of the early 2020s.
The Mobile Boom That Changed Everything
Between 2020 and 2022, Vietnam’s game publishing output increased dramatically. Companies such as ABI, Amanotes, Senspark, and 1SOFT collectively released hundreds of mobile games, reaching players across global app stores. Unlike Turkey’s growth, which was driven by venture capital, Vietnam’s rise came largely through organic, self-funded expansion.
The timing was ideal. As global CPIs (costs per install) rose, Vietnam’s studios - supported by lower operating costs and favorable tax policies - could afford to take creative risks and publish at scale. Within just two years, the country was ranked among the top mobile game publishers worldwide by downloads, securing its place as a major force in global gaming.
Recognition and Global Expansion
By 2023, Vietnam’s success had become impossible to overlook. The Vietnam GameVerse event, organized under the Ministry of Information and Communications, attracted more than 20,000 attendees and positioned gaming as a recognized part of the country’s digital economy. The same year, VNG Corporation’s attempt at a U.S. IPO drew attention from major global investors, including Temasek and GIC.
Even though the IPO did not move forward, it signaled that Vietnam’s gaming industry had reached a level of legitimacy few could have predicted a decade earlier. By 2025, the country’s game market is projected to generate roughly $1.6 billion in revenue, with universities now offering specialized game development programs to meet growing demand.
What Comes Next for Vietnam’s Game Industry
Vietnam’s rise was not based on chance or external funding but on consistent investment in people, infrastructure, and supportive policy. The collaboration between skilled developers, independent publishers, and a proactive government created the conditions for sustainable growth.
Other emerging markets - such as Indonesia, Pakistan, and several in Latin America - have similar potential, but replicating Vietnam’s model requires more than low costs and entrepreneurial enthusiasm. Structured talent pipelines and clear regulatory incentives remain the deciding factors for which region could become the “next Vietnam” in the global mobile game scene.
Source: Matthew Emery
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What made Vietnam’s gaming industry grow so quickly?
Vietnam’s growth was fueled by early talent development through Gameloft, government-backed tax incentives, and a network of alumni-founded studios that reinvested profits rather than relying on external funding.
Which companies are leading Vietnam’s gaming industry?
Prominent studios include Amanotes, Onesoft, ABI, Senspark, and iKame. These companies collectively helped Vietnam reach top global rankings in mobile game publishing by downloads.
How did government policy influence the industry?
The 2015 tax reforms, known as Circular 96/2015, gave game developers years of tax exemptions and reduced corporate rates. This allowed studios to focus resources on growth, talent, and international expansion.
What is the current size of Vietnam’s gaming market?
By 2025, the Vietnamese gaming industry is expected to generate around $1.6 billion in annual revenue, supported by a growing workforce and university-level game development programs.
Can other countries replicate Vietnam’s success?
Yes, but it requires similar conditions - consistent investment in education, targeted government incentives, and a supportive ecosystem for startups. Markets like Indonesia and the Philippines are seen as potential candidates for similar growth.
