What it does: Specialises in online entertainment, digital content, e-commerce, and social networking while focusing on four main businesses: cloud services, platforms, online games, and digital payments.
Best known for: Being one of the four main game publishers in Vietnam. The company was responsible for developing Swordsman Online (Vo Lam Truyen Ky), the first Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) in the country and several other key products used by millions of users (eg Zalo, Zingmp3, ZaloPay, 123phim). It is the only recognised $1 billion valued start-ups in Vietnam.
Staff stats: 2,700
The good bits: An above-industry-average salary, various fringe benefits, a young and dynamic working environment, extensive training courses, and a well-equipped Vietnam office replete with a fitness centre and a library.
The not-so-good bits: Insiders often criticise the company’s rampant workplace politics and long hours.
VNG was founded by Le Hong Minh, a finance student with a passion for video games. Minh started out as an investment banker by day and internet cafe owner by night in the early 2000s. His passion for video games sent him to China where he hoped to license the title of Swordsman Online (Vo Lam Truyen Ky), a popular video game, from Chinese software company Kingsoft.
After winning the license, the game reached gradual popularity in Vietnam just six months later with over a million users after its launch in 2005. In the same year, VNG raised its first and only financing round from IDG Ventures.
In 2009, the company branched out from video games to various other internet services which included the Zing franchise: music player and downloading app Zing MP3, social networking site Zing Me with more than seven million monthly active users, leading digital newspaper Zing News, and Zing Chat.
While still a predominantly desktop-first company, VNG has launched several mobile products including mobile messaging app Zalo and mobile payment application Zalopay. Since then, the company has planned on branching out to more mobile-friendly products.
In 2018, VNG launched its new business lines which included finance and payments (eg digital wallets, intermediary payment gateway) and cloud services.
Today, VNG has reached over 80 million users in over 193 countries and is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market (USA). The company, which is valued at over US$1 billion by the World Startup Report and Google - Temasek Report, has also opened new offices in Myanmar and Thailand.
The recruitment process varies from role to role, but graduates may expect a series of tests suited for their role (eg programming tests for software engineers, coding tests for software developers, English and IQ for business developers or other roles), and several technical and behavioural one-on-one interviews with HR representatives or department managers. The process may take up to a week.
The company offers an above-industry-average basic pay with several fringe benefits that may include health insurance, travel opportunities, paid sick and vacation leave, performance and year-end bonuses, several family-related benefits and free meals, among others.
VNG offers a casual 'no suit, no tie' working environment where a premium is placed on comfort more than a formality. The company encourages making the office your second home (eg you can decorate your desk however you like, play video games) while enforcing a 'no rank' policy where all members are encouraged to debate with others or contribute ideas.
The company puts value in the family through various employee engagement activities (eg family day, kids day), and promotes work-life balance through out-of-town adventures.
VNG supports the community through a number of charitable activities, educational projects, workplace environment innovations, and sporting event sponsorships.
VNG's Vietnam Internet User Community Foundation, a non-profit that supports medical and educational projects, has organised over 23 charity events in over 13 Vietnam provinces, assisting more than 10,000 of the less fortunate. The foundation has partnered with several well-known organizations including Operation Smile and Newborns Vietnam in a number of charitable campaigns.
VNG has offered around 2,000 employees several training opportunities including the VNG Fresher, a recruitment and training program that trains students to become VNG's senior specialists, and the VNG Tour, which offers university students a chance to visit and experience working in leading technology companies.
VNG's sports-related activities include Iron Man 70.3, a world-renowned triathlon series, and Uprace, an annual running contest that attracted more than 32,000 runners in 2019.
Freshers in Vietnam will definitely find a treasure trove of things to love about VNG. Attractive benefits, a stunning office, and great training are just some of the factors that are most likely to lure them in. Know, however, that this company demands hard work from its employees (you may have to put in overtime every now and then) and there may be some tip-toeing involved around office politics.