Vietnam Esports: From Passion to Business Model - Lessons from the Korean Ecosystem

Sitting in the LCK Arena in Seoul on a Saturday night, watching 15,000 Korean fans chant in unison for their favorite team, I was reminded of my early days following Vietnam esports - when tournaments took place in a small internet cafe in Ho Chi Minh City with only a few dozen spectators. The contrast between these two pictures lies not just in scale, but in operational approach. Korea has turned esports into a hundred-million-dollar industry with systematic training, media, and sponsorship infrastructure. Vietnam, with over 20 million gamers, is still searching for the right model. Vietnam esports has gone through a decade of turbulent development. From grassroots tournaments in internet cafes, to League of Legends officially launching a Vietnamese server in 2026, to the explosion of mobile games like Arena of Valor and Free Fire. However, this growth has been driven primarily by community passion, lacking a sustainable business foundation. Vietnamese teams have consistently achieved international success - from the AIC championship in Arena of Valor in 2026 to impressive performances in international Free Fire tournaments - but these achievements have not been converted into long-term economic value. Analyzing Vietnam's esports ecosystem, I identify three core problems. First, the revenue structure of Vietnamese esports organizations remains overly dependent on sponsors. Based on internal reports I collected from several major organizations, 70-80% of revenue comes from sponsorship, while other sources such as media rights, merchandise, and transfers account for only a small portion. In Korea, this figure is only 40-50%, with the remainder coming from media rights, venue revenue, and other commercial activities. This imbalance makes Vietnamese organizations extremely vulnerable to fluctuations in the sponsorship market. When a major sponsor withdraws, the entire team operation can collapse within months. Second, Vietnam's youth training system remains fragmented. While Korea has a systematic scouting network that identifies talent from school level, Vietnam still relies primarily on small private training academies. I once witnessed a 16-year-old Vietnamese player discovered through a grassroots tournament, brought straight into a professional team without any structured training. He burned out after just one season due to the pressure of high-level competition. This is a systemic issue: we are burning out young talent before they can fully develop. Third, the issue of format and match schedule. Vietnam's domestic tournaments often have dense schedules with poor coordination between game publishers. A player may have to compete in 60-70 matches per season, plus international tournaments, leading to exhaustion and injury. In Korea, organizations learned this lesson years ago and built professional physical management systems for players. They have nutritionists, sports psychologists, and personalized training programs. Vietnam is far from reaching this standard. Interestingly, while many argue that Vietnam should comprehensively adopt the Korean model, I believe this is a mistake. Korea's esports ecosystem was built on high-speed internet infrastructure, a long-standing gaming culture, and strong government support. Vietnam lacks these conditions. Instead, Vietnam has its own advantages: a young population, high smartphone penetration, and a massive gaming community. The right model for Vietnam may be a combination of mobile esports and digital content development, leveraging the popularity of streaming platforms. Mobile games like Arena of Valor and Free Fire have proven that Vietnam can compete on equal footing with other regions worldwide. From the perspective of someone who has followed both markets, I believe Vietnam esports stands at a historic crossroads. The SEA Games 31 hosted in Vietnam in 2026, where esports officially became a medal event, opened a new chapter. For the first time, esports gained national recognition, attracting attention from investors and major brands. However, this opportunity will pass without proper investment in infrastructure and training. When others see fame, I read the balance sheet. The numbers from Vietnamese esports organizations paint a challenging yet promising picture. The operating cost of a professional team in Vietnam is only one-fifth of Korea's, but revenue is only one-tenth. This gap indicates enormous growth potential, but also demands patience and long-term strategy. The pandemic killed stadiums, but gave birth to new playgrounds. COVID-19 accelerated the shift to online tournaments, opening opportunities for Vietnam to reach global audiences without investing in expensive physical infrastructure. Vietnamese teams have capitalized on this, participating in numerous international online tournaments and building global brands. However, a major issue remains largely unaddressed: the lack of governance transparency. Many Vietnamese esports organizations operate like family businesses, lacking transparent governance mechanisms and player protection. Contracts are often unclear, player rights are not guaranteed, leading to disputes and negative impacts on the industry's image. The transfer market has no emotions, but every number tells a story. When a Vietnamese player is transferred to a foreign organization for a record fee, it is not just a story of individual talent, but proof of Vietnam's developing training ecosystem. However, such deals remain too rare, highlighting the gap between Vietnam and developed markets. A champion is not defined by how they win, but by how they handle losing everything. Vietnam esports has had moments of glory, but also bitter defeats. What matters is how we learn from those failures to build a more sustainable ecosystem. Sports are a mirror reflecting the economy, but many only see the mirror itself. The development of Vietnam esports reflects the development of Vietnam's digital economy - full of potential but facing institutional and infrastructure challenges. If we address these challenges, Vietnam esports can become one of the country's key industries. In modern football, a midfield assist is worth more than a spectacular long-range shot. Similarly, in esports, building a systematic training pipeline is worth more than recruiting an expensive star. Vietnamese organizations need to invest in youth development, build organizational culture, and develop professional management talent. The question is: can Vietnam esports seize this historic opportunity, or will it continue repeating past mistakes? The answer depends on the commitment of all stakeholders - from game publishers, esports organizations, players, to state regulators. Only when all parties sit together and build a long-term strategy can Vietnam esports truly take off.