Vietnam, a market currently being courted by the domestic industry as a key emerging region, is pushing for stricter regulations on youth gaming. Under a proposed amendment, those under 16 will be restricted to one hour of playtime per day.

The Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, under Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is currently pushing to overhaul the decree governing internet services and online information management. Under current law, those under 18 in Vietnam are limited to one hour per game, with a total cap of 2.5 hours across all games. However, this new proposal reduces the total daily allowance for those under 16 to just one hour, further restricting gaming for younger demographics.

The authorities are also pushing for social media regulations for minors. Accounts for those under 16 must be registered and managed by a parent or guardian, and verified via a Vietnamese mobile number. The proposal also includes requirements for top-tier privacy protections for youth accounts, such as hidden friend lists and restrictions on messages and friend requests from strangers. Companies will be required to detect, flag, and block access to harmful content, including violence, obscenity, gambling, drugs, and suicide. Please note that this proposal is a draft and is subject to change before final adoption.

The push to restrict youth social media usage has been pursued in countries like Australia and the UK, and France has passed legislation banning social media access for those under 15. The conversation is gaining traction across the European Union, Japan, and Southeast Asia, and has become a hot-button issue in South Korea as well.

That said, legally mandated, uniform playtime caps for gaming are rare. South Korea abolished its mandatory shutdown system in 2021, shifting toward providing tools for parents to manage their children's gaming. While Japan has local ordinances, such as those in Kagawa Prefecture, they are not strictly mandatory. China remains the outlier, notoriously restricting youth gaming to just one hour on Fridays, weekends, and public holidays.

Vietnam is currently viewed as a promising emerging market for the domestic game industry. According to a report from the Korea Creative Content Agency published last October, the Vietnamese mobile game market is projected to reach $1.66 billion (approx. 2.37 trillion KRW) by 2025, growing at an average annual rate of 9.7% to reach $2.4 billion (approx. 3.43 trillion KRW) by 2029. Growth is being fueled by a youthful demographic under 35, a Z-generation-led digital boom, the spread of 5G, and the government's industry-nurturing policies.

However, the 'G1' license process—required for MMORPGs, online FPS, and AOS titles—is complex and effectively impossible to navigate without a local partner. Should these new playtime restrictions for minors be enforced, the local market may face further contraction. Domestic developers eyeing the region for export should keep a close eye on these shifting trends.