It's time people start paying attention to Vietnamese BL dramas. For a while, Vietnam was putting out gay content that felt… let's say experimental. Low budgets, questionable production quality… But things have been evolving. Recent Vietnamese BL series show way more polish and ambition. In fact, some series have gorgeous cinematography that rivals anything else in the genre. Other small studios might not have massive budgets or big-name stars, but they make up for it with genuine emotion.
There's a melancholy that runs through a lot of these series. Other countries offer fantasy worlds where everyone is rich and beautiful. Meanwhile, many Vietnamese BL dramas will slap you with reality. They tackle real-world issues. Homophobia, family rejection, societal pressure, financial struggles, the fear of coming out in a place that's not exactly welcoming. You're not getting escapism here. You're getting bittersweet love stories that challenge you and don't shy away from difficult topics.
You'll enjoy Vietnamese BL dramas if you like:
- Gritty melodramas that tackle difficult topics
- Bittersweet romances that show you the good and the bad
- Serious themes about family, money, and societal issues
I have compiled a list of Vietnamese BL series over the years. Read my reviews for more information about the plots, cast, and episode guides.
List of BL Dramas in Vietnam
2025 BL
2024 BL
2023 BL
2022 BL
2021 BL
2020 BL
Vietnamese BL Dramas in 2025
Some of the top Vietnamese BL dramas in 2025 include Hot Brother Next Door and My Sweet Brother in Law.
Fight for Love (2025)
Fight for Love is a Vietnamese BL series about a young aspiring musician. After a performance, the main character accidentally breaks a stranger's camera. They exchange contact information and keep in touch. Soon, they become coworkers, neighbours, and eventually friends. There's a romantic spark between them, but the protagonist already has a boyfriend. Even though he shuts down any advances, his would-be suitor continues to pursue him.
I'm incredibly underwhelmed by Fight for Love. The story is a hot mess, drowning in cliches and toxic tropes. The romance begins with the lead character behaving like a stalker, even after getting rejected. Their relationship never develops meaningfully, and the couple lacks chemistry. The series also wastes too much time on the manipulative ex-boyfriend. His toxic drama dominates the later episodes, making them so uncomfortable to watch.
Hot Brother Next Door (2025)
Hot Brother Next Door is a Vietnamese BL series about a heartbroken man reconnecting with his childhood friend. After a messy breakup, the main character needs a new place to live. He reaches out to his old neighbours, who help him settle down in a nearby apartment. The protagonist doesn't realize his buddy is now working for a criminal organization. In fact, there's a secret mission to target him and destroy his small business.
Even though the story is clunky and clichéd, I still enjoyed Hot Brother Next Door. I have a soft spot for these messy characters who make bad decisions. They're such scrappy underdogs that I want to root for them. A few plots did annoy me, such as the toxic girlfriend. The romance also takes forever to get going. Despite these flaws, I like the couple's chemistry. Both leads give charming performances and make their scenes so compelling.
My Little Ghost (2025)
My Little Ghost is a Vietnamese supernatural BL series about a haunted house. After moving into his new home, the main character is shocked to meet a mischievous ghost. This spirit had died tragically seven years ago, yet he can't move on because of unfinished business. The protagonist agrees to help him dig into his past. As one investigation leads to another, they uncover shocking secrets. Along the way, they grow closer than expected.
With a quirky supernatural premise, My Little Ghost shines when it focuses on the fantasy elements. It shows a lot of imagination. A few emotional moments make me feel deeply, especially since the two leads deliver strong performances. However, the story has an annoying habit of going full-blown soap opera. There's too much melodrama. And too many coincidences. The couple is very gentle with each other, but their romance feels a bit vanilla.
My Sweet Brother In Law (2025)
My Sweet Brother in Law is a Vietnamese BL series about a secret love affair. After hooking up with a guy from his university, the main character is shocked when they meet again in his family home. It was only supposed to be a one-night stand. Now, this same man wants to marry his sister. The protagonist tries to stop the wedding, but doing so would mean outing himself to his family. Despite all the risks, they continue sleeping together.
I love My Sweet Brother in Law as a campy little guilty pleasure. The forbidden romance between a man and his sister's fiancé kept me entertained. The story has so much cheeky humour and sexual tension. Both actors deliver charismatic performances, and the charming lead has transformed his character into such a fun villain. Unfortunately, I didn't like the cliffhanger ending. The soap opera melodrama just became too ridiculous in the last episode.
Vietnamese BL Dramas in 2024
The top Vietnamese BL drama in 2024 is Stand By Me.
Stand By Me (2024)
Stand By Me is a Vietnamese BL series about two childhood friends torn apart by a misunderstanding. The main character is a high school student who lives with his grandmother. He's shocked when his former best friend suddenly moves in after a massive fight with his parents. They haven't seen each other in seven years, and the protagonist still holds a grudge. As they share a home, the two of them must try to rebuild their broken bond.
My first impression of Stand By Me was positive. I liked the light comedy and quirky characters, which made the early episodes very enjoyable to watch. It reminded me of a cute little sitcom. The cast also handles the comedic material well. Plus, the production values are solid. However, the romance takes too long to develop. It also gets overshadowed by so much family melodrama near the end. The annoying conflict sucks the fun out of the series.
Vietnamese BL Dramas in 2023
My favourite Vietnamese BL drama in 2023 is Stormy Honeymoon.
Mr. Cinderella (2023)
Mr. Cinderella 2 is the sequel to the Vietnamese BL series, continuing the romance between a doctor and a reformed gangster. The second season begins years later after the leads have gotten married. They live in a luxurious home, enjoying domestic bliss. However, the protagonist's brother returns to reclaim his inheritance on the family property. This wily villain has a secret agenda and desperately wants to break up the couple.
My expectations for Mr. Cinderella 2 were nonexistent, but this awful sequel still manages to sink to a new low. The illogical story prioritizes idiotic twists and sensationalist melodrama over any semblance of realism. It loves perpetuating offensive tropes, toxic stereotypes, and morally depraved behaviour. The characters are reduced to evil caricatures without substance. While the lead actors are handsome, they can't salvage this vile BL series.
My Goofy Deskmate (2023)
My Goofy Deskmate is a Vietnamese slice-of-life high school BL series. The main character has a close rapport with his best friend. They spend all their time together and know each other's secrets. The other students joke that they act like a couple. Despite their familiarity, the protagonists have yet to define their ambiguous relationship. They must determine their feelings between brotherhood and love.
The aimless slice-of-life narrative hinders My Goofy Deskmate, which has too much frivolous filler. Some episodes only contain childish jokes instead of developing the characters or highlighting their relationships. While the plot may be lightweight, the series grows on me over time. I enjoy both couples with their playful antics. Nonetheless, this cute, cheerful BL drama isn't substantial enough to warrant a positive recommendation.
Oh My God (2023)
Oh My God is a Vietnamese BL series about a countryside romance. When the protagonist visits his grandmother in a rural town, he gets into an accident and clashes with a stranger. Their feud worsens after they must live in the same house together. Despite the heated conflict, the two enemies eventually put aside their differences. They hang out, form a bond, and navigate their feelings for each other.
For a first effort, Oh My God is a decent debut from a small indie studio. The beautiful outdoor filming and delicate acting performances leave a positive impression. Admittedly, the uneven story is rough around the edges. Instead of developing the attraction between the leads, it focuses on tired conflicts, silly jokes, and a scheming love rival. Nonetheless, the series ends strongly with an emotional and romantic finale.
Stormy Honeymoon (2023)
Stormy Honeymoon is the sequel to the Vietnamese BL series The Star Always Follows You. This short special episode continues the original story, following the couple as they return to living in the city. After falling in love, the main characters have recently gotten married. Yet, the newlyweds cannot enjoy their marital bliss. They struggle with their jealousy, self-doubt, and communication barriers.
Although Stormy Honeymoon is a sequel, you can understand the standalone love story without prior knowledge of The Star Always Follows You. Surprisingly, I enjoy the special more than the original series. It packs a cute, easygoing plot into a lighthearted half-hour episode. The narrative is carried by cheerful jokes, playful flirting, and enthusiastic performances. The satisfying ending promotes positive messages about healthy relationships.
Stupid Genius (2023)
Stupid Genius is a Vietnamese BL comedy about a group of high school students with poor academic grades. The main character and his friends consistently get the worst test scores in their class. Despite their notorious reputation, a new teacher wants to inspire them to take school more seriously. Some gifted classmates become mentors and give tutoring lessons. As they study together, the protagonists develop an attraction to each other.
The playful humour in Stupid Genius is hit-or-miss. Some cheerful moments charm me due to the lighthearted cheekiness. Yet, other childish jokes seem obnoxious, perpetuating the immaturity of this high school drama. The series has too many one-note characters and underdeveloped plots fighting for attention. Also, none of the juvenile romances feel serious. They resemble frivolous schoolboy crushes rather than complex love stories.
Vietnamese BL Dramas in 2022
The best Vietnamese BL dramas in 2022 include Love Bill.
Love Bill (2022)
Love Bill is a Vietnamese BL series about a runaway teenager and his older roommate. After clashing with his family, the rebellious protagonist deserts home with nowhere to go. An aspiring screenwriter allows the youth to live at his house as a renter. Although their relationship begins rockily, they build an intimate bond. As romantic feelings develop, they struggle with the age gap, class differences, and confusion over their sexuality.
A triumphant entry from Vietnam, Love Bill offers a complex romance with compelling main characters. The series shines whenever it focuses on the charming rapport between the quirky, energetic leads. The talented actors deliver stellar performances in both comedic and dramatic scenes. Although the narrative is unpolished, this moving love story can be as emotionally powerful as the best BL dramas.
The Promise (2022)
The Promise is a Vietnamese BL series about two stepbrothers and their budding romance. The feisty teenage protagonist has a rocky relationship with his older stepsibling. After getting into trouble at school, the main character is surprised when his nemesis shows sympathetic support. Their relationship improves, but they must navigate their vague and uneasy feelings for each other.
My aversion to stepbrother romances keeps me from embracing The Promise wholeheartedly. I'm also iffy about the constant cliches, convenient coincidences, and childish conflicts during the story. However, this BL series is undeniably well-produced, featuring beautiful visuals, dramatic music, and elegant artistry. The leads also give vibrant and poignant performances that elevate the material.
The Star Always Follows You (2022)
The Star Always Follows You is a Vietnamese BL series about a teenager who moves to the countryside. Due to his poor grades, the protagonist's mother brings her son to live with his grandmother in a rural village. She wants to remove him from the city's distractions before university entrance exams. He begins remedial lessons with a private tutor. As they grow closer, their sessions go from academic to romantic.
Carried by its countryside charm, The Star Always Follows You is a cozy and mellow BL drama lacking in excitement. This series contains several unique details, including sign language communication and a character with hearing impairment. However, the mundane plots, dull romances, and shallow protagonists don't inspire me. Too many boring storylines are vying for attention, leaving little development for the leads.
Want to See You (2022)
Want to See You is a Vietnamese BL series about a blind protagonist. After an accident, the main character loses his vision and requires long-term assistance. He hires a caretaker to look after him, but they clash over their headstrong personalities. The two leads must navigate emotional trauma, explosive family melodrama, and a volatile romantic relationship.
Occasionally, Want to See You displays powerful insights about living with vision impairment. The story portrays poignant emotions, moving exchanges, and the authentic struggles of having a disability. Yet, the outrageous plots and despicable characters often overpower the sentimental moments. Also, this messy BL series indulges in homophobia, misogyny, ableism, and many toxic tropes.
Vietnamese BL Dramas in 2021
Some of the best Vietnamese BL series in 2021 include Fools. There was also hype around the attractive leads in Mr. Cinderella, but the story can be controversial.
Fools (2021)
Fools is a Vietnamese BL series about three teenagers and the emotional drama on their high school graduation day. These best friends realize it's their last time together before parting ways for university. Instead of attending the official ceremony, they board a random bus and travel to wherever it takes them. Their memorable journey consists of angst, arguments, and adolescent love.
The first half of Fools is a calm, gentle coming-of-age journey with a tinge of melancholy. It explores the delicate transition to adulthood as you say goodbye to your teenage friends. The intense emotions explode in the second half. Although the story becomes hilariously melodramatic, the scenes are carried by engaging performances and entertaining confrontations.
Mr. Cinderella (2021)
Mr. Cinderella is a Vietnamese BL series about the unlikely romance between a doctor and a gangster. The leads come from different walks of life, but they meet over an incident with a stolen cell phone. After the gangster gets beaten up in a brawl, the doctor helps the injured patient with his recovery. As they share living arrangements, their relationship becomes a lot closer.
The nonsensical and melodramatic story prevents Mr. Cinderella from being enjoyable. The plot developments are too stupidly ridiculous. While I find the two leads attractive, their romance is patchy and incoherent. This series also suffers from several problematic scenes, obnoxious characters, and clunky flashbacks. The BL drama has the makings of a guilty pleasure, but it's ultimately a poor product that I can't endorse.
Old Vietnamese BL Dramas
If you are looking for the most famous Vietnamese BL dramas, some popular choices include Follow My Sunshine (2020).
Vietnamese BL Dramas in 2020
Follow My Sunshine (2020)
Follow My Sunshine is a Vietnamese BL series about a coming-of-age school romance. The story is about two childhood buddies who live together and attend the same university. The protagonist is in a relationship with his girlfriend, unaware his best friend has secret feelings for him. This love triangle intensifies as the characters sort through accusations, confessions, and poignant emotions.
Although the plot develops predictably, Follow My Sunshine is a decent campus romance with compelling adolescent drama. It has a solid start that establishes intriguing relationship dynamics and brewing tensions. The later episodes are rocky, not executing the melodrama and conflicts smoothly. Nonetheless, this well-rounded BL series is satisfying and enjoyable.