HÀ NỘI The raw beauty of Cát Bà Islands has been chosen as a backdrop for a new series produced by Riot Games Inc., an American video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organiser -- and the creators of the hit game League of Legends, on which the series will be based.

According to Riot Studios' Global Production Director Rose Lam, her team surveyed several countries in the region, including Japan, South Korea and Thailand, but ultimately found Việt Nam to be the perfect fit as a location for their film project.

An aerial view of Cát Bà Archipelago. Photos sunworld.vn

Comprising nine episodes, the series -- similar to the hit series Arcane -- is based on the game League of Legends, which boasts around 650 million players worldwide. Filming is scheduled to begin at the end of 2025, with the final product set to be widely broadcast on platforms like Netflix and HBO.

Riot Games selected Việt Nam’s famous islands thanks to their dramatic landscapes characterised by limestone cliffs, coral reefs, lagoons, beaches, and mangrove forests.

With 367 islands, more than 300 beaches, and a diverse, rich ecosystem, Cát Bà is the only place in Việt Nam that boasts two international titles: World Heritage Site and World Biosphere Reserve.

Most importantly, the islands possess a beauty that is both wild and mythical, perfectly aligning with the spirit of the Runeterra world in League of Legends. The vast natural landscape, steep cliffs embracing small sandy beaches, hidden caves and clear blue waters are key elements that helped Cát Bà stand out among other candidates as the backdrop for the series.

In recent years, the number of international visitors to Cát Bà has significantly increased. In 2024, the estimated number of international visitors exceeded one million, a 90.5 per cent increase compared to the same period.

With 367 islands, more than 300 beaches, and a diverse, rich ecosystem, Cát Bà is the only place in Việt Nam that boasts two international titles: World Heritage Site and World Biosphere Reserve.

In the first two months of 2025, Cát Bà welcomed over 280,000 tourists, nearly 180,000 of whom were international visitors. Total revenue from tourism services is estimated at VNĐ257 billion (US$10 million). Becoming the backdrop for a high-profile Hollywood series is expected to boost these figures significantly in the future.

The presence of Riot Games will not only promote Cát Bà tourism on a global scale, but is also expected to open up opportunities for many other film crews. In the future, more major producers may choose this location for their film projects, further enhancing tourism growth in Cát Bà.

This is not the first time Việt Nam has caught the attention of international filmmakers.

Previously, Hollywood movies like Pan (2015) and Kong: Skull Island (2017) were shot primarily in world-renowned Hạ Long Bay, Ninh Bình and Quảng Bình. VNS