Affairs, family secrets in 1-minute episodes: Chinese microdramas hook Southeast Asia
"I don't know the main character's name. I don't know the show's title. But I just couldn't stop watching." Le Minh Anh, a 20-year-old university student, sat at a cafe in Hanoi on Monday and said she mindlessly watches Chinese microdramas whenever she has free time. She started with just a few Facebook videos, but the clips ended on cliffhangers, prompting her to install a dedicated app and…
In a Hanoi cafe, university student Le Minh Anh couldn't resist the allure of Chinese microdramas. These short, serial episodes captivate viewers with their intense plotlines and cliffhangers. Each show features intricate power struggles within wealthy families, hidden secrets, illicit affairs, and acts of revenge. Despite their low production values, these dramas have become an integral part of daily viewing routines in Vietnam and the Philippines, transcending any lingering anti-China sentiments.
Chinese platforms like DramaBox, ReelShort, and FreeReels dominate the Southeast Asian app market, boasting hundreds of millions of downloads worldwide.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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