Low production, sharp decrease spread
The period 2018 - 2021 is the golden age of this film genre with a series of hit works such as "The Four Cows of a Lady", "Bo Gia" (webel version)... now, the number of newly released projects has decreased sharply, while the quality and influence are not as good as before.
Statistics from YouTube and TikTok platforms since the beginning of the year show that less than 10 Vietnamese web dramas have been launched remarkably. Some typical projects include "Chang trai thanh quay" written and directed by Quang Anh, "Mat am trong do" by Do Hoang Duong...
Despite investment in images, scripts and acting, most of these films only reach tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of views per episode - a modest number compared to the peak when each web drama episode reached tens of millions of views.
The change in audience trends also makes this film genre difficult. If in the past, viewers eagerly awaited each episode that was broadcast periodically on weekends, now, with the rise of TikTok and short platforms, young audiences are gradually switching to watching fast, short content and investing less emotion. In addition, the fact that producers focus on making vertical short films such as The young man siu Cuoi shows efforts to adapt, but have not created a big push in the market.
Causes of reflux
One of the leading reasons for the delay of Vietnamese web dramas is the funding issue. After the explosive period of 2018 - 2022, many individual producers, especially artists and singers who used to spend money to make films, are now more cautious.
An average quality web drama currently costs 1 - 3 billion VND for 6 - 8 episodes, but revenue from YouTube advertising or brand sponsorship is no longer guaranteed. When costs increase and communication efficiency decreases, investors are afraid to invest, leading to a narrowing production scale.
In addition, young audiences' tastes have changed dramatically. Long stories, scripts with a climax like "The Four Sisters" are gradually giving way to fast-paced entertainment content such as vlogs or a series of situation clips in just a few minutes. Traditional web dramas therefore lose their competitive advantage, making it difficult to retain viewers for a long time.
Even projects with famous artists such as Tran Thanh, Nam Thu or Huynh Lap must switch to copyrighted broadcasting platforms (VieON, Netflix, FPT Play) instead of relying only on YouTube as before.
The density of topics is also a significant factor. From comedy, school to gangster, black society, most Vietnamese web dramas still revolve around familiar, un breakthrough models. The fact that many products use the formula "star + drama + shocking details" makes the audience tired. Many works are caught up in suspense tricks, fake dramatic lines, leading to mixed reactions and being removed early.
Another reason is competition from TV series and professional streaming platforms. Major channels such as Netflix, VieON, VTV Go or Galaxy Play have stepped up exclusive film production, attracting crews that used to make web dramas. Young directors choose a more professional path to have a stable budget and wide coverage, making the creative force for web dramas on YouTube increasingly thin.
Although it is in a "calm" stage, experts believe that Vietnamese web dramas still have a chance to recover if they can adapt. The trend of producing vertical films for mobile phones is opening a new direction such as "The young man siu Quan" was filmed completely at a ratio of 9:16, combined with simultaneous release on TikTok and YouTube. The combination of AI and virtual sculpting technology can also help reduce post-production costs, expanding creativity for young filmmakers.
Some directors proposed the interactivemini series model that would allow viewers to vote for the direction of a character that is considered a potential escape. However, to recreate the "fever" like in the early years of web dramas, the market needs more methodical investment from the platform and sponsoring brand, instead of relying only on the artist's personal strength.
