Launched in April 2005, Vo Lam Truyen Ky (VLTK) quickly became a digital cultural phenomenon in the lives of young people. At one point, according to internal statistics, 4 out of 10 Internet users participated in the martial arts world of VLTK - a rare number in the history of online games in Vietnam at that time.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its release, Mr. Le Hong Minh - Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of VNG - shared for the first time the journey of bringing this game to Vietnam, along with memorable milestones in the early stages of the Vietnamese gaming industry.
VNG President Le Hong Minh recounts the journey of bringing Vo Lam Truyen Ky to Vietnam
From a “reckless” contract to a community of millions of players
In November 2004, when VNG was still a small startup group in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Minh decided to sign a copyright contract with Kingsoft (China) to bring VLTK to Vietnam. “I just believed that this was a product that could be successful. Because this was one of the very few games at that time with the theme of martial arts - close to East Asian culture,” he shared.
Image of signing the copyright purchase of Vo Lam Truyen Ky 20 years ago
Photo: VNG
That decision was made after only a few screenshots, but it opened up a completely new era: for the first time, Vietnamese players could "wander around" together in a vast virtual world, where friendship, chivalry and the desire to conquer were vividly portrayed.
And from there, a community of millions of gamers was formed and developed steadily - not only in the game but also in real life.
Live forever
20 years after its launch, Vo Lam Truyen Ky is not only one of the longest-running games in Vietnam, but also a part of the collective memory of the first generation of players. For many, it is not just a game – but a place where they spent their youth, a place to preserve friendships, and even life relationships.
As a testament to that enduring vitality, at the 2025 Vietnam Game Awards, Vo Lam Truyen Ky excellently received two awards: "Timeless Game" and "Most Favorite Game Community" - once again affirming the special position of the game in the hearts of gamers over the past two decades.
Although the market has had hundreds of new names, VLTK still maintains its own unique position as a “digital legend” – marking the moment when online games first truly touched the cultural life of Vietnamese people.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chu-tich-vng-le-ke-lai-hanh-trinh-dua-vo-lam-truyen-ky-den-viet-nam-185250626185457771.htm
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