Vietnamese Sports: A Panoramic View of the Esports and Traditional Sports Ecosystem in Transition

In recent years, Vietnamese sports have been undergoing a strong transition, not only in traditional sports but also in the field of esports. This development has brought with it a series of issues related to management, finance, human resource training, and public image building. This article will comprehensively analyze the aspects of the current Vietnamese sports landscape, from the tournament level and national teams to the economic and social factors affecting sustainable development. First, regarding the tournament system and competition format. In traditional sports such as football, basketball, and athletics, Vietnam's tournament system has made significant progress in professionalization. V.League 1, the top national football league, has attracted the attention of a large audience and sponsors. However, compared to regional leagues such as Thai League or J.League, V.League still has gaps in infrastructure, professional quality, and commercialization capability. The current V.League format is a double round-robin with 14 clubs participating. This creates a season lasting about 8 months, but the number of matches is still small compared to developed leagues. In terms of evidence, statistics show that the average stadium occupancy rate of V.League is only about 40-50%, much lower than top Asian leagues. This reflects the challenges in attracting spectators to the stadium, partly due to the not-yet-truly-attractive professional quality and limited communication efforts. For esports, the tournament system in Vietnam is in a stage of formation and strong development. Tournaments such as VCS (Vietnam Championship Series) for League of Legends, or tournaments for Arena of Valor, PUBG Mobile, Free Fire have attracted a large number of young fans. However, the professionalism and stability of these tournaments still have many issues. Competition formats frequently change, the number of participating teams is unstable, and especially there is excessive dependence on foreign game publishers. This creates risks to the sustainability of the tournament system. A typical example is that major international tournaments such as SEA Games and Asian Games have included esports in their official competition programs, but Vietnam still lacks a systematic training and selection system for esports athletes like other countries in the region. Second, regarding training and national team development. In traditional sports, Vietnam has achieved notable results in sports such as football, volleyball, athletics, and martial arts. The national football team reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 Asian Cup and won the 2026 AFF Cup, achievements that created a wave of excitement in public opinion. However, youth training still has many shortcomings. Football academies such as HAGL, PVF, and Viettel have made certain contributions, but the number of young players trained systematically and able to compete at the international level is still limited. According to statistics, the number of young Vietnamese players regularly playing in professional leagues accounts for only about 20-30% of the total number of players, much lower than in developed countries. This shows a shortage of opportunities and competitive environments for young talents. For esports, the training of athletes faces even more difficulties. Vietnamese esports teams frequently face the problem of personnel shortages in important positions, especially in-game leader (IGL) positions in FPS games. Young players are often discovered from community tournaments but lack a systematic training path from the grassroots to the professional level. In addition, the mental and physical health issues of esports players have not received adequate attention. Many players have to train at high intensity, leading to health problems such as back pain, eye strain, and psychological stress. These are potential risks that can affect the careers of athletes. Third, regarding finance and club management. In football, V.League clubs are facing difficult financial problems. The main revenue sources of clubs come from sponsorship, ticket sales, and broadcasting rights. However, due to the limited appeal of the league, the value of V.League broadcasting rights remains low compared to regional leagues. According to some sources, the value of V.League broadcasting rights is only about 1/10 of that of Thai League. This leads to the situation where many clubs have difficulty paying salaries to players and staff. Some clubs have fallen into salary arrears, even facing the risk of dissolution. This is a pressing issue that directly affects the sustainable development of Vietnamese football. For esports, the financial situation of teams is also not more positive. Vietnamese esports teams are usually small in scale, with revenue mainly from sponsorship and tournament prize money. However, due to high competitiveness and dependence on short-lifecycle games, many teams face the risk of dissolution if they do not achieve good results. In addition, the issue of player transfers is also quite complicated, with opaque contracts and disputes over rights between players and teams. Some cases involving players being forced to sign unfair contracts have caused controversy in the community. Fourth, regarding management and regulatory compliance. In traditional sports, management agencies such as the General Department of Sports and Physical Training and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) have issued many regulations on transfers, competition registration, and protection of athletes' rights. However, the enforcement of these regulations still has many loopholes. Match-fixing and result-rigging in football remain pressing issues, although some cases have been handled. In addition, the protection of young athletes also needs more attention, especially in the context of more youth tournaments being organized. For esports, the legal framework in Vietnam still has many gaps. The recognition of esports as an official sport was implemented in 2026, but specific regulations on management, licensing, and protection of esports athletes' rights have not been completed. This leads to difficulties in managing tournaments, especially those with the participation of foreign game publishers. In addition, the protection of players under 18 in esports is also a major challenge, as many young players participate in professional competition before reaching adulthood. Fifth, regarding image and public opinion. Vietnamese sports have made significant progress in building a positive image to the public. Communication campaigns about tournaments and national teams have been implemented more systematically, especially in major events such as SEA Games 31 held in Vietnam in 2026. This event created a wave of excitement and national pride, while contributing to promoting Vietnam's image to the world. However, besides the positive aspects, there are still public opinion issues that need attention. The excessive idolization of young players or excessive expectations for national team results can create significant pressure on athletes. Some cases of young players being heavily criticized on social media after unsuccessful matches have caused psychological consequences. For esports, public opinion still has many prejudices. Many people still consider esports a useless, uneducational, and potentially addictive game. However, this view is gradually changing as esports is included in major international sports events and brings proud achievements to Vietnam. Esports players such as Levi, Optimus, or teams such as GAM Esports and SBTC Esports have become inspirational examples for young people. In addition, issues of online bullying and gender discrimination in esports are also challenges that need to be addressed. Sixth, regarding the spillover of the sports industry. Sports are not only an entertainment field but also an industry with great economic potential. In Vietnam, the sports industry is still in the development stage, with the participation of various components from the state to the private sector. Fields such as sports equipment manufacturing, event organization, sports media, and sports betting all have certain developments. However, this development has not yet matched the potential due to many factors such as lack of infrastructure, lack of high-quality human resources, and an incomplete legal framework. For esports, the spillover of this industry is happening more strongly than ever. Streaming platforms such as Facebook Gaming, YouTube Gaming, and domestic platforms such as VNG and VTVcab have invested heavily in broadcasting esports tournaments. Major brands have also begun to take an interest in sponsoring esports teams and tournaments, opening up new opportunities for the development of this field. However, issues of broadcasting rights, the interests of related parties, and especially unfair competition between platforms still need to be resolved. In conclusion, the current Vietnamese sports landscape is a multi-colored picture, with bright spots in achievements and the development of sports, but also with no shortage of challenges in management, finance, and sustainable development. For Vietnamese sports to go further, the joint efforts of management agencies, sports organizations, sponsors, and society as a whole are needed. Building a professional tournament system, systematic human resource training, and completing the legal framework will be important steps to bring Vietnamese sports into regional and global integration. At the same time, solutions are needed to protect the rights of athletes, especially young athletes, and to build a healthy, fair, and sustainable sports environment.