Vietnam’s eSports industry: Recognition, fame, and fortune
Many traditional sports events have been canceled or postponed during the COVID-12 pandemic across the globe, and the Vietnamese sports sector has not been spared. Esports, however, has thrived across both gaming and streaming platforms. According to a survey conducted in 2021, more than 40 percent of gamers in Vietnam played eSports at least once per day, and around 12 percent of them were categorized as “power gamers” who spent over 21 hours per week on eSports gaming. At the same time, eSports viewership on platforms such as Facebook Gaming went up significantly compared to its pre-pandemic level.Originated from online gaming, eSports provides an influential platform where many people seek individualism and connectivity with other players through their online presence and identities. At the same time, it inherits many elements from traditional sports, including having its own sports stars, leagues, tournaments, and even generous prize pools. In 2020, Vietnamese eSports enthusiasts had the chance to become a part of several eSports tournaments whose prize pools can reach up to almost three billion Vietnamese dong. Arena of Glory Winter, the leading eSports tournament in the country that year, recorded an impressive viewership of 90 million. The popularity of eSports has gained itself a spot in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Ha Noi in May 2022. It will be the second time that eSports is held as a medal competition in such a multi-sport event approved by the International Olympic Committee.
