Top 10 Most Successful Female Entrepreneurs in Vietnam

Recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in Vietnam and Asia, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has had a challenging yet successful career. Born in 1970 in Hanoi, she is currently the CEO of VietJet Air and the Vice Chairwoman of the Board at HDBank. With innovative vision and relentless effort, she has made VietJet Air one of the largest private airlines in Vietnam, providing affordable and high-quality flight services. Thao began her career in the 1990s in the financial sector and has demonstrated her talent and capability. Under her excellent leadership, VietJet Air has experienced significant growth and become an icon of dynamism and creativity within a decade.

Not only successful in business, Thao is also a shining example for female entrepreneurs in the country. On March 9, 2017, Forbes magazine announced its list of female billionaires in the world for 2017, recognizing Phuong Thao as the first female billionaire from Vietnam and Southeast Asia, with an estimated net worth of around $1.7 billion. Additionally, Bloomberg has also named her one of the top 50 global leaders in 2018, alongside global figures such as the President of South Africa, the Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, the CFO of Microsoft, and the Foreign Minister of Canada.

She also places great importance on philanthropic activities and has made significant contributions to the community and social initiatives. With her contributions and achievements, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is one of the most admirable female entrepreneurs in Vietnam and a prime example of relentless pursuit and dedication to achieving success.

With her leadership experience and bold strategic vision, Ms. Thai Huong has helped TH Group become one of the largest conglomerates in Vietnam today. She is the Chairwoman of the Strategic Council of TH Group and has made breakthrough decisions to help the conglomerate overcome challenges in a fiercely competitive business environment, making her one of the most influential businesswomen in Vietnam. She leads TH True Milk to become the largest milk brand in Vietnam, with self-sufficiency in building its own raw material supply for TH True Milk production.

Ms. Thai Huong is also a Vice Chairwoman and CEO of Bac A Bank, turning Bac A Bank into one of the leading private banks in Vietnam. She has contributed to the development of the private banking sector in Vietnam. When Bac A Bank was newly established with a capital of only 20 billion VND, under Ms. Thai Huong's leadership, Bac A Bank now has a mobilized capital of up to 3 trillion VND.

Not only skilled in leadership, but in charity work, she is also one of the largest sponsors for education and scientific research programs in Vietnam. With vision and social responsibility, she has contributed to the sustainable development of the country. She is one of Vietnam's most successful entrepreneurs and has been honored by Forbes magazine.

Mai Kieu Lien is one of the most influential businesswomen in Vietnam. Currently, she holds the position of Director of Vietnam Dairy Company (Vinamilk). After 45 years with Vinamilk, she leaves a strong imprint in the role of a talented female leader and inspiration. Not only successful domestically, Ms. Lien has been voted one of the best CEOs in Asia for investor relations due to her business talent and dedication.

Born in Paris, France on September 1, 1953, into an educated Vietnamese family, both of her parents were doctors. In 1957, her family decided to return to Vietnam to contribute to the country. She studied at Trung Vuong School - Hanoi during wartime. When the city area became dangerous, she had to evacuate to the countryside and study by the Red River bank. After graduating from high school, she went to the Soviet Union to study dairy and meat processing in Moscow. Upon returning home, she was appointed CEO of Vietnam Dairy Company at the age of 31. Since then, she has successfully developed the Vinamilk brand closer to many domestic consumers and 23 other countries. Recently, she has announced detailed plans for Vinamilk's development vision by 2025, focusing on high-quality products and expanding the international market. In addition, she also cares about social and environmental issues. Under her leadership, Vinamilk has committed to protecting the environment and community, contributing to charitable and educational activities.

With the leadership of Mai Kieu Lien, Vinamilk has become a leading enterprise in Vietnam and the world with a series of prestigious awards and titles. She has affirmed her important role in developing Vinamilk into a leading milk brand, with a commitment to protecting the environment and community. Mai Kieu Lien's career not only contributes to Vietnam's economic development but also inspires many young generations with passion and aspirations to become wealthy through their own intelligence and efforts.

Ms. Cao Thi Ngoc Dung is a renowned entrepreneur, honored by the jewelry industry with the title “Golden General of Fashion Jewelry.” She is the Chairwoman of the Board and CEO of Phu Nhuan Jewelry Company, a leading jewelry enterprise in Vietnam with a network of 160 jewelry stores worldwide. She also leads other businesses such as Dong A Bank and Dong A Real Estate Company.

With the support and encouragement of the regional gold council in Asia, Ms. Cao Thi Ngoc Dung has propelled the Phu Nhuan Jewelry brand to remarkable development in both domestic and international markets. She conceived the idea and pursued the path of industrializing the handmade jewelry industry, overcoming numerous challenges to achieve total assets of 2,500 billion VND.

With her achievements, Ms. Cao Thi Ngoc Dung has been recognized by Forbes as one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Asia. The PNJ brand under her leadership is highly regarded as a diamond testing unit with quality on par with the leading American appraiser GIA.

Ms. Pham Thi Viet Nga is one of the most courageous and successful 'female generals' in Vietnam, likened to the soul of Hau Giang Pharmacy, a leading pharmaceutical company in Vietnam with an annual revenue of nearly 3000 billion dong and about 3000 employees. Her leadership secret is valuing people, nurturing talents, building a united and responsible workforce that is effective from top to bottom.

Ms. Pham Thi Viet Nga was born in 1951 in Can Tho city, a pharmacist by profession, and holds a doctorate in economics. She has been associated with Hau Giang Pharmacy since 1988 when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, but thanks to her leadership and guidance, the company has become the largest pharmaceutical company in Vietnam, and its reputation has reached overseas markets due to her savvy strategies. She has led the company to success by focusing on research, development, and production of high-quality medical and pharmaceutical products, while also building a strong, cohesive team of employees who are ready to overcome challenges.

With her success, the 'steel rose' Pham Thi Viet Nga has been voted by Forbes as one of the most powerful businesswomen in Asia and honored as one of the most powerful women in Asia. Ms. Nga has become an icon for women in Vietnam and around the world, as well as a great inspiration in igniting the talents, capabilities, and determination of young people, especially young women. She is a shining example for those who believe in dreams and strive to overcome difficulties to achieve success. Ms. Nga has proven to us that with effort and determination, nothing is impossible, and anyone can achieve their goals.

Women in business are not uncommon, however, achieving dominance in the market is no easy feat. Nguyen Bach Diep, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of FPT Digital Retail Joint Stock Company, is no exception. She has been associated with FPT from her student days to the present, going through many subsidiary companies and a challenging journey to become the CEO of FPT Retail in 2012.

Thanks to her keenness, perseverance, and relentless spirit of learning and advancement, Nguyen Bach Diep has transformed FPT Retail from 17 modest stores into the second-largest chain of retail stores for digital products in Vietnam, with nearly 800 stores spanning from North to South. In addition, her Long Chau pharmacy chain has also experienced rapid growth in just 2 years and now has over 1000 stores nationwide. Ms. Nguyen Bach Diep was honored in the '50 most influential women in Vietnam' list by Forbes Vietnam in 2019 and is one of two Vietnamese representatives included in Forbes magazine's top 25 most powerful women in Asia in 2020.

However, for Nguyen Bach Diep, life is an ongoing race with herself. She always sets new goals to challenge herself and continue to develop. She believes that current success is only a stepping stone to achieve new goals in the future.

Mrs. Truong Thi Le Khanh, Chairwoman of the Board and CEO of Vinh Hoan Corporation, is considered one of the leading powerful businesswomen in Vietnam. Before assuming her current role, she held various positions in import-export companies and commercial enterprises, demonstrating her diversity and flexibility in work. Additionally, she is highly regarded for her experience and competence in the import-export business field.

In 1997, after years of accumulating experience and learning, she decided to establish her own company, which is Vinh Hoan Corporation (VHC). Initially, Vinh Hoan did not have its own production base, but Mrs. Khanh boldly rented a factory from Sa Giang Company to start her entrepreneurial journey with only 300 million VND in capital and 70 workers. The early days of Vinh Hoan were truly challenging, but with her dedication and exceptional leadership talent, she transformed Vinh Hoan Corporation into the largest producer and exporter of tra and basa fish in Vietnam, with production and export volume reaching hundreds of thousands of tons annually.

From the initial difficulties and failures in business, Truong Thi Le Khanh has become an inspiring example for young people in Vietnam, especially young women, with the message that no matter where you start, with effort and perseverance, everything can become a reality. She has been awarded numerous prestigious awards and honors from business organizations and the government, as well as being regarded as one of the most famous and talented businesswomen in Vietnam.

Entrepreneur Nguyen Thi Nga always strives to achieve her goals in every endeavor. She emphasizes the importance of careful preparation and optimizing results. She is one of the most influential female leaders in Vietnam, currently serving as Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at SeaBank and Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the ERG Group.

In 1993, Nguyen Thi Nga and her husband founded the BRG Group - one of the largest diversified investment groups in Vietnam today. Under her leadership, the BRG Group has been a pioneer in various fields, from golf, hotels, real estate to banking, import-export, retail, tourism, and agriculture. Nguyen Thi Nga became Chairwoman of SeABank's Board of Directors in 2006 and is currently the Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at SeABank. With her dedication and contributions, Nguyen Thi Nga has become a source of inspiration for businesswomen, encouraging them to confidently build businesses and contribute to the country's socio-economic development.

Nguyen Thi Nga is one of the most successful and admired female leaders in the business and management field in Vietnam. She has demonstrated her talent and experience through the establishment and development of the ERG Group. Nguyen Thi Nga will continue to be a role model and a great source of motivation for young entrepreneurs and women in Vietnam, with her successes and contributions to the country's development and society.

Tran Thi Le is one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in Vietnam, currently serving as the CEO of NutiFood Group. She is considered a major contributor to the development of the dairy industry in Vietnam. Born in 1974 in Nghe An, Tran Thi Le began her career in 1995 while still a student at the University of Foreign Trade. After graduation, she worked for several large companies such as Unilever, FrieslandCampina, and Fonterra. The years of accumulated experience helped her acquire knowledge and business management skills.

In 2003, Tran Thi Le and her husband founded NutiFood company, with the goal of providing high-quality dairy products to the domestic market. However, the company faced many difficulties and initially did not achieve much success. But with perseverance, courage, and insightful vision, Tran Thi Le led NutiFood to overcome challenges, develop strongly, and become one of the leading dairy corporations in Vietnam with famous brands such as NutiMilk, NutiFood, and Wake-up. Besides business, Tran Thi Le is a renowned philanthropist, regularly participating in social activities and supporting educational, healthcare, and environmental initiatives. She established the NutiFood Charity Fund with the aim of helping the poor, disabled children, and environmental protection activities.

Tran Thi Le is a determined, dynamic woman with a strong sense of social responsibility. She has become an icon for young women in Vietnam, as well as a great source of inspiration in igniting the talents and capacities of the youth. With her achievements and contributions, Tran Thi Le has been recognized as one of the most successful female entrepreneurs in Vietnam. She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Vietnamese Businesswoman Award from Vietnam Entrepreneur Magazine and the Talented Entrepreneur Award from the National Economics Institute.

When discussing successful female entrepreneurs in the field of science and technology in Vietnam, it is impossible not to mention Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh, known as the 'Steel Rose' of REE Corporation. With perseverance in overcoming difficulties, she founded the leading electrical and mechanical group REE when she was just 33 years old, at a particularly difficult time when the country had just experienced war and transitioned to peacetime. Although she relinquished the highest position, she remains one of the wealthiest female entrepreneurs on the Vietnamese stock market, with an approximate total asset of 3,000 billion VND. Her influence remains significant despite her withdrawal to the background. Therefore, Mrs. Thanh is a shining example for the younger generation in terms of spirit in conquering difficulties and achieving commendable achievements like a female general.

After graduating in electrical engineering from Karl-Marx-Stadt University (Germany) in 1982, Mrs. Thanh joined REE as an engineer. Since 1985, she has become a leader of the company. With the qualities of a talented general, not stopping at the current level in the M&E field and becoming a distributor for many technology brands in the 90s, Mrs. Thanh harbored the intention of producing air conditioners. Thanks to her overseas experience, the female leader found reputable suppliers of components and imported equipment. This was also the first company listed on the Vietnam stock exchange in 2000. Mrs. Thanh has been steering the REE ship through ups and downs, and the vision of the leader has helped the company achieve many great successes. With the right strategy and Mrs. Thanh's touch, the REE Refrigeration and Electrical Engineering Corporation is one of the leading units in the industry with the most prosperous development in sectors such as real estate, utility infrastructure such as electricity, water, and refrigeration and electrical engineering with a market capitalization exceeding 200 million USD.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh's success not only stems from excellent business activities, but also because she is a woman devoted to building communities and helping the less fortunate. Her charitable activities have brought real value to society, highly appreciated by many people. Thanks to her success and positive contributions to society, Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh is a shining example for Vietnamese women. Her story not only affirms the talent and effort of an entrepreneur, but also reflects love and responsibility for the country and the people of Vietnam.