Steam’s problems in Vietnam just got worse. Since October 2, players across the country have reported that they can’t download games, install updates or sync cloud saves on Steam. Until now, the blocks had mostly hit the store and payment pages.
No new government order has been made public, and Valve has not commented. But the reports are piling up, and they come a week after Vietnamese media said authorities were looking at blocking unlicensed PC games like PUBG.
Here is what has changed, who is affected, and what we know about why.
Is Steam blocked in Vietnam right now?
Partly. Steam has been restricted in Vietnam since May 2024, when internet providers began blocking the store and payment pages. Since October 2, 2026, many players also report that game downloads, updates, community pages and cloud saves have stopped working. The impact depends on your internet provider and region, and no new official ban has been announced.
What stopped working in October 2026
Vietnamese gaming site GameK reported on October 2 that many local users could not log in to Steam or open the Steam Store. Posts on Vietnamese forums and Reddit described a wider problem than before. Game updates had almost stopped, and cloud save sync was failing too.
The problems continued on October 3. One FPT internet user said that switching to Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1) did not bring back downloads, so they turned to a VPN. Other FPT users said Steam was working normally for them, which suggests the block isn’t the same everywhere.
Here’s how the October reports compare with the first block in 2024:
| Steam feature | May 2024 block | October 2026 reports |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Store | Blocked | Blocked |
| Payments | Blocked | Blocked |
| Community pages | Mostly working | Reported blocked |
| Game downloads and updates | Mostly working | Reported failing for many users |
| Steam Cloud saves | Working | Reported failing |
| Already installed games | Playable | Not yet clear |
| Same on every ISP? | No | No |
Why is Steam blocked in Vietnam?
Vietnam requires every game sold in the country to have a local license. Steam doesn’t have one, and the government says Valve never engaged with it.
When we covered the first wave of Steam blocks in May 2024, there was no official explanation yet. A few weeks later, a senior official at Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications told VnExpress that Steam was blocked because his agency had contacted the platform many times and never got a reply.
The rules got tighter in December 2024, when Decree 147/2024/ND-CP took effect. It sets licensing requirements for online games, and those rules also apply to overseas companies that sell games to Vietnamese players.
Timeline of the Steam block in Vietnam
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Early May 2024 | Players report Steam Store blocked across Vietnamese ISPs |
| Late May 2024 | Government official confirms the block, saying Valve did not respond |
| December 25, 2024 | Decree 147/2024/ND-CP takes effect |
| May 2026 | Government gaming portal relays industry complaints about unlicensed games on Steam |
| September 23, 2026 | Local media report authorities are reviewing a block on unlicensed PUBG PC |
| October 2, 2026 | Players report downloads, updates and cloud saves failing |
| October 3, 2026 | Problems continue; some users on the same ISPs are unaffected |
Is this connected to the PUBG PC ban talk?
Nothing confirms a link, but the timing stands out.
On September 23, Thanh Niên reported that PUBG PC has no license in Vietnam and that authorities were reviewing ways to stop its distribution. Only PUBG Mobile is licensed in the country. VietNamNet then reported that internet cafes were removing PUBG PC and that some providers were already blocking Steam unevenly. We covered PUBG PC’s licensing trouble in Vietnam when Krafton pulled the PUBG Vietnam Series 2026 Phase 2 from its schedule.
Since most players in Vietnam download PUBG PC through Steam, a wider Steam block would hit the game hard. Still, neither the government nor any ISP has said the two are connected.
What this means for Steam players in Vietnam
If you are in Vietnam, here’s the practical picture right now:
- The store and payments are still blocked, as they have been since 2024.
- Downloads and updates may fail depending on your provider and area. Changing DNS settings did not fix it for some users.
- Cloud saves may not sync. If you switch between PCs, your latest progress may not carry over.
- Some players report a VPN restores access. Using one carries risk on two fronts. Vietnam’s rules on circumvention tools are strict, and Steam’s Subscriber Agreement says users should not hide where they live with IP proxying. Valve can end account access for doing so.
The timing is bad for anyone hoping to grab deals: the Steam Autumn Sale runs until October 8, and many Vietnamese players can’t reach the store at all.
Has Valve or the Vietnamese government responded?
Not yet. Valve has not commented on the October reports. Vietnam’s government and local ISPs have also not announced any new blocking order. Based on what we know so far, this looks like stricter enforcement of the existing block rather than a new ban, but that could change. We’ll update this article if either side responds.
Frequently asked questions
Is Steam banned in Vietnam?
Steam isn’t fully banned, but it is heavily restricted. The store and payments have been blocked since 2024, and since October 2, 2026, many players also report problems with downloads, updates and cloud saves.
Why did Vietnam block Steam?
Vietnam requires games to be licensed before they are sold in the country. Officials said in 2024 that Valve did not respond to their requests to comply.
Can I still play my Steam games in Vietnam?
Games that are already installed were playable during the 2024 block. It isn’t yet clear whether that has changed, and updates may not download.
Does a VPN fix Steam in Vietnam?
Some players report that it does. But Steam’s rules don’t allow using a proxy to hide your location, and Vietnam restricts circumvention tools, so there is risk involved.
Is PUBG PC banned in Vietnam?
Not officially. PUBG PC has no license in Vietnam, and local media report authorities are considering a block. Only PUBG Mobile is licensed.
Our take
Two things make this round worse than 2024. First, cutting off downloads and updates affects games people already own, not just new purchases. Second, the block is patchy, so players can’t even tell if the problem is on their end. Until Valve and Vietnamese authorities talk, players are stuck in the middle, and there’s no sign that conversation is happening.
