Minh-Ngoc Nguyen
Research Expert covering Vietnam
Internet usage in Vietnam - statistics & facts
November 19th, 1997, marked the start of Vietnam’s technological era as its citizens first had access to the internet. After nearly three decades, Vietnam is now among the countries with the highest number of internet users worldwide. By 2023, the country’s internet coverage is expected to reach nearly 80 percent. Internet usage in Vietnam is predominantly mobile-based, thanks to the high smartphone penetration rate. Using the internet has become a daily habit among many Vietnamese people, with multiple purposes, including connecting people, work, study, entertainment, and more.
Online entertainment, such as video and music streaming and gaming, is another activity that has been gaining momentum among internet users across Vietnam. In rural areas, video and movie streaming has been one of the leading daily online activities in recent years, with YouTube being the most used platform for movie streaming in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Netflix and other paid local streaming services have been gaining popularity among Vietnamese consumers. Streaming was also a well-liked activity among online gamers, who accounted for 74 percent of internet users in the country in 2022.
Popular online activities among Vietnamese internet users
On average, most internet users in Vietnam spend at least three hours using the internet per day. In recent years, scrolling and posting on social media has become one of the most popular internet activities among Vietnamese people. As of the first quarter of 2023, the average daily time spent using social media among consumers in the country reached over two hours. In addition to many other functions of these platforms, around one-third of Vietnamese internet users reported using them for watching live streams.Online entertainment, such as video and music streaming and gaming, is another activity that has been gaining momentum among internet users across Vietnam. In rural areas, video and movie streaming has been one of the leading daily online activities in recent years, with YouTube being the most used platform for movie streaming in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Netflix and other paid local streaming services have been gaining popularity among Vietnamese consumers. Streaming was also a well-liked activity among online gamers, who accounted for 74 percent of internet users in the country in 2022.
