Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) serve an important role in the development of esophageal cancer (EC), which is the eighth most common type of cancer worldwide. lncRNA opa-interacting protein 5 antisense transcript 1 (OIP5-AS1) is associated with human malignancy. However, the biological roles of OIP5-AS1 in the development of EC remain unclear. In the present study, transfection was conducted, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blot analysis were used for the detection of mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to study the interaction between miRNA and lncRNA or genes. The results revealed that OIP5-AS1 expression in EC tissues and cultured EC cells was upregulated, microRNA-30a (miR-30a) expression was downregulated. OIP5-AS1-knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration and invasion of EC9706 and EC109 cells. miR-30a was confirmed to interact with OIP5-AS1, and miR-30a-mimics transfection ameliorated the effects of OIP5-AS1 in EC cells. Vesicular overexpressed in cancer prosurvival protein 1 (VOPP1) was verified as the direct target of miR-30a. VOPP1 expression was positively correlated with OIP5-AS1 expression in EC cells. Overexpression of VOPP1 ameliorated the negative effects of OIP5-AS1-knockdown on EC9706 and EC109 cells. In conclusion, OIP5-AS1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of EC cells by increasing VOPP1 expression by sponging miR-30a.