Top 7 Most Inspiring and Meaningful Startup Stories.

Three 8x friends decided to venture into the F&B industry while holding high-paying, attractive jobs, unwilling to let go of their life's dream. Recently, Trương Thoại Yến submitted her resignation from her marketing and communications management position at a renowned five-star hotel in Saigon. At the same time, several enticing offers came her way. With experience at high-end resorts and luxury design and construction groups, Yến had been in demand for managerial roles with lucrative salaries. However, she chose a new path.

Yến met her close friend, Lai Hồng Lĩnh. At that time, Lĩnh and his cousin Nguyễn Thế Hiếu were investing in a commercial project but faced challenges with no clear direction forward. Driven by friendship, Yến wanted to help Lĩnh resolve the issues. She proposed a new model, switching to the F&B sector. Lĩnh and Hiếu immediately saw the potential in the project. As they discussed it further, the model became clearer. After hours and months of research, Yến felt deeply connected to the project. After much contemplation, the 1989-born Yến decided to take a leap of faith and co-found the startup with her two friends.

Yến wasn't the only one making a difficult and risky decision in her life, having already established a safe career path with potential growth. When Yến approached him, Hiếu decided to change his career direction as well. He left his management position at a state-owned company, where he earned thousands of USD monthly. Initially, Hiếu planned to juggle both jobs. But when he felt ready to break free and trust his decision, he resigned, despite the doubts and objections from family, friends, and colleagues.

“Out of 10 people, all 10 were unsupportive,” he recalls. After more than a decade in a stable environment with little struggle, good finances, and a bright future, Hiếu realized that beneath the calm surface, there were hidden challenges. Born in 1983, Hiếu longed to build something of his own, something he could create and grow. He took risks, but it was a calculated risk, with reasons of his own.

Lĩnh's case was different. As a top student in Business Administration at the University of Economics and Law in Ho Chi Minh City, his intelligence and sharpness hadn't been fully utilized in his family’s business at the National University urban area in Thủ Đức. Despite holding a master's degree, Lĩnh constantly faced skepticism from those around him.

“No matter how hard I worked in my family business, people always said it wasn’t really mine, but my parents’. We’re always told to ignore what others say, but in reality, it’s hard to do,” Lĩnh shares. He admits that he once felt arrogant due to the privileges life gave him. But over time, he began to sense an emptiness, a sadness surrounding him. Lĩnh realized that he wanted to create something of his own to prove to others, and to himself, that he could stand on his own two feet.

The three of them united over a disruptive business idea that would reshape their lives. Yến says everything felt like a gust of wind pulling them in at the moment when she realized that the idea could help her two friends succeed, fitting both their financial conditions and existing capabilities. But she never imagined she would leave her comfortable job for it.

“At that time, I was living with a high salary, everything was great, I could shop freely, but I felt uneasy. Every day when I came home, I felt this energy building up inside me, and I couldn’t release it. I felt like I was aging and needed something to break through.” It wasn’t easy to let go of the secure position many people desire. But when they sat together, Yến, Hiếu, and Lĩnh unknowingly began building a dream. Eventually, they realized that nothing in life mattered more than their own dreams.

They chose to enter the F&B sector, a highly competitive and high-risk industry. It required significant capital, and reaching the break-even point would take time. “In this industry, if you succeed, it may take at least one year to break even, but if you’re slow, it could take two years, even five or ten years,” Yến explains.

They targeted a niche market, even though consumers had countless choices. Drawing inspiration from the Speakeasy model, a secretive entertainment venue from early 20th-century America, they transformed a small alley on Pasteur Street in District 1 into a lounge-style restaurant blending classic British and modern American elements. Throughout the space, images of dreams were showcased with inspiring phrases and symbols of the moon’s phases, representing the gradual realization of dreams.

Named in English to mean “a small space for big dreams,” the founders aimed to inspire and share their story with those who have dreams, are dreaming, or always want to chase their dreams. Not only did they focus on serving high-quality food and drinks, but they also aimed to evoke emotions and tap into the desires that lie deep within every person. Their story served as proof that following and persevering in one’s dream could lead to success.

After nearly four months of operation, they had built a loyal customer base. But there was still much work ahead. All three co-founders understood that surviving in such a competitive market was far from easy, as competitive advantages could quickly become outdated. What gave them the most confidence was their passion and the harmony within the team.

“We’re the perfect trio,” Yến jokes. She explains that the three of them have different personalities, strengths, backgrounds, and expertise, allowing them to complement each other. Hiếu, with many years of experience in various positions at his former company, is strong in accounting, finance, and human resources, making him the CEO. Yến, energetic, bold, and with a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, developed the project’s concept. Meanwhile, Lĩnh, always passionate, supported and contributed to every other aspect, despite his busy family business.

“I believe that in any work, you need complementing skills to create a perfect partnership. If we were all the same, things could fall apart quickly,” Yến explains.

In just six months, their lives had changed in different ways. Hiếu often faced headaches over financial problems related to the survival of the project, as any startup would. Lĩnh regularly traveled between District 1 and Thủ Đức, nearly 20 km apart. Yến couldn’t spend freely as she did before and had to carefully manage her expenses while constantly seeking ways to attract more customers. Stepping out of their comfort zones, each of them faced significant changes in their lives. But this was exactly what they had anticipated. They never once doubted or looked back because they knew that without action, no dream would ever come true.

Phạm Anh Cường (Cường Steward) is determined to support and retain purely Vietnamese start-ups. As a pioneer in founding one of the first private start-up incubators 'made in Vietnam,' Cường is passionate about elevating and keeping local start-ups in the country.

Born into a family with a strong business background, everything Cường has achieved today is the result of his own hard work. 'Since the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve never asked my parents for a single penny,' he recalls. In his third year at university, Cường was one of the top students at Foreign Trade University, winning a scholarship to study in Japan. During his time in Japan, he developed a love for Kamibana, the traditional art of paper flowers, and decided to start a business with six partners upon returning home. Unfortunately, due to a misguided development strategy and lack of leadership skills, the project failed after a year. Putting his entrepreneurial dreams on hold, Cường began his career in various roles, working in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. He held positions ranging from export-import officer, banker, ASEAN market manager at a tech corporation, to director of a large real estate company.

A pivotal moment in Cường's career was when, after just two months as a department head, he was promoted to director at the age of 25. 'Whenever I face challenges, that memory helps me believe in myself,' Cường says. But just a year later, he decided to quit his job and establish BestB, reviving his paper flower project under the new name Flower Farm. 'I want to show people that Flower Farm is my brainchild and will become a model start-up,' the young entrepreneur confidently declares.

To popularize this product, Cường launched the '10,000 VND Class,' where he taught students how to fold paper flowers. The 10,000 VND fee covered venue rental and materials, while the course’s popularity spread among students, creating a trend and helping Flower Farm reach distribution channels. Today, Flower Farm is one of the most successful projects within BestB, providing many job opportunities for vocational school students. Cường has also expanded Flower Farm into an e-commerce platform selling fresh flowers from shops to consumers via an app. As a result, Flower Farm was ranked among the top 25 most notable Vietnamese start-ups in 2017, proving Cường’s abilities.

Now, BestB’s portfolio includes several promising start-ups, such as the e-commerce platform Lovely Life, the hotel-tourism platform ManMo, the logistics platform Shipcucnhanh, and the recruitment platform Vjobs...

From 'Zero-Cost Marketing'...

At 30 years old, what Cường Steward and BestB have accomplished is no small feat. Smiling confidently, the 8x entrepreneur shares: 'Everyone thinks there’s a powerful financial force behind our incubator, but the truth is when BestB started, I had nothing.' 'Happiness is helping many people, and success is uplifting many people. Investing in and nurturing start-ups is my mission.'

...To a 30 Billion VND Investment Fund

Open and sincere, Cường Steward doesn’t like to talk much about himself. In conversations, he often shifts the focus to BestB and his collaborators. He proudly talks about Nguyễn Thu Phương, a third-year business student who now leads the operation of two start-ups, Flower Farm (which Cường transferred to her) and Lovely Life (a project Phương founded). 'At BestB, I’m just an inspiration,' Cường humbly says. This leadership approach stems from values he learned during his time in Japan. 'When people mention Apple, they think of Steve Jobs and Tim Cook; when they mention Facebook, they think of Mark Zuckerberg... But in the Top 10 of Japan, it’s different. When I interned there, they didn’t introduce themselves by name, but simply said, 'I am from Honda.' The Japanese define their mission as creating national value, working not for the boss but for the country,' Cường shares.

Having absorbed these values, Cường Steward decided to build BestB with the goal of creating a lasting legacy. 'I believe BestB’s mission is to inspire a new generation of businesses to give their all and contribute,' Cường says. He also reveals that many investment funds have approached him, hoping to have BestB incubate and later invest in promising projects, but he refuses to be in a position of being 'hunted.' 'The start-ups I nurture are 'Made in Vietnam,' but when foreign funds invest, they often come with conditions that the brand must be brought to their country for funding to be released, turning the Vietnamese company into a branch. I don’t want that,' Cường explains. This is why he decided to raise capital from several local businesses, successfully launching BestB Capital with a fund of 30 billion VND at the end of 2018. BestB Capital will focus on five sectors: fintech, agritech, edutech, medtech, and small and medium-sized businesses with potential for growth and export.

At the age of 18, Đặng Hồng Anh, the young heir, launched a small bánh canh (noodle soup) shop with a modest initial capital of only 5 million VND. He took on both the roles of the boss and employee, serving customers and even handling the cleaning. Despite being born into a wealthy family, the son of Đặng Văn Thành, Chairman of Thành Thành Công Group, Đặng Hồng Anh shared his story of starting with just 5 million VND, selling bánh canh, plants, and steel. Born on March 10, 1980, he grew up during a time when his father’s business empire was thriving, and Thành Thành Công Group, a leading sugar conglomerate, became a household name.

However, Đặng Hồng Anh, known as the “young heir,” worked hard to gain experience. At times, he faced bitter setbacks. He recalled how his father urged him to continue working, learning the value of money. “To earn 6,000 VND, the work is difficult and challenging. It taught me to truly appreciate money earned by hard work,” he said. Later, Đặng Hồng Anh moved on to selling plants and steel, gradually accumulating valuable business experience. His father’s philosophy was clear: to understand the difference between money earned through personal effort and money given freely, and the hardships involved in earning even a small sum.

At 22, after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from Hùng Vương University in Ho Chi Minh City, Đặng Hồng Anh joined the family business, Thành Thành Công, as Vice Director (2002-2004). His significant career milestone came in 2004 when he switched to the real estate industry, becoming the CEO of Saigon Thuong Tin Real Estate (Sacomreal) and later its Chairman. This was when the real challenges began. At such a young age, the weight of the responsibility was immense, but after much contemplation, he agreed to take on the leadership role. Within just a few years, he transformed Sacomreal from a company with an initial capital of 11 billion VND into a giant, worth over 1,000 billion VND upon listing. When it went public, Sacomreal was considered one of the most powerful forces in the real estate market.

In 2010, Đặng Hồng Anh was listed among the top 100 wealthiest people on the stock market. He attributed his success to both inheriting and expanding the family business culture. His father, Đặng Văn Thành, was his primary role model, mentor, and inspiration. At 38, Đặng Hồng Anh had gained 20 years of business experience. However, his journey was not without setbacks. In 2012, the family faced turbulence with Sacombank and Sacomreal amid the collapse of major banks. Rumors even spread about the possibility of his father and him being imprisoned. While these rumors were unfounded, they were accompanied by real financial struggles. By the end of 2012, both father and son had stepped down from the Sacombank board, and the family was left with a 1,600 billion VND debt. The name Đặng Văn Thành was removed from the list of the wealthiest people in Vietnam’s stock market, and Đặng Hồng Anh fell to 67th place.

At that time, Sacomreal also faced severe challenges as the real estate market froze. Huge profits were replaced by losses, and Đặng Hồng Anh’s name seemed to disappear from the real estate market. However, after a period of silence, the father and son duo made a comeback with renewed vigor. By the end of 2017, Thành Thành Công Group raised its stake in Sacomreal to 36%. On March 29th, 2018, Sacomreal officially rebranded as TTC Land. The company is projected to release nearly 3,000 apartments to the market in 2018, with expected revenue of about 2,000 billion VND and pre-tax profits estimated at over 300 billion VND.

After a successful launch and initial achievements, Goky Tea has garnered enthusiastic support from the younger generation. The first authentic Japanese milk tea brand in Hanoi continues to expand with numerous new locations throughout the city. Goky Tea is closely tied to the inspiring entrepreneurial journey of a handsome young man born in '97, who dared to dream big and take action.

In recent years, milk tea has become a popular beverage, dominating the youth culture and ranking among the top favorite snacks. True to its name, milk tea offers a sweet and familiar taste that brings joy from the very first sip. It is commonly served with chewy pearls and a variety of flavors, allowing customers to customize their experience.

By understanding the preferences of young people and recognizing the trend for high-quality milk tea in unique settings, Trần Minh Quân met individuals who shared his vision of blending Japanese tea culture with Vietnam's street food tradition. With the help of experienced mentors, Minh Quân launched the first-ever Japanese-style milk tea brand in Hanoi—Goky Tea.

After an initial period of success, Goky Tea has continued to thrive, receiving widespread praise from the youth. With a commitment to delivering the essence of Japanese tea in every cup and adhering to the philosophy of 'serving with excellence,' the brand's recognition from loyal fans and winning the 'Best Product' award at the 2016 International Intellectual Property Institute ceremony affirmed its growing reputation.

At just 15 years old, Trần Minh Quân had already started managing small businesses. With limited capital, he proved himself through early successes in various ventures, including managing Grace Models, GIME Solution, Goky Milk Tea, and even expanding into cafes and fashion brands.

By the end of 2015, Minh Quân gained widespread attention on social media for his impressive business acumen and substantial income at only 18 years old. His entrepreneurial spirit helped him overcome challenges and pursue his business ambitions. Today, Minh Quân is also known as a model manager and a popular figure in Hanoi's youth culture.

Minh Quân pursued a degree in Brand Management at the University of Commerce, where he excelled academically, earning top marks. He continuously enhanced his skills both in the classroom and in real-world business applications. Despite his busy schedule, he efficiently balanced his academic commitments with his entrepreneurial endeavors, receiving invaluable support from friends and a dedicated team of employees, all contributing to the success of Goky Tea.

With his early success, the young '97-born entrepreneur hopes to inspire other students and youth with his honest message: 'At the age of 18-25, it's okay to make mistakes. Every mistake is a valuable lesson, a treasure for you. If you pour your heart into whatever you do or any business you truly care about, you can achieve dreams others might think impossible. At that point, everything in life can become an art form.'

Witnessing his father’s severe illness and the inability of their family to raise the 2 million VND required for treatment, 16-year-old Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ vowed: 'One day, I will change the fate of my entire family!' In the 1990s, Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ, a medical student at Tây Nguyên University, was well-known for his big dreams that stretched beyond Vietnam’s borders. Realizing that medicine couldn’t fulfill his ambitions, he dropped out in his third year and set out for Ho Chi Minh City with nothing but the name and address of an uncle he had never met, promising not to return until he had succeeded. After receiving valuable advice from his uncle, he briefly returned to school but remained determined to pursue business. With Vietnam being the second-largest coffee exporter in the world, yet its coffee virtually unknown internationally, he realized the potential to create the world’s best coffee. Despite skepticism from peers, he set out to learn everything about coffee, even visiting famous traders across Vietnam to gain knowledge. Today, the 'dreamer' many had mocked has become a successful entrepreneur, turning his goal of improving his family’s life into reality. In 2002, realizing it was time for Trung Nguyên to expand internationally, Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ invested 3 million USD to solidify the brand’s image and opened the first Trung Nguyên coffee shop in Tokyo. Though he faced challenges against global coffee giant Starbucks, Trung Nguyên’s success in Japan helped fuel its international expansion into markets like Thailand, Singapore, China, and the Czech Republic. With products like G7 instant coffee, Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ made a bold move to challenge international giants and take pride in his Vietnamese brand. He believes in building a strong national brand to elevate Vietnam’s global reputation, seeing himself as a soldier for Vietnamese business, dedicated to changing the country's economic landscape. Today, Trung Nguyên’s global reach and success speak to his relentless commitment to quality and his vision for a Vietnamese cultural presence in the international marketplace.

Đức was born into a poor farming family with many siblings. His mother worked tirelessly in the fields to support the education of her nine children, relying on meals made from cassava and potatoes. Young Đoàn Nguyên Đức spent his days guiding the buffaloes to the fields, dreaming in the green corn patches and wind-filled kites. At that time, his only wish was to have enough money to study, excel academically, pass university, and escape poverty. For ten years, he worked the fields, pulling plows, tilling soil, enduring the harsh sun and wind that darkened his skin, fueling his determination to rise above his circumstances. In 1982, during his senior year, Đoàn Nguyên Đức traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to take the university entrance exams, carrying with him the hopes of his entire family and his childhood ambitions. However, his academic journey didn't unfold as he expected.

For 20 consecutive years, Bầu Đức worked relentlessly, without taking a single day off. He was so focused on making money that he seemed to forget about himself, as if trying to repay the debts of life and his impoverished childhood. He often felt a strange connection with Bill Gates, the billionaire who found success not through academic achievement but through his entrepreneurial path. Bầu Đức said, 'And I realized that my university was life itself.'

The familiar sight of palm trees and coconut trees brought a bittersweet feeling whenever Bầu Đức returned to his hometown. Memories of both joyful and sorrowful moments flooded back. 'At that moment, I felt like my younger self, leading the buffalo to the fields, preparing to plow the soon-to-be-harvested land,' said Bầu Đức. Forty years have passed, and now, he is at the helm of the Hoàng Anh Gia Lai Group, worth tens of billions of dong, owning a famous football club with renowned players. Yet, Bầu Đức still doesn't allow himself to rest. He continues working day and night, as if trying to repay life's debts and, more importantly, to fulfill the ambitions of a Vietnamese entrepreneur. He wants to accomplish what many entrepreneurs around the world are striving for.

His ultimate aspiration is to be listed among the world's billionaires, not just be a wealthy individual in Vietnam. 'Of course, dreams are just dreams, but I believe that all dedicated entrepreneurs aiming for wealth aspire to this, not just for personal honor, but for the pride of our nation,' Bầu Đức said.

At over forty, with his career flourishing and money no longer a concern, Bầu Đức now dedicates more time to realizing his aspirations. In 2008, for the first time, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai's shares were listed on the stock exchange. With over 55% of the shares, Bầu Đức became the wealthiest person on the Vietnamese stock market in 2008, according to VnExpress.net.

Despite the global financial crisis, under the leadership of Chairman Đoàn Nguyên Đức, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai achieved impressive results, with profits reaching 1.7 trillion dong in 2009. Bầu Đức recalled that in 2008, when the economy seemed bleak and the outlook grim, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai set a modest profit goal of 1.15 trillion dong for 2009. However, once immersed in the battle, he saw numerous opportunities and niches to exploit, leading to remarkable success. 'The results were impressive; we did it and reached 1.7 trillion dong in profits,' said Đức.

He shared that throughout his business life, he had never faced such difficulties as in 2008 and 2009. The 2008 financial market was dreadful, and in 2009, the difficulties hadn't subsided. Many businesses were struggling, and the global economy was in disarray. Bầu Đức was genuinely pessimistic and at times thought about giving up. In July 2008, when seeing many major global corporations announce bankruptcy, he was overwhelmed with worry, feeling that the crisis was creeping closer to him.

In Vietnam, businesses were also in turmoil. The stock market plunged, the VN-index was searching for a bottom, and the real estate market was frozen. Many companies were sinking deeper into losses. Bầu Đức understood that in such a situation, even the most talented could feel confused, so he declared a state of emergency at Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, presenting various contingency plans. Business strategies and profit targets were continuously adjusted. Thanks to timely and effective decisions, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai emerged from the crisis early and maintained its operations.

In its 2010 business plan, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai projected a pre-tax profit of 2.5 to 3 trillion dong. The company was accelerating the implementation of many projects, including the An Tiến Residential Area project (Nhà Bè, Ho Chi Minh City), Riverview, Phú Hoàng Anh, Nguyễn Hữu Thọ street in Ho Chi Minh City, and several others in Da Nang, Dak Lak, and Gia Lai. Today, Bầu Đức is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in Vietnam, with an estimated fortune exceeding 11 trillion dong. His success is certainly not just due to his 'failure to enter university,' as he mentioned. It is the result of long-term effort, sharp vision, and insightful business thinking.

If you're already at the finish line, it's a stroke of luck, but beyond that, there's nothing. You need to put in effort and fight every day. This is undoubtedly true for Phạm Nhật Vượng, and it might be his life’s motto. Born in August 1968 into a poor family with three siblings, his father was an air defense officer in Northern Vietnam, and his mother sold goods on the streets. Phạm Nhật Vượng became the first Vietnamese billionaire listed on the stock market on March 7, 2011, with a total net worth of approximately 21,200 billion VND (about 1 billion USD at that time).

Vượng was first recognized by Forbes in 2013, ranking 974th in the world with a net worth of 1.5 billion USD, and by March 2014, his wealth had risen to 1.6 billion USD. He was the first Vietnamese billionaire to appear on Forbes' list and also among the top 20 emerging personalities of 2013.

However, reaching such success was no easy feat. Vietnam’s wealthiest man faced many ups and downs and worked various jobs. In 1987, due to his outstanding performance in mathematics, he earned a scholarship to study in Moscow, where he majored in economics and geology at the Moscow Institute of Geology.

He began his entrepreneurial journey by opening a restaurant at 5 Aminevskoe highway, a popular area for the Vietnamese community in the 1990s. After marriage, he moved to Kharkov, borrowed 10,000 USD, and then moved to Kiev to open another restaurant named Việt Nam Thăng Long. On August 8, 1993, he founded the Mivina brand and started producing instant noodles after borrowing 10,000 USD from his Vietnamese friends and additional loans from the European Bank to expand production into other products such as dried herbs, potato powder, and soups. The appearance of Mivina instant noodles in 1995 was well-timed and quickly gained popularity in Ukraine.

Within a year, Phạm Nhật Vượng sold 1 million packets of noodles. By 2004, the consumption of Mivina noodles in Ukraine had reached a record high, with 97% of consumers using the brand. The name Mivina became synonymous with fast food in Ukraine. In 2010, the Swiss company Nestlé bought Technocom – the company founded by Vượng in 1993 – for 150 million USD.

At that point, Technocom had two factories in Kharkov, with an annual revenue of 100 million USD and 1,900 employees. Its products were exported to 20 countries, including Russia, the Baltic States, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Poland, and Romania. During 1997-1998, Vượng shared that his goal was to make 2 million USD and retire from business, but he did not stop there. Instead, he returned to Vietnam to expand his business further.

In 2000, while managing his business in Ukraine, Vượng opened two companies in Vietnam. He began profiting from Ukrainian investments in real estate in Vietnam after founding Vinpearl in 2000 and Vingroup in 2002. In 2007, Vingroup was listed on the stock market and is now one of the five largest companies in terms of market capitalization in Vietnam.

According to Forbes, his wealth reached 1.65 billion USD in August 2015, with Vingroup's market value at 3 billion USD. He became the first USD billionaire in Vietnam and continuously ranked among the world’s billionaires. Currently, Phạm Nhật Vượng is involved in various projects, including education, charity, building amusement parks like the Central Park in New York, constructing skyscrapers, developing Phú Quốc Island’s tourism, opening 100 supermarkets and thousands of stores, launching e-commerce ventures, and investing in agriculture and clean food. Every time he ventures into a new field, it feels like another new startup, which is why his company website proudly states: 'Vingroup – Forever the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.'

In conclusion, Phạm Nhật Vượng, like any other billionaire, embodies a remarkable work ethic that we can all learn from.