Located in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is a jewel on the Indochina peninsula. Known for its breathtaking landscapes and natural wonders, Vietnam has become a popular destination for tourists – with 3.6 million people visiting in 2022. Betting in Vietnam is still in its infancy and was illegal until recently – it’s still something of a grey area. In this article you’ll find everything you need to know about betting in Vietnam.
Online Betting in Vietnam
As rocky a landscape as Vietnam itself, online betting in this country is a tricky subject to navigate. Reforms in government policy since 2017 have made some forms of land-based betting legal, but the same cannot be said about online gambling.1
There are no laws allowing online betting in the country, which means the practice is still technically illegal. Nevertheless, the general consensus is that it’s a grey area, as local authorities don’t enforce laws against online betting either.
This has allowed international bookmakers who don’t fall under Vietnamese jurisdiction to swoop in – creating a new market for online betting for the first time. This isn’t illegal as long as the betting operators don’t operate directly in Vietnam.
What does this mean for punters?
Essentially, this means that there are no regulated online betting sites in Vietnam – and many sites are even blocked in the region. The main problem for bettors is that you aren’t protected by the state if you’re scammed or frauded. This can be avoided by joining a trusted bookie. All our bookmakers listed below are trustworthy in this respect.
You’ll also may need a VPN to bet in Vietnam – without one, you’ll most likely not be able to access most betting sites. See our in-depth article on the best VPN betting sites for everything you need to know about betting with a VPN.
The Best Vietnam Online Betting Sites
#1
Betway
Available in 11 languagesSuperb depth and range in betting marketsFree Bet Club – win £10 every week
#2
Matchbook
One of the best betting exchanges in VietnamWide range of sports for an exchange‘£20 money back if it loses’ welcome offer
#3
bet365
100% match up to £50 Vietnam welcome offerWell known for in-depth betting marketsExcellent virtuals betting page
#4
Dafabet
Offer Vietnamese as a language optionVietnamese Dong accepted as currencyGreat deposit and withdrawal options
#5
Cloudbet
Welcome Bonus in Bitcoin up to 5BTCVariety of odds display optionsA vast range of sports markets
#6
BC.GAME
Amazing range of sports to bet on‘First four deposits match’ welcome offerBrilliant crypto betting & trading site
Is Betting in Vietnam Legal?
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam – as it is known by its full name – is quite strict when it comes to betting, as is the case in many countries in the region. Until 2017, all forms of gambling were illegal, and thousands of citizens visited neighbouring Cambodia every day for the sole purpose of gambling.
Reform finally came in 2017 with the first laws allowing a small number of casinos to operate for international customers with foreign passports. Eventually, sports betting on international football, horse racing and greyhound racing was also legalised in land-based establishments.
Later in 2017, Vietnamese gamblers were finally allowed to enter casinos in the country – although there are still a number of restrictions. Gamblers must be over 21 years old to enter, their annual income must be at least 10 million dong (£342.52) per month and, most bizarrely, they must have the permission of a family member to enter.2
Is Online Betting Legal?
It’s illegal for all online betting sites to operate in Vietnam, which means you won’t find any Vietnamese sites – if you do, they’re either illegal or simply a scam.
Vietnam has no jurisdiction over international bookmakers licenced in other countries – so you’re free to bet on any internationally licenced site. You as a punter, are also not liable for placing bets on these sites.
The Vietnamese government has done its best to discourage online betting and has even managed to ban over 180 sites from the country. Therefore, as we have already mentioned, it’s a good idea to invest in a VPN – at least while you’re in the country.
(Source: NetBet)
Bitcoin Betting in Vietnam
Cryptocurrencies are a huge industry in Vietnam; an estimated 17% of the Vietnamese population has joined the crypto market in one way or another – that’s over 16 million people! Most people own Bitcoin as their main or only cryptocurrency source.
Crypto has become a viable option for online betting, and many operators have started to offer many different currencies. The volatility of the market adds risk when using Bitcoin – but it could be a great opportunity to trade cryptocurrencies and make even more winnings.
(Source: BC.GAME)
From our reliable list of the best Vietnamese betting sites, the following accept Bitcoin and other forms of cryptocurrencies for deposits, withdrawals and trading.
(Source: Dafabet)
Dafabet is one of the few providers in the Asian betting market that accepts Vietnamese dong for deposits and withdrawals. In addition, Dafabet also offers bitcoin and various other forms of crypto betting. If you’re planning to travel around Asia, Dafabet might be something for you as it’s reliable and accessible in many Asian markets.
(Source: Cloudbet)
If you plan on using Bitcoin as your main payment method, Cloudbet is perfect for you! Cloudbet is also one of the few betting sites that offer a welcome bonus via Bitcoin with a 100% match up to 5BTC. Besides their sportsbook, they also offer crypto casinos, slots and table games.
Bitcoin isn’t the only cryptocurrency that can be used at Cloudbet – the operator accepts 43 different currencies, including Litecoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Dash and many others – some of which even have their own dedicated casino pages.
(Source: BC.GAME)
Another exceptional Bitcoin betting site, BC.GAME, is quite a unique operator. The bookie offers 18 different crypto options and is a great platform for betting with cryptocurrencies.
Particularly interesting is the fact that punters can actually buy and sell cryptocurrencies, rather than just deposit and withdraw them. This means that BC.GAME is also a trading platform.
Choosing a Good Vietnam Betting Site
When sports betting in Vietnam, there are a number of key factors to consider to ensure you have the best possible betting experience. Here are the most important of them:
Make sure you sign up with a trusted betting site. Our listed sites are all internationally recognised bookmakers and 100% safe to use.
Choosing a betting site that offers multiple languages, including Vietnamese and English, is a bonus – Dafabet is a perfect example.
Find a bookie that accepts your preferred currency, be it pounds, euros or Vietnamese dong.
Choose a site that offers different ways of displaying odds, such as fractional, decimal or Hong Kong style.
Look for a bookie with an extensive in-play market – ideally a site that also offers live streaming or live updates.
A great welcome offer and frequent promotions are a sign of an excellent betting site.
Popular Payment Methods for Vietnamese Punters
There is a wide range of payment methods to choose from in Vietnam. Traditional payment methods are always available, and many international punters choose VISA and Mastercard as their payment methods of choice.
There are thousands of different e-wallet options in Asia, and the most common include PayPal, NETELLER and Skrill; there are countless others, but they are not offered on every site. Vietnamese punters also tend to use their local options: VTC Pay and MoMo.
Last but not least, as mentioned in an earlier section, cryptocurrency betting is very popular in Vietnam and many bookmakers offer a decent number of currencies – Bitcoin is by far the most widely used crypto payment method.
Vietnam-specific payment options (Source: Dafabet)
In general, many Asian betting sites offer an overwhelming number of payment methods to accommodate the many countries in which they operate. Use this to your advantage and find the best method for you!
Live Betting in Vietnam
Live betting has become an important part of modern betting as punters increasingly opt for live betting. Bookies have responded positively to this and have significantly improved in-play markets to the point where they’re now almost as extensive as the existing pre-match markets.
The best providers all offer some form of in-play betting, and the bookmakers we have selected are perhaps the best among them with their fantastic sports options, competitive odds and bet builder features.
(Source: Betway)
In-play betting can be one of the best ways to find value and make the most of your bets. Some classic examples of live betting are:
Fulltime betting – betting on the fulltime result of a match, especially if a heavy favourite concedes an early goal.Set Piece Betting – this involves anything from freekicks, throw-ins and goal kicks.Asian goal line – an over/under bet on the number of goals scored, where the stake is returned if a certain number of goals are scored.
Live Streaming
Live streaming is becoming more common in the betting business as it offers an added bonus to customers – both in terms of ease of use and simply as a valuable betting tool.
Not all sports are live streamed; what is available can depend on a number of factors, including broadcast rights, TV deals, and restrictions in each country; in most cases, sporting events such as the Premier League aren’t live streamed as the cost to operators is astronomical.
On the other hand, sports such as tennis, table tennis, basketball and others – all of which have a large Vietnamese fan base – are regularly streamed by top bookmakers.
(Source: bet365)
Many bookmakers provide live streaming services, although some do it better than others. In our opinion, bet365 and Dafabet offer the best service – with a wide range of sports and events that can be streamed live.
How to Bet Online in Vietnam
Online betting is just as easy as in the UK, thanks to the bookmakers available in Vietnam, most of whom are also well known in England and much of Europe.
Registering a new account is simple; players need to provide the site with some personal details, account information and finally some form of verification such as a passport or ID card – as is the case with most bookies around the world.
(Source: Dafabet)
Once registered, depositing into your account may vary slightly, but the general process is to go to the ‘My Account’ section, select “Deposit” and choose your preferred method and amount. With some bookmakers, it’s even easier as you may find a ‘Deposit’ button at the top left or right of the home screen.
If you are new to the world of betting, we recommend sticking to sports you know and understand. There are many interesting and unique sports in Vietnam, but betting on them when you know nothing about them is basically a losing proposition.
Popular Sports in Vietnam
Sports in Vietnam are immensely popular. Many of the common sports played in the region can be found here, as well as some fascinating traditional sports. Football, however, is by far the most popular sport.
Football has continued to grow in popularity thanks to the relative success of the national team, which has qualified for the upcoming Asian Cup and finished in the top three in the last five editions of the AFF Cup (a tournament for Southeast Asian nations) – winning the competition in 2018.
Besides football – volleyball, badminton and wrestling are also popular, as are many forms of Vietnamese martial arts. When it comes to betting – horseracing and greyhound racing are very common – so much so that both have been made legal in the country.
Other Country Betting Guides – Click Each Flag To Learn More
Best Vietnam Betting Sites Ranked
Betway
Matchbook
bet365
Dafabet
Cloudbet
BC.GAME
Vietnam Betting Sites FAQs
ThePuntersPage Final Say
The popularity of betting around the world continues to grow rapidly; in 2017, Vietnam joined the bandwagon and took the first steps towards legal online betting in the country. As the whole concept of online betting in Vietnam is still somewhat unclear, we recommend you stick to our selection of bookies to ensure your time betting is enjoyable.
References
1 Online gambling in Vietnam – History & Laws. Available at: https://www.gambling.com/country-overviews/vietnam.
2 Gambling regulations in Vietnam (2021) i Tour Vietnam. Available at: https://www.itourvn.com/blog/gambling-regulations-in-vietnam.
Jeremy is a die hard Evertonian and a massive sports fan. If he’s not watching Everton, he’s either playing football or watching whatever sport he can find on TV. With a keen interest in sports betting, sports writing is a match made in heaven.
