AsemconnectVietnam - Specifically, publishing enterprises would be exempt from corporate income tax for two years, followed by a 50% tax reduction for the next four years on income generated from encouraged game development activities.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on July 23 organized a conference to collect feedback on a draft decree aimed at amending and supplementing Government Decree No. 147/2024/ND-CP regarding the management, provision, and use of internet services and online information.
A landmark feature of this draft is the first-ever formal introduction of the "Vietnamese game" concept, which serves as a legal foundation for applying unprecedented incentive policies to stimulate the domestic production and publishing sector.
To be officially classified as a Vietnamese game under these new regulations, a title must meet specific criteria: it must be produced by a local enterprise that holds legal intellectual property rights to the software, it must incorporate Vietnamese cultural or historical elements, and at least 30% of the personnel directly involved in production must be Vietnamese citizens.
Under the proposed framework, qualifying Vietnamese games will be permitted a trial release period of up to 90 days, with developers required only to notify regulatory authorities at least 10 days prior to the launch.
However, this trial phase is subject to two specific conditions: the total number of players must remain below 10,000, and the game must not generate any revenue.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Deputy Director of the ministry's Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, explained that this mechanism is designed to create favorable conditions for businesses—particularly gaming startups—to bring their products to market and gather user feedback for further refinement.
Beyond streamlined testing, the draft offers significant financial support for games that contain educational content or promote Vietnamese cultural and historical values.
Specifically, publishing enterprises would be exempt from corporate income tax for two years, followed by a 50% tax reduction for the next four years on income generated from encouraged game development activities.
Furthermore, experts and employees directly involved in the production of these games would benefit from a personal income tax exemption for two years and a 50% reduction for the following four years on their salaries and wages.
To ensure these incentives are applied accurately, the ministry plans to establish an expert council on culture and history to appraise game content and determine eligibility.
Additionally, the draft decree introduces new regulations for managing imported games, a move intended to resolve existing legal bottlenecks and facilitate the organization of professional e-sports tournaments in Vietnam.
Source: vneconomy.vn