Vietnamese authorities disable illegal sports streaming platform
08 April 2026
Son Doan | founding and managing partner @ IPMAX, Hanoi
Intellectual property lawyer Son Doan, founding and managing partner at IPMAX in Hanoi, believes that the recent disabling by Vietnamese authorities of the Xoi Lac TV online network, widely regarded as one of the largest and most well-known illegal sports streaming platforms in Vietnam, may contribute to a gradual shift in public awareness and cultural attitudes toward content consumption.
In February 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security’s Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention Department raided a location in Hung Yen province linked to Xoi Lac TV. During the operation, 30 individuals were charged with copyright infringement and other offenses related to organized gambling. Authorities seized specialized livestreaming equipment, including 35 computers, 20 laptops, three tablets and over 64 smartphones. Fifty-eight bank accounts were frozen.
While illegally streaming international sports competitions, Xoi Lac TV also provided viewers with links to gambling platforms. The network, consisting of several organized groups operating as technology firms in different locations across Vietnam, has been unlawfully streaming content since 2016.
“The long-standing habit of enjoying copyrighted content through unauthorized channels – often perceived as harmless because it is free and easily available – may begin to change as enforcement becomes more visible. Encouraging audiences to recognize the value of legitimate content and to support licensed services would represent a positive step toward a more sustainable sports broadcasting ecosystem in Vietnam,” said Doan.
For him, disabling Xoi Lac TV’s operations represents a noteworthy development in the country’s ongoing efforts to combat online copyright infringement. “For many years, piracy in the digital environment – particularly involving live sports broadcasting – has been widely considered difficult to control due to the speed, scale and anonymity associated with online platforms. Against this backdrop, the enforcement action against Xoi Lac TV appears to reflect a stronger determination by Vietnamese authorities to address intellectual property violations on the internet, an area that has historically posed significant enforcement challenges,” explained Doan.
He added that another notable aspect of the case is that enforcement measures reportedly extended beyond the two alleged masterminds behind the platform to include several commentators associated with its broadcasts. “Some of these individuals were previously recognized figures in the sports commentary community. Their involvement illustrates how piracy operations have evolved beyond purely technical activities, adopting elements of professional-style broadcasting – such as commentary and programme-style presentation – to attract larger audiences and increase engagement,” Doan said.
- Espie Angelica A. de Leon
