Vietnam eSports: A Great Challenge Awaits the Brave
The eSports industry in Vietnam has potential, but in reality, it faces many significant challenges. One of the prominent issues is the lack of modern infrastructure, up to standard for hosting large-scale eSports tournaments. Investing in eSports in Vietnam is a high-risk gamble. The market needs brave individuals with passion and strong financial capabilities to succeed.
In 2023, a notable name in the eSports scene emerged, initially addressing the hot issues of Vietnam’s electronic sports. That is businessman Duong Do (full name: Do Binh Duong), Chairman of Ocean Entertainment Group, a young entrepreneur and a notorious supercar enthusiast born in 1987.
Achievements that Shatter Stereotypes and a Past as a “Player”
Just by searching Google with the keyword “Duong Do,” you will see a plethora of headlines connecting this young businessman with the label of a “supercar tycoon,” also known by the nickname Duong Kon. However, perhaps only those closest to Duong Do know that behind the label assigned to him, the aspiration for entrepreneurship and further, to build the foundation for the country’s electronic sports has always flowed in his veins. Since his time studying abroad, Duong Do has been determined to create a comprehensive eSports ecosystem in Vietnam, starting with modern infrastructure that reaches a global standard.
In 2022, he and a few friends founded Ocean Entertainment Group (OEG) with the goal of building a comprehensive eSports ecosystem in Vietnam. From this point, Duong Do’s image has completely changed. No longer the “Dương Kon” with supercars appearing on social media, people began to gradually get used to the image of Duong Do – Chairman of OEG, busy preparing for events and attending meetings.
No one expected the chairman of a large corporation to be present from early morning, personally revising each line of the MC’s script and participating in the smallest preparations for the National Student eSports Championship held at OEG Stadium last year in 2023. This completely erased the image of a notorious supercar enthusiast that people previously knew him for.
Launching an international-standard eSports arena with a team of just over a dozen experienced friends, but in just one year, under Duong Do’s leadership, OEG Stadium (OEG Game Center Joint Stock Company) has become one of the largest eSports entertainment complexes in Vietnam. OEG Stadium has a seating capacity of up to 1000 people and has successfully hosted major events such as the Northern Finals and National Finals of the National Student eSports Championship 2023, with nearly 2000 spectators attending in person.
The Silent Force Behind: Both Brave and “Risky”
Investing heavily in OEG Stadium to the extent that even colleagues in the eSports field have commented that Duong Do is brave and somewhat “risky.” This is not just a money-burning game but also a substantial drain on mental resources. If he only invested “for fun,” Duong Do could be content with what OEG Stadium has currently achieved, but this entrepreneur has a long-term plan: First, to continuously expand the scale of OEG Stadium to other regions such as the Central and Southern regions, hoping to make OEG a leading eSports entertainment chain nationwide and extend it to the region.
The success of OEG Stadium is the foundation for elevating the entire eSports ecosystem. Through organizing major tournaments, OEG Stadium provides young talents the opportunity to compete and learn from top players worldwide, enhancing the level of professional gamers in Vietnam. This is also an opportunity for young gamers to connect with recruiters and professional teams, opening up many career opportunities in the eSports field.
At this point, the term “success” can be used for what Duong Do has accomplished, but the OEG Chairman has never spoken to the media about his achievements nor appeared to answer the press at events. Instead, he chooses to stand behind, being a motivating force but also a commander, contributing essential creative ideas for organization and management.
June 23 will mark a special milestone when OEG Stadium officially holds its Grand Opening ceremony to widely introduce itself to the public. On this occasion, OEG will also announce information about the talent training academy in the field of internet entertainment, as well as the vision for a comprehensive ecosystem related to gaming. It is known that the total cost for the Grand Opening ceremony is expected to exceed 1 billion VND – an unprecedented scale. Being ready to “splash out” for the opening event is perhaps also influenced by the audacity of the “player” Duong Kon of the past, but it is also a statement of the wholehearted commitment and serious investment of businessman Duong Do today.
With what OEG Stadium has demonstrated, we can all see the first step in Duong Do’s plan to open up and break through the domestic eSports scene has achieved success. Now, let’s wait to see the results from the aspirations and vision of this young entrepreneur in the near future.