What are principles of management of online games in Vietnam?

What are principles of management of online games in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 31 of the Decree 72/2013/ND-CP stipulating principles of management of online games in Vietnam as follows: 

1. Online games are classified as follows:

a) Classification by method of service provision and use:

- Video games that have interaction among multiple players via the game server (hereinafter referred to as G1 games);

- Video games that only have interaction between the players and the game server (hereinafter referred to as G2 games);

- Video games that have interaction among multiple players without interaction between players and the game server (hereinafter referred to as G3 games);

- Video games that are downloaded from the Internet without the interaction among players and between players and the game server (hereinafter referred to as G4 games).

b) Classification by players’ ages and game contents. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall specify the classification of video games by ages.

2. Enterprises may provide G1 games after obtaining the License to provide game services and the Decision to approve game contents issued by the Ministry of Information and Communications.

3. Enterprises may provide G2, G3, and G4 games after obtaining the Certificate of Registration of game service provision and announcement of service provision of every game.

4. Foreign organizations and individuals that provide online game services for Vietnamese users must establish enterprises in accordance with Vietnam’s law in accordance with this Decree and the laws on foreign investment.

What are regulations on licensing provision of G1 games in Vietnam?

Pursuant to Article 32 of the Decree 72/2013/ND-CP (amended by Article 1 of the Decree 27/2018/ND-CP) stipulating licensing provision of G1 games in Vietnam as follows: 

1. The License to provide video games shall be issued when the conditions below are satisfied:

a) The enterprise is established in accordance with Vietnam’s law and its business line associated with online gaming services has been posted in the national business registration portal;

b) Domain names are registered to provide services;

c) Its financial, technical resources and qualified personnel are sufficient to serve the operation as prescribed in Article 32a, Article 32 b of this Decree;

d) Measures are taken for ensuring information safety and information security.

2. The validity period of the License to provide video games G1 depends on the request of the enterprise and shall not exceed 10 years.

3. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall suspend the license to provide video games G1 online for 3 months when the game provider commits one of the following violations:

a) Violates Points d, dd, e Clause 1 Article 5 of this Decree; or

b) Fails to meet all conditions prescribed in Article 32a, Article 32b of this Decree although the licensing authority required it to correct them in writing.

Suspension procedures shall be the same as those in Article 32k of this Decree.

4. The Ministry of Information and Communications shall specify the conditions and procedures for issuing, adjusting, extending, revoking, reissuing the License to provide game services and the Decision to approve game contents.

5. The Ministry of Finance shall cooperate with the Ministry of Information and Communications in imposing fees for licensing game services and assessing video game contents.

Thank you!