Overseas Vietnamese

Bùi Kiến Thành is one of the most influential economic thinkers behind modern Vietnam. Over decades, he advised governments, institutions, and leaders on how Vietnam could move from scarcity to strength – not through ideology, but through pragmatic economic thinking.In this conversation, we talk about what actually built modern Vietnam: the shift toward markets, the role of private enterprise, the importance of making people prosperous first, and why long-term national development requires discipline, patience, and clarity of thought.This episode is essential listening for anyone trying to understand Vietnam beyond headlines – especially overseas Vietnamese, founders, investors, and leaders thinking about Vietnam’s next chapter.-00:44 Family background, rural childhood, and early identity03:21 Following his father and early exposure to medicine, enterprise, and poverty05:57 Accelerated education and decision to study abroad07:43 France, the baccalaureate, and choosing economics over engineering09:52 Studying in the US: St. John’s → Columbia University13:06 Meeting Ngô Đình Diệm and returning to Vietnam as a young aide14:08 Building Vietnam’s central banking system and financial independence16:48 Training across commercial, investment, and central banking in New York21:20 Leaving government for the private sector and leading AIG Vietnam25:26 Building one of Vietnam’s first high-tech joint ventures32:30 Arrest, imprisonment, and a turning point through philosophy and Buddhism39:48 Exile, clandestine escape, and rebuilding life in France45:06 Real estate development in Europe and return to global finance50:20 Advising Hanoi: the core idea behind Đổi Mới (“make the people rich”)55:04 How Vietnam shifted from state monopoly to market economy59:35 Resolution 68 and redefining the role of the stat1:02:33 Vietnam’s geopolitical position and why the future is open1:07:06 Diaspora as national strength and global Vietnamese talent1:10:38 Returning after 1991: reconciliation, POW/MIA, and normalization1:22:10 Sovereignty, international law, and standing up to global powers1:36:06 Vietnam’s long arc, youth, optimism, and what comes next1:46:18 Final advice: knowing Vietnam deeply and contributing with purpose-Join OV: https://joinov.com

Will & Tina share how they met at an OV event in Saigon — and how a chance connection turned into a relationship, a shared life in Vietnam, and eventually a content-creator journey built on honesty and everyday moments.Will grew up in Germany and previously worked at Google. Tina spent eight years studying in the U.S. before returning to Vietnam to become a university lecturer. Together, they talk openly about cross-cultural relationships, identity, communication, and what it really takes to build something together — both personally and professionally.We discuss modern relationships, balancing love and work, choosing authenticity over performance, and why their content resonates with so many people navigating similar questions around belonging, partnership, and life in Vietnam.-06:26 How they met (and how it turned into something real)12:50 Starting from zero: first videos, first momentum19:13 Going public early: attention, pressure, and relationship dynamics25:43 Why owning distribution matters (and how creators think about leverage)32:06 Systems behind the scenes: planning, Notion, and how they run production38:34 What makes content “work”: choosing moments, structure, and consistency45:00 Navigating feedback, criticism, and staying grounded51:27 The business side: deals, expectations, and learning through conflict57:52 Early creator chapters and what changed over time1:04:20 Identity, background, and why Vietnam became the right place1:10:46 Turning real life into content (without losing the relationship)1:17:13 The creator economy in Vietnam: why the market is growing1:23:36 The myths people have about creators — and the real tradeoffs1:30:06 Success, direction, and what they’re optimizing for now-Connect with Will & Tina:https://www.instagram.com/itswillandtina/https://www.tiktok.com/@itswillandtinaConnect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.com

Quoc Luong grew up scavenging for food on the streets of Saigon – and went on to become one of Vietnam’s most accomplished deep-tech founders. After teaching himself English at 26, he earned scholarships to Cornell and UC Berkeley, built a life in Silicon Valley, and ultimately returned to Vietnam to found Realtime Robotics (RtR): the country’s first high-tech drone company to invent, design, and manufacture world-class UAV systems.Today RtR drones are used in commercial operations across the U.S. and even by U.S. Army units. Quoc shares how he built a 70-person engineering organization in Saigon, why Vietnamese engineers can compete with the best in the world, and how Vietnam can become a global deep-tech nation through conviction, invention, and doing more with less.We talk about his early life, the discipline forged in hardship, what PhD training taught him about thinking deeply, the long road from copying to inventing, and why he believes Vietnamese talent can build globally dominant hardware companies.-01:22 Introducing himself & the moment he says “I’m doing drones”02:12 Family background, father’s reeducation & early life in Vietnam03:13 Learning English at 26 & meeting his “American mom”04:15 Winning scholarships to Cornell and UC Berkeley07:47 First impressions of the U.S. & adapting to academic life11:23 Early years in America: surviving, catching up & gratitude15:14 PhD track: learning to think deeply and systematically20:00 Corporate consulting → discovering drones → original idea22:42 Realization: they must build their own drones to succeed24:53 Returning to Vietnam & assembling an engineering team26:33 From learning → catching up → inventing: the 10-year journey30:16 Hera drone: designing a world-leading UAV from Vietnam33:40 Patents, gimbals, multi-camera tech & engineering breakthroughs35:02 U.S. commercial traction, Army use cases & global expansion40:05 Why Vietnam can build deeptech: talent, cost advantages, mindset53:00 Funding gaps, advice for founders & why Vietnamese can build globally1:01:18 Closing reflections on education, growth & conviction-Connect with Quoc:https://www.linkedin.com/in/quoc-luong-3140461a/Connect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.com

Truc Nguyen left a high-achieving path — JP Morgan, HP, Deloitte, Harvard MBA — to pursue a very different ambition: buying and operating small businesses. What started as a career reset turned into a deep exploration of Vietnamese-American entrepreneurship and the power of rolling up service businesses the right way.She shares how she evaluated which industry to pursue, why she focused on Vietnamese-owned nail salons, what people underestimate about SMB acquisitions, and how she rebuilt operations, culture, and processes from scratch. Her story blends corporate discipline with immigrant grit — and shows how business ownership can become a path to autonomy and long-term impact.We discuss search, buying your first company, managing older teams, building systems, learning humility, and how Truc thinks about the next decade of acquisitions, leadership, and eventually returning to Vietnam.-01:38 Harvard Business School & career reset02:28 Leaving Deloitte to pursue entrepreneurship & search04:06 Narrowing the buy-box: choosing Vietnamese-owned nail salons05:50 Parents’ sacrifice, ambition, and early definitions of success08:18 Moving to the US at 14: culture shock & rebuilding identity12:32 Parents’ non-tiger-parent philosophy on career & success14:02 Quitting corporate, craving ownership & independence18:43 Big corporate lessons: structure, mentorship, empowering others23:51 How she approaches mentorship & gets real support29:40 HBS as platform: exposure, networks & brand opening doors36:07 Funding & buying the first nail salon (self-funded + SBA loans)40:35 Reality of running a small business: doing every job & installing systems52:03 Generational mindset shifts: saving vs investing; competing on experience58:05 What most people underestimate about SMB acquisitions & search timelines1:02:47 10-year vision, legacy, return to Vietnam & advice to her younger self-Connect with Truc:https://www.linkedin.com/in/truc-nguyen-9697aa40https://www.instagram.com/trucish/Connect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.com

Vincent Vu’s journey is extraordinary. From escaping Vietnam by boat at age seven and spending six years in a refugee camp, to immigrating to the U.S., rebuilding his life from nothing, and eventually becoming an engineer leading global teams across the world.After three failed startups, Vincent founded Kinis AI, a movement-intelligence platform using balance, gait, and motion analysis to prevent falls for aging populations. His story is a masterclass in grit, reinvention, and solving real human problems.We talk about hardship as training, why curiosity beats expertise, what barefoot marathons taught him about mindset, and what returning overseas Vietnamese need to know about building in Vietnam.-We discuss:02:10 Growing up in a refugee camp05:40 Coming to the U.S. and rebuilding from zero10:20 Learning English, identity, and early hardship14:00 Studying architecture and getting laid off18:30 Becoming an engineer and leading global teams22:30 Starting Kinis Barefoot with no experience27:00 Manufacturing challenges and the early failures31:40 Pivoting to Kinis AI after discovering the fall-prevention problem36:10 Movement intelligence: balance, gait, and “movement age”40:50 Why mindset matters more than talent48:20 Returning to Vietnam after decades abroad52:10 Lessons for overseas Vietnamese thinking about moving back56:40 Building a mission-driven company1:03:00 Purpose, integrity, and teaching the next generation1:06:30 Closing reflections-Connect with Vincent:https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincentvuai/Connect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.com

Stephen Turban shares why Vietnam became one of the most meaningful chapters of his life – and why he chose Saigon as the base to build Lumiere, an 8-figure global education company.We talk about the advantages he found in Vietnam, what he learned building globally from Asia, the talent he discovered here and the identity shift that comes from committing to a place far from home.Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere, a global education platform that helps thousands of students conduct research with PhDs. He studied at Harvard, worked at McKinsey, learned Vietnamese, performs stand-up comedy in Saigon and has spent years building and living in Vietnam.-We discuss:04:45 Failing 40 interviews and “no one cares about you”09:30 Harvard, McKinsey and entering the working world14:15 First time in Vietnam and the Fulbright chapter19:00 How Saigon “ruined” his PhD (in a good way)23:45 Choosing Vietnam over the traditional academic path28:30 Starting Lumiere and building globally from Asia33:15 Bootstrapping Lumiere toward low 8-figure revenue38:00 Hiring and building teams from Vietnam, India, China42:45 Side-door careers and avoiding front-door competition47:30 Experiments, learning, reading and truth-seeking52:15 Learning Vietnamese and doing stand-up comedy in Saigon57:00 Identity, belonging and becoming “half OV”1:01:45 Why Vietnam is underrated for builders1:06:30 Advice for people thinking about building from Vietnam1:11:15 Closing thoughts and where to find Stephen & Lumiere-Connect with Stephen:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenturban/https://www.instagram.com/stephenturban/Connect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.com

Linh Pham left a career at Goldman Sachs in London to return to Vietnam and build LOGIVAN, a trucking marketplace often called the “Uber for Trucks.” Her company has raised over $8 million USD and connects more than 20,000 truck drivers and companies nationwide.We discuss Linh’s journey from Cambridge to Saigon, what she learned building in Vietnam’s opaque logistics market, and how she’s now combining logistics and AI with her new startup, FreightPilot.AI.Linh Pham is the Founder and CEO of LOGIVAN and FreightPilot.AI, two technology ventures transforming Vietnam’s logistics and supply chain. A Cambridge graduate and former Goldman Sachs analyst, Linh returned home to build where few dared — in Vietnam’s most traditional and challenging industry.-We discuss:02:00 Why she left Goldman Sachs for Vietnam05:00 Family business vs. forging her own path07:20 Moving back home: fear, motivation, and opportunity10:40 Discovering her passion for entrepreneurship15:00 Finding the idea for LOGIVAN and validating logistics19:00 Why logistics is a massive but broken market in Vietnam21:00 The hard truths about building a startup here24:00 Navigating Vietnam’s “gray zone” business culture26:00 Relationships, trust, and doing business the Vietnamese way31:00 Gender, age, and establishing authority as a young female founder36:00 Lessons from building and leading teams in Vietnam41:00 COVID, layoffs, and resilience in tough times45:00 From LOGIVAN to FreightPilot.AI — the next chapter49:00 How AI can fix logistics inefficiencies56:00 Rethinking ambition, success, and the long game1:00:00 Her vision for Vietnam’s tech and global software exports-Connect with Linh:https://www.linkedin.com/in/linh-cantab/https://www.instagram.com/linhcantab/Connect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.com

Hao Tran shares his journey from the Bay Area to Saigon – and how being laid off in Silicon Valley led him to co-found Vietcetera, now one of Vietnam’s most influential media companies.We talk about how Vietnam has changed in the past decade, what it takes for overseas Vietnamese to thrive when they return, and what Hao has learned from building a 70-person media business in a fast-evolving country.Hao Tran is the Co-founder & CEO of Vietcetera, a leading media network founded in 2016 with the mission to bring Vietnam to the world and the world to Vietnam. Hao is also an angel investor and advisor to businesses and family offices across Southeast Asia.-We discuss:00:00 Intro02:00 Growing up Vietnamese-American in the Bay Area05:00 Getting laid off and discovering Vietnam10:40 First impressions and deciding to stay13:00 How Vietnam has evolved in the past decade14:20 What Vietnam taught him about leadership and humility18:10 Early mistakes and lessons from building Vietcetera20:45 How overseas Vietnamese can create value when returning25:30 Advice for moving to Vietnam and building a career33:00 Networking and landing opportunities in Vietnam38:20 Starting Vietcetera and the chaos of early years41:20 Going from blog to multi-platform media company46:00 Conviction, monetization, and growing pains49:40 Leading a Vietnamese team as a Vietnamese-American55:10 Selling and doing business in Vietnam1:01:40 Leadership, relationships, and management style1:03:50 Defining success and staying disciplined in Vietnam1:08:00 Reflections, lessons, and advice for overseas Vietnamese-Connect with Hao:https://www.linkedin.com/in/haontran/https://www.instagram.com/haontranConnect with Quang:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.comAbout OV: https://overseasvietnamese.com

Francois “Frankie” Le Nguyen opens up about his unlikely path — from a teenage entrepreneur in debt to building and selling a cybersecurity startup, investing in 50 companies, and ultimately returning home to Vietnam. We discuss the ambition that drove him, the failures that shaped him, and how success and identity evolve when you reconnect with your roots. Francois Le Nguyen is a Vietnamese-Canadian founder, investor, and former General Manager at Entrepreneur First in Singapore and Toronto. He has backed and built dozens of startups globally and now calls Saigon home, where he’s helping bridge Vietnam with the world through initiatives like OV Ventures. - We discuss: 00:00 Intro — $20K debt at 17 and lessons on failure 01:20 Growing up Vietnamese in Canada: identity and rebellion 06:30 Early ventures — building websites, hosting, and small businesses as a teen 08:40 Failure, debt, and rebuilding through university 10:20 Discovering tech and product management at Lightspeed 13:00 The Singapore chapter — TradeGecko, community building, and teaching 22:00 VC years at Entrepreneur First — lessons from founders and venture 31:40 Starting his own cybersecurity company and pitching 200 VCs 47:00 Selling the company and redefining success 53:00 Reconnecting with family and heritage 1:05:00 Why he moved back to Vietnam 1:08:30 Reflections on ambition, values, and legacy - Connect with Francois: https://www.linkedin.com/in/francoislenguyen/ https://www.instagram.com/frankiee/ Connect with Quang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/ https://www.instagram.com/quang Join OV: https://joinov.com About OV: https://overseasvietnamese.com

Mai Vo left Big Tech to solve a problem she lived: modern women navigating big life and career transitions without a trusted peer group. She founded Podium, a connection platform that brings small, curated circles together in person—so women can find support, clarity, and momentum. We talk about the reality behind “glorified entrepreneurship,” why she did 65 unscalable events to build a playbook, what community impact actually looks like, and how Vietnamese heritage and operating in Vietnam/Singapore shaped her leadership. Mai Vo is the Co-founder & CEO of Podium, a platform for modern women (late 20s–40s) to find peer support through curated dinners, intimate groups, and retreats. Previously, she worked at Google (London → Singapore) after starting her career at Samsung. - We discuss: 00:31 Who is Mai? German-born Vietnamese across cultures 03:35 Big Tech years: Samsung → Google (London & Singapore) 06:15 COVID: the push/pull to leave Big Tech 08:08 Advice to corporate folks considering entrepreneurship 11:58 Unlearning “ambiguity”: trusting gut without a million data points 13:26 Podium’s idea: women’s peer groups for life & career transitions 15:27 From first events to co-founder; bootstrapping the early days 16:48 Family expectations; rebuilding a new peer community 20:47 How Podium works: intimate dinners, topics, and retreats 22:37 Measuring impact: from feelings to tangible outcomes 27:59 Do the unscalable (65 events) → playbooks & hosts; future vision- Connect with Mai: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mailienvo/ https://www.instagram.com/maiivo/ Connect with Quang: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV: https://joinov.comAbout OV: https://overseasvietnamese.com

Kevin Huynh is the co‑founder and CEO of PiKNiK & Company, where he leads the development of boutique cloud computing services built on open‑source storage protocols. With a background in medicine, management consulting, and venture investing, Kevin combines deep technical expertise with strategic insights. Under his leadership, PiKNiK is working to decentralize and democratize data for businesses and individuals worldwide.In this episode, we dive into his entrepreneurial journey, lessons from consulting to tech entrepreneurship, and what drives him as an overseas Vietnamese founder.

Overseas Vietnamese (OV) is a private network for Vietnamese professionals, entrepreneurs & leaders worldwide.You us at joinov.com----In OV Career Stories, we share about the lives & careers of our members.This week, we chatted with Khanh P. Ngo—Chief Executive Officer at Liobank.In this conversation, Quang interviews Khang about his personal and professional journey, focusing on his experiences in networking, career transitions, and leadership. Khang shares insights on the importance of relationships in Vietnam, the challenges of moving from consulting to roles in tech and banking, and his approach to leadership and team dynamics. The discussion also touches on the unique strategies of Liobank in the competitive banking landscape.----Connect with Khanh P. Ngo:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khanhpnngo/Connect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quang• X: https://x.com/ovquangJoin OV:• https://www.joinov.com

Overseas Vietnamese (OV) is a private network for Vietnamese professionals, entrepreneurs & leaders worldwide.You us at joinov.com----In OV Career Stories, we share about the lives and careers of our members.This week, we chatted with Kieu My Dang—Consultant at Boston Consulting Group.In this conversation, Kieu-My shares her multicultural background, navigating her identity as a Vietnamese immigrant in Switzerland and France. She discusses the challenges of transitioning between cultures, the influence of her parents on her education and career choices, and her journey into the competitive world of consulting at BCG. Kieu-My reflects on her experiences with imposter syndrome, the intensity of her work environment, and her ongoing efforts to build confidence in her professional life. In this conversation, Kieu-My shares her journey of self-discovery, coping with imposter syndrome, and the importance of coaching. She discusses her emotional coping mechanisms, the structure of her daily life, and the lessons learned from her experiences. Kieu-My emphasizes the significance of work-life balance, reflection, and self-confidence, especially for women in demanding careers. She also shares her future aspirations, including a desire to move back to Vietnam and invest in her creative projects.----Connect with Kieu My Dang:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kieu-my-dang-23a245b1/• Instagram: instagram.com/kmy.dg/Connect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ovquang/• Instagram: instagram.com/quangJoin OV:• joinov.com

Overseas Vietnamese (OV) is a private network for Vietnamese professionals worldwide.You us at joinov.com----In the OV Career Stories podcast series, we share about the lives of some of our remarkable members.This week, we chatted with Tuan Le—Co-founder & CEO of The Lab Saigon.In this conversation, Tuan shares his journey across cultures—from Vietnam to the US, Dubai, and back—highlighting his artistic development, entrepreneurial ventures, and family influences. He discusses reconnecting with his roots, the challenges of launching a co-working cafe and design studio in Vietnam, and lessons on adapting to local markets. Tuan delves into navigating Vietnam’s competitive F&B and design industries, talent acquisition, and staying attuned to consumer trends and pop culture. Balancing family life with business growth, his story offers valuable insights into identity, culture, and entrepreneurship.----Connect with Tuan Le:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/copytuan/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluefintuna.le/Connect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ovquang/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quangJoin OV:• https://www.joinov.com

Lan Doan is the Founder of Asla. She grew up in Vietnam, went to the U.S. to study—including completing her MBA at Harvard Business School—returned to Vietnam to work as a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, and eventually became the Chief Executive Officer of Taptap, one of Vietnam’s leading engagement and loyalty platforms.In our conversation, we cover:• Her experience moving from Vietnam to the U.S. and back• Her approach to navigating life challenges and transitions• And more!Podcast is brought to you by Overseas Vietnamese (OV) – the global community for Vietnamese professionals.Join our community: ovfellow.com—Connect with Lan Doan:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/landoanConnect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ovquang• Instagram: instagram.com/quang

Alice Nguyen is an Account Manager at Meta. Alice grew up in Vietnam, studied in the US, and now lives in Singapore. She has also been leading the OV Singapore chapter.In our conversation, we cover:• Her experience moving to the US from Vietnam• Her way to joining Meta today• And more!Podcast is brought to you by Overseas Vietnamese (OV) – the global community for Vietnamese professionals.Join our community: ovfellow.com—Connect with Alice Nguyen:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alicenguyen2712• Instagram: instagram.com/its.alicehereConnect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ovquang• Instagram: instagram.com/quang—You can connect and chat directly with Alice and Quang if you join the OV Fellowship. Learn more at ovfellow.com

Mark Erickson is a Vietnamese adoptee, currently Managing Partner at BlackRock, formerly at Goldman Sachs and other financial institutions, and holds a BA from Harvard University.  In our conversation, we cover:• His long and successful career finance and Wall Street• What he has learned along the way• And more!Podcast is brought to you by Overseas Vietnamese (OV) – the global community for Vietnamese professionals.Join our community: ovfellow.com—Connect with Mark Erickson:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mark-f-ericksonConnect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ovquang• Instagram: instagram.com/quangYou can connect and chat directly with Mark and Quang if you join the OV Fellowship. Learn more at ovfellow.com

Nhat Nguyen is Chief of Staff at Convai, an AI startup. Nhat grew up in Vietnam, moved to the US for college, holds a dual master degree from Harvard and MIT and has worked in finance for Goldman Sachs before moving to the Bay Area and into tech.In our conversation, we cover:• What coming to the US as a Vietnamese immigrant was like• Tips on how to think about and design your career• And more!Podcast is brought to you by Overseas Vietnamese (OV) – the global community for Vietnamese professionals.Join our community: ovfellow.com—Connect with Nhat Nguyen:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nhattnguyenConnect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ovquang• Instagram: instagram.com/quangYou can connect and chat directly with Nhat and Quang by joining the Overseas Vietnamese community. Learn more at ovfellow.com

Robert Huynh is the co-founder & CEO of Reforge Labs based out of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Robert grew up in the US, worked for Microsoft and Google, and dropped out of Harvard Business School to pursue his entrepreneurial dreams in Vietnam.In our conversation, we cover:• Why he left his prestigious jobs to become a Vietnam-based founder• The emotional rollercoaster of his journey• And much more!Podcast is brought to you by Overseas Vietnamese (OV) – the global community for Vietnamese professionals.Join our community: ovfellow.com—Connect with Robert Huynh:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/huynhrobert• Instagram: instagram.com/12oberthuynhConnect with Quang Do:• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ovquang• Instagram: instagram.com/quangYou can connect and chat directly with Nhat and Quang by joining the Overseas Vietnamese community. Learn more at ovfellow.com