Attendees try out games at the recent Vietnam GameVerse. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's gaming industry is expanding rapidly, with billions of downloads and growing revenue, but weak protection of intellectual property and copyright infringement threaten to undermine investment and the sector's contribution to the economy.

The issue was raised recently when police in the northern province of Quảng Ninh launched criminal proceedings against an individual accused of creating a clone of the game Ninja School Online, owned by Gomobi JSC. 

Nguyễn Mạnh Cần was prosecuted for hiring a programmer to copy the game's source code, graphics and storyline. Cần allegedly released an unauthorised version of the game and earned nearly VNĐ2.5 billion (US$96,000), dantri.com.vn reported.

The case underscores concerns over copyright violations in a sector that has emerged as one of the country's fastest-growing digital industries, potentially affecting investment flows, tax revenues and the commercial value of locally developed intellectual property.

Strong growth, weak monetisation

Việt Nam's gaming industry this year generated an estimated $1.66 billion in revenue and is expected to reach $2.42 billion by 2029, expanding at an annual rate of nearly 10 per cent, according to a report by TikTok and Sensor Tower.

The country also ranks second globally in mobile game downloads, with about 4.9 billion downloads a year, while domestic studios release more than 27,000 new games annually. The figures highlight the country's large pool of engineering talent and its potential to develop games for international markets.

But the industry's ability to convert that scale into legitimate revenue remains a challenge, analysts said. 

According to the Broadcasting and Electronic Information Authority under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, official domestic revenue from game distribution is currently about $650 million.

A 2026 report by Digital in Asia said Việt Nam has more than 54 million gamers, but only around 7-10 per cent of users convert into legitimate paying customers.

Industry observers said part of the gap is linked to the prevalence of pirated games, game clones and unofficial payment channels that operate outside formal distribution and tax systems. 

Investment concerns

Việt Nam ranks second globally in mobile game downloads, with about 4.9 billion downloads a year. — Photo dientuungdung.vn

Riot Games Associate Art Director Duy Nguyễn said the clone required virtually no research and development investment.

By bypassing licensing procedures, regulatory requirements, operating costs and tax obligations, operators of unauthorised versions could achieve high profit margins while benefiting from the original developer's investment and work, he told vnbusiness.vn. 

Vũ Minh Hạnh, chief executive of Game Geek, said the risks surrounding intellectual property protection could discourage foreign direct investment and venture capital in Việt Nam's gaming sector.

Investors concerned about the protection of intellectual property might instead choose markets where legal and enforcement frameworks offer greater certainty, she told the online newspaper.

For Việt Nam to turn its gaming sector into a larger source of economic revenue, stronger enforcement of copyright and intellectual property rules would be needed alongside the expansion of production capacity, industry experts said.

The Quảng Ninh case could serve as a deterrent to developers who reproduce games or operate unauthorised systems for profit, while also highlighting the need for companies to strengthen protection of their own digital assets.

Technology firms can reduce the risk of theft by using measures such as data encryption, cybersecurity monitoring and tighter controls over source code, while establishing clearer legal procedures to protect their intellectual property.

The broader challenge is to ensure that Việt Nam's rapidly expanding digital economy is built on legitimate intellectual property rather than unauthorised copies and illicit distribution, experts said.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hồ An Phong has said that Việt Nam needs to strengthen control over content creation and establish clearer regulatory direction to prevent negative consequences to ensure that the gaming industry's development is on the right track.

He added that alongside opening the market to international developers, Việt Nam would need stronger State support policies and closer coordination between businesses, regulators and media organisations to build a healthy and professional e-sports ecosystem. — VNS