HCMC – Cat Ba Island off the coast of Haiphong City has been chosen as the location for a new film project by Riot Games, the developer behind League of Legends.
The 9-episode television series, based on League of Legends, will be widely screened on platforms including Netflix and HBO.
The team surveyed multiple countries in the region, but Vietnam’s natural beauty and landscape stood out as the perfect backdrop for the series, said Rose Lam, Global Production Director at Riot Studios.
Cat Ba Island was recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage. This archipelago is home to more than 360 islands of various sizes, forming a limestone maze in the open sea, with pristine beaches, majestic cliffs, and a rare diverse ecosystem. These features align with the fantastical world of League of Legends, making it an ideal setting for the series.
The selection of Cat Ba as the filming location for the series is expected to have a significant impact on the island’s tourism. In 2024, the island welcomed over 1 million international visitors, marking a 90.5% increase from the previous year. The first two months of 2025 saw over 280,000 visitors, nearly 180,000 of whom were international tourists. Total revenue from tourism services is estimated at VND257 billion.
To accommodate the growing wave of visitors, significant investments are being made into its hospitality and tourism services. One of the most notable projects is Green Island Central Bay City, developed by Sun Group. Set to launch in summer 2025, it will introduce a range of world-class entertainment and dining experiences. Key highlights include the world’s largest Jetski team performing a combined fireworks show called Symphony of the Green Island, with an investment of nearly VND200 billion. The project will also feature the VUI-Fest Night Market, a sustainable market with hundreds of stalls made from environmentally friendly materials.
Additionally, the Sun Bavaria Cat Ba Gastro Pub will offer all-day meals and German-standard craft beer, Sun KraftBeer, in an ideal location to view the fireworks show.
