From mind-blowing box office numbers to viral music streams and sold-out stadium shows, Vietnam's entertainment industry is not just growing—it's exploding onto the global stage with record-breaking force.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, Vietnam's cinema box office revenue totaled 4,567 billion VND, reflecting a 28.4% year-on-year growth driven by local blockbusters like 'Mai' and international hits
- Vietnam had 248 operational cinemas with 1,256 screens as of end-2023, up 15% from 2022, boosting accessibility in urban areas
- Local Vietnamese films captured 42.3% market share in 2023 box office, highest in five years, led by 'Face Off 6: The Ticket of Destiny' earning 432 billion VND
- Vietnam's music market revenue reached 512 million USD in 2023, growing 22% YoY with streaming at 65% share
- Spotify paid subscribers in Vietnam hit 2.5 million in 2023, up 35% from 2022
- Vietnamese artists dominated YouTube views with 18 billion streams in 2023, led by Sơn Tùng M-TP at 3.2 billion
- Vietnam TV ad spend reached 45 trillion VND in 2023, 18% growth with entertainment shows leading
- VTV held 42% audience share in prime time 2023, with 'Rap Việt' averaging 3.5 million viewers/episode
- Netflix subscribers in Vietnam surpassed 3 million in 2023, up 40%
- Vietnam gaming market revenue achieved 1.8 billion USD in 2023, growing 16.3% YoY with mobile dominating 72%
- Mobile gamers in Vietnam numbered 52 million in 2023, 52% of population
- Free-to-play games generated 85% of industry revenue in 2023, led by Free Fire with 250 million USD
- Live events and performing arts sector revenue in Vietnam was 2,500 billion VND in 2023, up 35% post-COVID
- Number of concerts and music festivals reached 120 in 2023, attracting 1.8 million attendees nationwide
- Theatre performances totaled 850 shows in 2023, with Hanoi and HCMC venues at 70% capacity
Vietnam's entertainment industry saw robust growth in 2023, fueled by strong local content.
Cinema and Film
- In 2023, Vietnam's cinema box office revenue totaled 4,567 billion VND, reflecting a 28.4% year-on-year growth driven by local blockbusters like 'Mai' and international hits
- Vietnam had 248 operational cinemas with 1,256 screens as of end-2023, up 15% from 2022, boosting accessibility in urban areas
- Local Vietnamese films captured 42.3% market share in 2023 box office, highest in five years, led by 'Face Off 6: The Ticket of Destiny' earning 432 billion VND
- Average ticket price in Vietnam cinemas rose to 65,000 VND in 2023, a 8.2% increase due to inflation and premium formats like 4DX
- Vietnam produced 85 feature films in 2023, 22% more than 2022, with state subsidies supporting 12 independent projects
- Cinema attendance in Vietnam reached 28.7 million tickets sold in 2023, recovering 92% of pre-COVID levels
- CGV Cinemas held 55% market share with 142 screens in 2023, followed by Lotte Cinema at 28%
- Vietnam's film export revenue hit 15 million USD in 2023, mainly to Southeast Asia and streaming platforms
- Female-led films generated 35% of total box office in 2023, with 'Mai' alone contributing 401 billion VND
- IMAX screenings in Vietnam grew 45% in attendance in 2023, with 12 screens operational nationwide
- Vietnam's VFX industry supported 25 local films in 2023, employing 1,200 artists with average salary of 25 million VND/month
- Animation films earned 180 billion VND in 2023, 12% of kids' segment, led by 'The Sea of Serenity'
- Film festival submissions from Vietnam reached 45 at Busan International Film Festival 2023, winning 3 awards
- Piracy losses for Vietnam cinema estimated at 1,200 billion VND in 2023, down 18% due to better enforcement
- Co-productions with Korea numbered 8 in 2023, generating 250 billion VND combined box office
- Vietnam cinema chains invested 500 billion VND in new screens in 2023, targeting tier-2 cities
- Horror genre films topped charts with 15% market share in 2023, 'The First Slash' earning 120 billion VND
- Student filmmakers produced 150 shorts in 2023, 20 screened at national festivals
- 3D films accounted for 22% of screenings in 2023, up from 15% in 2022
- Box office per screen averaged 3.6 billion VND in 2023, highest in Hanoi at 4.2 billion
- Vietnam films won 7 international awards in 2023, including 2 at Oscars qualifiers
- Merchandise from top films generated 50 billion VND in 2023, mainly from 'Mai' toys and apparel
- Rural cinema outreach screened 500 free shows in 2023, reaching 200,000 viewers
- Digital marketing spend for films hit 300 billion VND in 2023, 40% on TikTok ads
- Comedy genre share was 18% of box office, with 'Special Mission' at 180 billion VND
- Cinema employment grew to 12,000 jobs in 2023, 20% in technical roles
- Foreign film imports numbered 450 titles in 2023, 60% Hollywood
- VIP seating revenue contributed 15% to total box office in 2023
- Post-production facilities increased to 35 studios in 2023, handling 80% local content
- Documentary films screened to 1.2 million viewers in 2023 via festivals and cinemas
Cinema and Film Interpretation
While local blockbusters are triumphantly recapturing the domestic box office and driving a post-pandemic revival, Vietnam's film industry is still grappling with the twin specters of piracy losses that could fund a dozen indie projects and ticket prices rising faster than a CGI dragon in one of its growing number of VFX-heavy productions.
Gaming
- Vietnam gaming market revenue achieved 1.8 billion USD in 2023, growing 16.3% YoY with mobile dominating 72%
- Mobile gamers in Vietnam numbered 52 million in 2023, 52% of population
- Free-to-play games generated 85% of industry revenue in 2023, led by Free Fire with 250 million USD
- Esports prize pools for Vietnamese teams totaled 5.2 million USD in 2023
- PC gaming cafes operated 15,000 outlets in 2023, hosting 10 million monthly users
- PUBG Mobile Vietnam tournaments drew 2 million viewers peak in 2023
- Women gamers reached 48% of total players in 2023, up 10% YoY
- In-app purchases averaged 150,000 VND per active user monthly in 2023
- Local game developers released 120 titles in 2023, 40% mobile
- Garena led with 35% market share in gaming revenue 2023 Vietnam
- VR/AR gaming users grew to 1.2 million in 2023, revenue 50 million USD
- League of Legends Vietnam pro league had 500,000 avg viewers per match 2023
- Gaming ad spend hit 200 billion VND in 2023, 60% on Facebook/YouTube
- Cloud gaming platforms users 800,000 in 2023, led by Xbox Cloud
- Roblox Vietnam monthly active users 4 million kids/teens in 2023
- Tournament organizers hosted 450 esports events in 2023, prize total 100 billion VND local
- Gaming hardware sales: 2.5 million smartphones for gaming in 2023
- Battle royale genre 28% revenue share in 2023
- Streamers on Twitch/YouTube Gaming earned 300 billion VND total in 2023
- Mobile Legends Vietnam championships 1.5 million peak viewers 2023
- Indie games downloads 50 million on Google Play Vietnam 2023
- Gaming education programs enrolled 50,000 students in 2023 unis
- Cross-platform play users 30% of gamers in 2023
- NFT gaming revenue 20 million USD in 2023 Vietnam
- Valorant Vietnam Radiant rank players 1,200 in 2023 peak
- Gaming festivals like Garena Epic 100,000 attendees 2023
Gaming Interpretation
Vietnam's gaming industry is no longer just pocket change, as evidenced by a booming $1.8 billion market where nearly everyone—from women making up almost half the players to kids dominating Roblox—is investing serious time and, increasingly, serious money into their mobile screens.
Live Events
- Live events and performing arts sector revenue in Vietnam was 2,500 billion VND in 2023, up 35% post-COVID
- Number of concerts and music festivals reached 120 in 2023, attracting 1.8 million attendees nationwide
- Theatre performances totaled 850 shows in 2023, with Hanoi and HCMC venues at 70% capacity
- Ticket average price for live shows 450,000 VND in 2023, premium seats up to 2 million VND
- International acts performed 45 times in 2023, generating 800 billion VND, led by BlackPink concert
- Comedy stand-up events 200 shows, 300,000 tickets sold in 2023 urban areas
- Traditional water puppet shows drew 1.5 million tourists in 2023, revenue 150 billion VND
- Circus performances 120 events, family attendance 500,000 in 2023
- Fashion shows numbered 80 in 2023, HCMC Fashion Week 50,000 attendees
- Dance festivals like Monsoon Dance Fest 20,000 participants/spectators 2023
- Opera and classical music concerts 50 performances, 100,000 seats filled 2023
- Street performances regulated in 20 cities, 5,000 artists licensed in 2023
- Wedding entertainment services market 1,000 billion VND in 2023, bands/DJs primary
- Magic shows 100 events, 150,000 viewers in 2023 theatres
- Cultural festivals with performances 300 nationwide, 10 million visitors 2023
- Venue capacity utilization 75% average for live events in 2023
- Sponsorship for live arts 600 billion VND in 2023, brands like Vinamilk top
- Online ticket sales share 65% of total in 2023 live events
- Children's theatre shows 400 performances, 800,000 kids attended 2023
- Improv theatre groups 15 active, 50 shows/month average 2023
Live Events Interpretation
Vietnam’s entertainment industry clearly decided that 2023 was the year to throw a spectacular, multi-genre comeback party, where everyone from pop princesses to water puppeteers cashed in, proving that after COVID, the collective urge to gather and be dazzled is not just strong—it’s a 2,500 billion VND strong economy.
Music
- Vietnam's music market revenue reached 512 million USD in 2023, growing 22% YoY with streaming at 65% share
- Spotify paid subscribers in Vietnam hit 2.5 million in 2023, up 35% from 2022
- Vietnamese artists dominated YouTube views with 18 billion streams in 2023, led by Sơn Tùng M-TP at 3.2 billion
- Live music concerts generated 1,200 billion VND in 2023, 40 events with over 500,000 attendees
- TikTok music videos amassed 50 billion views from Vietnam in 2023, boosting 150 emerging artists
- Vinyl record sales in Vietnam surged 150% to 50,000 units in 2023, driven by indie labels
- K-pop concerts in Vietnam drew 300,000 fans in 2023, generating 400 billion VND ticket sales
- Music streaming apps market share: Spotify 28%, Apple Music 22%, Zing MP3 35% in 2023
- Female Vietnamese singers topped charts with 45% of top 50 Billboard Vietnam songs in 2023
- Music production studios numbered 450 in 2023, employing 5,000 with average investment 2 billion VND each
- Rap/Hip-hop genre grew 40% in streams, 12% of total market in 2023
- V-pop album sales hit 1.2 million units digitally in 2023, up 25%
- Music festival 'Monsoon' attracted 80,000 attendees over 3 days in 2023
- Independent labels captured 18% market share in 2023, signing 200 new artists
- Karaoke market revenue 850 billion VND in 2023, 15,000 venues operational
- Export of Vietnamese music to global platforms earned 8 million USD in 2023
- EDM events numbered 25 in 2023, with 250,000 tickets sold averaging 500,000 VND each
- Music education enrollments reached 300,000 students in 2023, 20% growth in private academies
- Ballad genre held 30% of streams in 2023, top song 'Thương Em' with 1.1 billion views
- Brand sponsorships for music videos totaled 150 billion VND in 2023, 60 for top artists
- Podcast music integrations grew 50% to 5,000 episodes in 2023
- Traditional folk music streams up 15% to 500 million in 2023 via apps
- Music awards 'Làn Sóng Xanh' voted by 2 million fans in 2023
- Rock music concerts 12 events, 100,000 attendees in 2023
- Digital royalties distributed 120 billion VND to artists in 2023 by VCPMC
- Collab tracks between V-pop and K-pop hit 20 in 2023, 2 billion combined streams
- Music tech startups raised 50 million USD in 2023 for AI composition tools
Music Interpretation
Despite Vietnamese artists amassing billions of views and sparking a vinyl revival, the real headline is that the nation's entire booming music industry, from Sơn Tùng M-TP's dominance to sold-out K-pop shows, now harmoniously thrives on a potent blend of streaming algorithms, nostalgic physical media, and blockbuster live energy.
Television and OTT
- Vietnam TV ad spend reached 45 trillion VND in 2023, 18% growth with entertainment shows leading
- VTV held 42% audience share in prime time 2023, with 'Rap Việt' averaging 3.5 million viewers/episode
- Netflix subscribers in Vietnam surpassed 3 million in 2023, up 40%
- OTT platforms revenue hit 1.2 billion USD in 2023, 55% from ads and subs
- Vietnamese dramas on VTV averaged 15% ratings in 2023, top 'Về Nhà Đi Con' sequel at 18.2%
- YouTube TV content hours from Vietnam reached 12 billion in 2023, 30% entertainment
- FPT Play OTT users grew to 8 million in 2023, 25% premium subscribers
- Reality TV shows 45 produced in 2023, 'The Masked Singer' S3 with 4 million views/episode
- Smart TV penetration hit 35% households in 2023, driving OTT adoption
- HTV viewership share 22% in South Vietnam 2023, news-entertainment mix
- Local content on Netflix Vietnam 15% of catalog in 2023, 5 originals produced
- Ad-supported OTT tiers adopted by 40% users on VieON in 2023
- Game shows like 'Ai Là Triệu Phú' reached 2.8 million viewers avg in 2023
- 5G rollout boosted live streaming TV views by 60% to 1.5 billion hours in 2023
- Sitcoms aired 20 series on VTV3 in 2023, averaging 12% ratings
- Disney+ launched with 1 million subs in first 6 months 2023 Vietnam
- Regional content imports 200 hours/month on local OTTs in 2023, mainly Thai/Korean
- Viewer demographics: 18-34 age group 55% of OTT users in 2023
- Talk shows on VTC 15 programs, 1 million avg viewers in 2023
- Pirated OTT streams blocked 10 million times in 2023 by authorities
- Evening news-entertainment slots captured 65% ad revenue on TV in 2023
- K+ pay-TV subs 4.2 million in 2023, 70% sports-entertainment bundle
- User-generated TV clips on TikTok 20 billion views in 2023 Vietnam
- Drama series production budget averaged 5 billion VND/season in 2023
- Prime time (19-22h) viewership peaked at 28 million daily in 2023
- International co-productions 10 for TV in 2023, aired on VTV
Television and OTT Interpretation
Vietnamese entertainment is a land of giants, where television still reigns as king of the mass audience and ad dollars, but it's a kingdom under siege and shrewd collaboration from streaming services, savvy viewers with smart TVs, and content that travels from TikTok clips to Netflix originals, all fueled by a national obsession with reality competitions, homegrown dramas, and the eternal question of who is behind the mask.
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