Zalo Logo

In 2012, Vietnamese technology company VNG Corporation established Zalo. Under the leadership of its creator, Vuong Quang Khai, Zalo quickly gained popularity in Vietnam and soon surpassed well-known messaging apps such as WhatsApp in user numbers.

The platform’s distinctive features include free messaging, voice and video calling, a range of fun games, and expressive stickers and emoticons. Just two years after its launch, Zalo has already attracted more than 10 million users in Vietnam, firmly establishing its dominance in the messaging industry.

In 2022, the app had about 100 million users in Vietnam and among the Vietnamese diaspora worldwide. By targeting the specific needs of its core audience, Zalo integrates with local contact directories, making it easy to use.

In recent years, the app has begun to support user privacy, notably introducing end-to-end encryption in 2022. But Zalo’s ambitions extend beyond messaging. It has evolved into a feature-rich platform covering social media, online shopping, digital transactions via ZaloPay, entertainment, and up-to-the-minute news.

Zalo is a testament to Vietnam’s technological prowess and is often celebrated as one of the country’s major technological triumphs. Its parent company, VNG Corp, became Vietnam’s first unicorn startup. In 2022, VNG took the bold step of initiating a US IPO, becoming the first Vietnamese tech venture to seek a public listing there. Despite this trajectory, the company remains true to its roots, keeping the founding team in control of operations.