Vietnam Solidifies Position as Southeast Asia's Top Unscripted Format Buyer

As of November 2025, Vietnam has solidified its position as Southeast Asia's leading buyer of international TV formats, accounting for 33% of the region's unscripted format acquisitions. The country's entertainment landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with streaming platforms experiencing a surge in popularity while traditional pay TV continues to decline.

In the first half of 2025, Vietnam's streaming subscribers surged 33% to reach 70 million, while pay TV subscriptions fell from 22 million to 16.5 million. This shift is driven by the growing importance of social media, which has become central to how Vietnamese audiences discover, consume, and engage with content.

The article also highlights the increasing demand for Taiwanese dramas among young Vietnamese viewers. While Taiwanese series were hugely popular in the early 2000s, they are now perceived as catering more towards an older, housewife audience. However, the article notes that there is significant opportunity for Taiwanese dramas beyond the long-running family series, with titles like "Someday or One Day" gaining strong traction on Vietnamese social media.

Overall, Vietnam's entertainment landscape is rapidly evolving, with streaming platforms and international content, including Taiwanese dramas, playing an increasingly important role in the country's media consumption habits.