Quick answer
You can watch Vietnamese TV in the USA through Vietnamese American channels such as SBTN, which is carried by several US cable and satellite providers, through the official apps and YouTube channels of broadcasters in Vietnam, or through an IPTV plan like TarakTV that brings Vietnamese channels into one app. Cable is the traditional route for diaspora channels. TarakTV is one plan from $15 a month with a free 24-hour trial, so you can check your channels before paying.
- About 2.3 million people in the US identified as Vietnamese in 2023 (Pew Research Center).
- The largest Vietnamese American metro areas are Los Angeles (including Orange County), San Jose and Houston.
- SBTN, a 24-hour Vietnamese-language network for the diaspora, was founded in 2001 and is based in Garden Grove, California.
- Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of US Eastern time in winter and 11 hours ahead in summer.
- TarakTV plans: $15 a month, $130 a year, $220 for 3 years, $300 for 5 years.
Vietnamese Americans and their TV
Pew Research Center reports that about 2.3 million people in the US identified as Vietnamese in 2023. The largest communities are in the Los Angeles metro area, about 350,000 people, which includes Little Saigon in Orange County, then San Jose, about 145,000, and Houston, about 140,000. Dallas, Seattle, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and New Orleans also have large communities.
Vietnamese American viewing is shaped by history. Many families prefer channels made by and for the diaspora in the US, with news, music, talk shows and community programming. Others, especially newer arrivals and students, also follow dramas, game shows and news from Vietnam. Many households want both.
Vietnamese American channels
SBTN (Saigon Broadcasting Television Network) is the best-known diaspora network. It was founded in 2001 in Orange County and is based in Garden Grove, California, and it broadcasts 24 hours a day in Vietnamese for audiences outside Vietnam, with news, culture, talk shows, music, children's programmes and game shows. It has been carried by several US cable and satellite providers.
There are also local Vietnamese-language stations and programmes in areas such as Orange County, San Jose and Houston, along with music and variety productions that are popular across the diaspora.
Channels from Vietnam people look for
From Vietnam, people commonly look for the national broadcaster VTV, especially VTV1 for news, VTV3 for entertainment and game shows, and VTV4, its international channel. Ho Chi Minh City Television channels HTV7 and HTV9 are popular for dramas and variety shows, and THVL1 from Vinh Long is well known for its dramas. VTC channels are another option.
- Diaspora: SBTN and local Vietnamese American stations
- News: VTV1, VTV4
- Entertainment and dramas (phim bộ): VTV3, HTV7, HTV9, THVL1
Official options and TarakTV
If you have cable or satellite, check whether your provider carries SBTN or a Vietnamese package in your area. Many broadcasters in Vietnam also run official apps and YouTube channels where they post dramas, music shows and news, which is a free and legal way to follow individual programmes.
TarakTV is an IPTV subscription that brings Vietnamese channels people commonly look for into one app with a TV guide, alongside Chinese, Korean, Filipino, US and international channels. That suits families who want live Vietnamese TV on the big screen without a cable contract. Line-ups on any IPTV service can change, so use the free 24-hour trial to check the channels you watch. Plans cost $15 for one month, $130 for one year, $220 for three years and $300 for five years.
Devices and internet speed
TarakTV runs on Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android smart TVs, Android TV boxes, phones and tablets, and the Cast4K player app. We also sell TVIP and Yoka TV boxes that come ready to use, shipped within the US and Canada. These are the easiest option for ông bà, because there is nothing to install.
Plan on about 15 Mbps per screen for HD and 25 Mbps for 4K. If more than one TV is streaming, add those together, and use a wired connection to the TV if you see buffering.
Time-zone tips
Vietnam is on UTC+7, which is 12 hours ahead of US Eastern time from November to March and 11 hours ahead from March to November. On the West Coast it is 15 hours ahead in winter and 14 in summer. An 8pm drama in Vietnam airs at 8am Eastern and 5am Pacific in winter.
For Tết, the big New Year's Eve shows from Vietnam air during the US morning. Diaspora channels in the US often schedule their own Tết programming at local times. For dramas, use the TV guide and catch-up, where the channel offers it, to watch at a convenient hour.
Choosing the right setup and common fixes
If your family mainly watches one diaspora channel and you already pay for cable, check whether your provider carries it. If you want both diaspora channels and channels from Vietnam on the main TV without a cable contract, one live TV plan is often simpler, especially for older relatives.
If a channel freezes or buffers, start with the simple fixes: restart the Fire TV Stick or box, check that nothing else in the house is downloading, and move the router closer or use an Ethernet cable. Running a speed test on the TV itself, not your phone, gives the most accurate picture.
If only one channel has a problem while others play fine, it is usually on the channel side rather than your internet. Message TarakTV on WhatsApp with the channel name and the time, and we will check it.
Channels people look for
Line-ups change; ask for the current list or check during your free trial.
| Channel | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SBTN | Vietnamese American network | |
| VTV1 | Vietnam news | |
| VTV3 | Vietnam entertainment | |
| VTV4 | Vietnam international | |
| HTV7 | Vietnam entertainment | |
| HTV9 | Vietnam entertainment | |
| THVL1 | Vietnam dramas | |
| VTC1 | Vietnam news |
Frequently asked questions
How can I watch Vietnamese TV in the USA?
Diaspora channels such as SBTN have been carried by several US cable and satellite providers, and many broadcasters in Vietnam post shows on official apps and YouTube. TarakTV puts Vietnamese channels in one app from $15 a month, with a free 24-hour trial.
What is SBTN?
SBTN is a 24-hour Vietnamese-language network for the diaspora, founded in 2001 and based in Garden Grove, California. It carries news, culture, talk shows, music and entertainment.
Can I watch VTV channels in the US?
VTV channels such as VTV1, VTV3 and VTV4 are among the channels from Vietnam people look for, and they are commonly included with TarakTV. Check them in the free trial.
What time do Vietnamese dramas air in the US?
Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of Eastern time in winter, so an 8pm drama airs at 8am Eastern and 5am Pacific. Most people watch later with catch-up or replays.
Do I need cable for Vietnamese channels?
No. With an IPTV plan you only need internet and a device such as a Fire TV Stick, smart TV or a TVIP or Yoka TV box.
Why does my Vietnamese channel buffer?
Usually it is Wi-Fi. Aim for about 15 Mbps per screen for HD, restart the device and use an Ethernet cable if possible. If one channel is down, message support on WhatsApp.
Sources
TarakTV is an independent reseller and is not affiliated with the channels, leagues or broadcasters named on this page. Names are used only to describe what viewers look for. Check the rules where you live.