Japanese-Vietnamese joint venture launches first Aeon Beta cinema complex in Vietnam

The first complex, located in Hanoi, represents a concrete milestone for the partnership formed last August, which aims to develop 50 premium Aeon Beta cinema complexes nationwide by 2035.

Vietnam’s cinema market has expanded rapidly in recent years, with more than 200 cinema complexes across the country, each of which houses five to six cinemas.

The sector, however, remains largely dominated by South Korean operators, with CGV and Lotte Cinema holding around 45 percent and 26 percent of the market share, respectively.

Domestic chains including Galaxy Cinema, Beta Cinemas, and BHD Star Cineplex, along with other systems such as CineStar, DCINE, Mega GS, and state-run cinemas, account for the remaining share.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Dang Tran Cuong, director of the Vietnam Cinema Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said major foreign players such as Aeon Entertainment only enter a new market after thorough research and a firm belief in its potential.

He noted that the arrival of a leading Japanese operator, from one of Asia’s most advanced film industries, would open up valuable opportunities for Vietnam’s cinema sector.

“There is still significant room for growth. The entry of a new major player does not make the market smaller. What matters is how fully this potential can be harnessed,” he said.

Cuong added that Vietnamese cinema businesses are well positioned to compete fairly and effectively alongside large international corporations.

On the sidelines of the opening ceremony, Nobuyuki Fujiwara, chairman of Aeon Entertainment, told Tuoi Tre that Vietnam’s population of more than 100 million, its youthful demographic profile and steady, long-term economic growth make the country an especially attractive destination for the entertainment industry.

Fujiwara said the partnership with Beta Media would play a key role in local promotion and operations. Aeon Beta also plans to introduce Japanese intellectual property, including anime titles, into its lineup alongside regular movie screenings, with a longer-term ambition to expand into film distribution.

While the initial focus will be on presenting international content, including Japanese films, Aeon Entertainment ultimately aims to bring Vietnamese productions to Japanese audiences as well, he said, noting the steady improvement in the quality and diversity of local cinema.

Founded in 2014, Beta Media operates a mid-range cinema chain in Vietnam and has developed 20 Beta Cinemas complexes in provinces and cities nationwide.

Its partner, Aeon Entertainment, established in 1991, is a subsidiary of Japan’s Aeon Group and the country’s largest cinema operator, with a network of 96 cinemas and 821 screens.