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Keeping Informed About Vietnam

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Back in June 2014, this blog was created with the goal to publish a post per week on a topic of interest relating to Vietnam and/or Southeast Asia.

Since then, the blog has largely focused on information, trends, and events relating to technology, business, and culture in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

It’s been a great and challenging experience to write this blog—and it would not have been possible without countless feedback, people who were willing to sit down and explain what they saw as the potential for opportunity in the region, and finding exciting and interesting topics to cover. That meant finding people who are doing exciting things in the community—whether it is creating or building or shaping a project, company, or building.

52 posts was the original target—and this goal was reached in 13 months; this post is currently number 55. Ultimately, this blog serves as a resource: 50,000-70,000 words that have attempted to capture Vietnam (from a Hanoian perspective and with the contrast of having lived in Ho Chi Minh City) in the past year.

So what’s next?

At this point, we are looking for someone with the following profile:

-A foreigner who has been in Vietnam for 10+ years;

-Who has operated as an entrepreneur, country manager, or director of an organization that is interested in technology, startups, or trade (or complementary fields);

-Who is interested in contributing 20%-30% more content to the current selection of 54 posts (each post is 1,000+ words);

-And is open to publishing the entire body of work as a book (an editor in Boston has agreed to review the project).

Please contact info@gktagroup.com for more details.

A New Direction

Vietnam is rapidly changing; moving forward, the format of this blog is going to change as well.

Articles from other publications will be shared on the blog instead of publishing original content every week. Depending on the frequency, content will be updated every month or two.

In the meantime, it can be difficult to understand what goes on in Vietnam from a foreign perspective so below are some other resources to keep current and understand better Vietnam’s emerging role in the world in the 21st century (if even a little bit more).

General News

Vietnam News

Tuoi Tre News

Thanh Nien News

Vietnam +

Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper

Voice of Vietnam

Twitter

Business News

Saigon Times Weekly

Vietnam Investment Review

Vietnam Economic News

CNBC

Tech/Startup News

e27

Tech In Asia

CNET

From a Regional and International Perspective

The Diplomat

The Economist

NY Times

Additional Resources

Of course, this lit is non-exhaustive. There are many more resources to tap into. Books, blogs, podcasts, etc. (And we are also available for a quick chat or email: admin@gktagroup.com.)

Stay tuned!

Vietnam and Finland partner to build startups across Vietnam

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Finland and Vietnam—what do these two countries have in common? At first glance, perhaps not much. Vietnam has a population of 90+ million and Finland’s population doesn’t even break the six million mark. Finland’s GDP per capita is almost $50,000 while Vietnam’s is approximately $2,000. And Helsinki is considered one of the most future-oriented governments in the world while Hanoi is known for its traditional elements; after all, it’s an over-1000-year-old city. So it might come as a surprise to learn that Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology have joined forces to foster innovation, support initiatives, and develop entrepreneurs via the Innovation Partnership Programme (IPP).

The IPP essentially supports the growth of the Vietnamese ecosystem; its role is to initiate and facilitate new activities, connections, and collaboration that can lead to the creation of sustainable ecosystem structures on the national level with regional integration and strong international linkages. Part of this effort includes a training course, an Innovation Accelerator, and events to bring the community–as well as potential partners and sponsors–into the fold.

Currently, 12 Vietnamese Innovation Champions are in the middle of a two-month “Training of Trainers” (ToT) program where they are learning lean startup methodologies, new ways to minimize risk, and how to develop ideas into products and services (and eventually sustainable businesses). Hailing from a variety of backgrounds in the public and private sectors, and with a median age of 35, these working professionals are led in sessions, workshops, and classwork by top international practitioners from startup hubs in Europe and the United States. Outside of the facilitated HATCH! space in Hanoi’s Ba Dinh District, the Innovation Champions have conducted fieldwork where they interview prospective customers, pen blog posts to share their perspectives, and connect with aspiring entrepreneurs in the community. They have already begun advising local startups in order to put what they have learned into practice—something they will continue to do in August once the training is over.

One major portion of fieldwork is the customer conversation, which drives the iterative model for a product or service that is being developed; some of the terms and tools used include “business model canvases” and “value propositions.” Entrepreneurship is a process and mindset—asking the right questions of the right people is key to developing solid products and services. But, sometimes, it needs to be taught and localized in order to become part of a local ecosystem.

Trainer Nick Norena of San Francisco is, by his own account, not only an entrepreneur but also an educator and coach, focusing his life on finding the most effective and engaging ways to teach entrepreneurship and innovation. Currently, he is focusing on Vietnam.

“Being here in Vietnam, I am eager to learn about a country and culture that is quite new to me,” said Norena. “Most importantly, I am incredibly humbled to work with the Trainees enrolled in this ToT program.

“The Trainees we work with are incredibly accomplished academics and professionals, and they bring valuable perspective to the classroom and fieldwork each week. This is crucial because one of their main goals and is to translate and adapt the materials and topics we cover to accurately fit the needs of the local startup ecosystem. I am encouraged every day by the team I’ve become a part of, and excited to see what the future of the Vietnamese startup ecosystem holds,” he said.

Innovation Champion Lan Phan, Deputy Director of NATEC–an organ of Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST)–of Hanoi shares a similar excitement toward the future of the Vietnamese entrepreneurship ecosystem:

“It is great because I can learn the most updated knowledge in the startup world–the Lean startup movement,” said Phan. “And, having it taught by the experts and practitioners coming from Silicon Valley makes it even much better experience. Their sharing of real startup stories and the hands-on exercises that we have to take in class absolutely help us internalize the training principles much faster.

“Being one of the IPP trainees,” she said, “also means that I can develop a close relationship with other like-minded trainees, whose goals are not only to excel in their own careers but to give back and contribute to building this ecosystem a better place for startups to grow. Overall, I have so far been benefited greatly from this training course and would love to share my knowledge with others so that the impact of the course would be multiplied.”

The curriculum that Norena and the other trainers are developing—which is aimed at teaching academics and professionals in Vietnam the skills, techniques, and mindset required to successfully coach and mentor startups—is expected to be used in Vietnamese and perhaps even regional universities as a way to extend the impact of the first cycle of the Training of Trainers program and Innovation Accelerator. The IPP seeks to support and build the capacity of local key players in taking ownership of developing the ecosystem. Thus, this curriculum is a foundational resource for new and aspiring entrepreneurs in Vietnam and beyond.

So, what’s next? The entire program moved to Ho Chi Minh City last week (July 15) and will be based out of Hoa Sen University. Once the Training of Trainers program is completed, a six-month Innovation Accelerator led by the Innovation Champions will begin in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Innovation Champions will guide approximately 20 high-growth and innovative startups, as well as four system developers, to success.

The startups have an initial Demo Day on October 31 and a final Demo Day in January before the call for new startups is opened up again. Before the first Demo Day, the IPP is looking for mentors (e.g., guest speakers) to support the IPP Innovation Accelerator as well as future partners to help pilot and scale the curriculum (open source, practical, and comprehensive innovation and entrepreneurship-pioneered—which does not yet exist in Vietnam) to universities and other training organizations customized to fit the needs of their respective stakeholders.

By design, the Innovation Champions will be the foundation of the future, driving the ecosystem forward even beyond the Innovation Accelerator. Hopefully, by the time Tet (Lunar New Year) rolls around in February 2016, we will start to see some of these selected projects emerge from the Innovation Accelerator ready to expand in Vietnam, into the region, or elsewhere. Also, we can expect that next year’s ToT Part 2 will feature even closer collaboration with university and training organizational staff.

Even farther down the road, Trainer Dan Toma of Germany projects even more success as a result of the program.

“Looking at the speed of their progress [Innovation Champions], I am highly confident that they will have a huge impact in the Vietnamese ecosystem once the training [is] over,” said Toma. “I’m looking forward to having a coffee in a nice restaurant somewhere in Europe in about three or five years from now, reading about the first Vietnamese company being successful on the international market, hoping that one of the Innovation Champions helped build that story directly.”

Three to five years out is a long time but, perhaps, Dan will be proven right. After all, the best way to predict the future is by helping to create it.

A version of this article first appeared in Tech In Asia.

The UNICEF Innovation Lab in Vietnam

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Recently, we met with Brian Cotter, an Innovation Specialist with UNICEF; he explained the UNICEF Innovation Lab in Vietnam, how the tech scene is changing in Ho Chi Minh City, and how you can get involved with the nearest Innovation Lab.

Can you share a bit about yourself? What’s your background, your role in your organization, and where are you located?

BC: I’ll have lived in Vietnam nine years this June. I graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison where I majored in Zoology. During my studies, I worked with the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON), which deploys autonomous buoys into lakes for data collection. When I was doing it, the project was just in the US but now it’s global. So I was working with technology even though I had a different major.

Then I had the opportunity to move to Vietnam so I took it. I started off teaching English, like many people and then worked in hospitality and retail. I helped open a restaurant and tried to open a series of convenience stores in Mui Ne, a coastal town. So my experience was working in small businesses before I tried to do a mobile app outsourcing company.

The entrepreneur style really attracted me and I didn’t want to be in the office all the time so I tried to participate in startups as much as I could. I liked building things and doing things. Today, I am based in Ho Chi Minh City as an Innovation Specialist with UNICEF.

How long has the UNICEF Innovation Lab been present in Vietnam? What’s the role of the UNICEF Innovation Lab here in Vietnam?

BC: We’ve been here for six months; 2015 is foundational year so we are working to determine the best approach. The Innovation Unit for UNICEF global has been around since 2007 with growth accelerating since 2009. We are an interdisciplinary team of individuals around the world tasked with identifying, prototyping, and scaling technologies and practices that strengthen UNICEF’s work. We build and scale innovations that improve children’s lives around the world.

In the UNICEF context, Innovation Labs generally have a dual imperative. Firstly they exist to support the utilization of innovative processes in the development of internal programs and the identification of opportunities for improved results through the use of emerging technologies. Secondly they exist to empower the local communities and stakeholders to develop the capacity approach complex problems and create sustainable solutions.

Our main office is in Hanoi but we have sub office in Ho Chi Minh City so I travel between both cities, depending on work. However, the Innovation Lab is initially focused in Ho Chi Minh City.

The UNICEF Innovation Lab is both a physical space and a “conceptual environment,” correct? How does that work exactly?

BC: The Lab part of the Innovation Lab means a physical space. It is our mission to participate in a community of like-minded individuals and organizations to create a better future for Vietnam through innovation. The physical space is there to embody the type of community we want to empower: equitable, sustainable, impactful. We want to improve the collaboration across different sectors of the entrepreneurship and startup community, to convene partners around social impact, and to provide opportunity to those who are traditionally left out of the conversation. In order to create this space, we must first exemplify these values by working collaboratively with different stakeholders to identify our best approach for success and continually work to improve the mission and service provided through the space.

There are about a dozen UNICEF Innovation Labs around the world, how much collaboration is there between the labs?

We have monthly calls; I can reach out to them at any time. There’s a growing regional team to support us in bringing global context to our locales. There is another Innovation Lab in Indonesia—we talk almost every day. We share documents, struggles, and bottlenecks to help support each other. The context of every country is very different but we work together to share solutions. I set up a Skype group between ASEAN innovation labs and we have bi-weekly regional calls. In terms of technology, we use the cloud for collaborative documents and we utilize collaborative project management tools such as Trello.

What are some of the challenges that the UNICEF Innovation Lab in Vietnam seeks to address?

BC: We have nine Innovation Principles so one result of a principle is that everything in the lab is open-source. In our space, technology is not the innovation—the use of that technology in a novel way is the innovation for us. We use technology as a tool to deliver results. The tech is a tool, it doesn’t have to be bleeding edge, it has to be relevant. It needs to create a competitive advantage and be scalable. We pose a simple question: “How do you use it to deliver a better result?”

Project Mwana in Zambia is an example of this, which cut down the turnaround time for testing blood for HIV by half. The traditional method involved paper and post: 30 days to send the results, 33 days to get them back. With Project Mwana, the change was in delivering test results via SMS. Thus, critical treatment can get started earlier with better results.

Looking to the horizon, UNICEF will leverage trending technologies. The Innovation Lab looks at the situation and asks, “three-to-five years down, what does the country need? What does UNICEF need?”

So Wearables is a continuing theme now as well as the “Internet of Good Things.” We are addressing emerging tech areas and applying them in the context and using current technology in novel ways. What do we need to develop today that we will need to scale in three-to-five years?

Locally, the global innovation unit has identified Vietnam as a key contributor (key regional leader) that can contribute to the emerging technology community. Vietnamese expertise in ICT can be used to impact other parts of the world, which is why Vietnam was chosen to be one of two initial innovation labs in SE Asia.

We hope to be engaged and implement here, and then export the innovations that emerge.

Is there any recent news or upcoming developments about the UNICEF Innovation Lab that you’d like to share?

We opened our Global Innovation Lab in May in New York City, which focuses on global initiatives. U-Reports is one global initiative. U-Report began as an SMS program in Uganda in 2010 as an opportunity for young people in developing countries to express their views from a basic mobile phone.  Today the program, developed on RapidPro, is in 13 countries and over 650,000 people are sending or receiving SMSs every week.  Over the past four years U-Reporters have:

  • Sent and received over 50 million messages, each one representing a voice, question or opinion.
  • Improved the impact of UNICEF health programmes for mothers and children
  • Identified or verified cholera, Ebola, and typhoid outbreaks
  • Successfully advocated to support the Children Act to outlaw corporal punishment in Ugandan schools
  • Increased the rate U-Reporters knowing their HIV/AIDS status in Zambia by one third.
  • Advocated for girl’s rights to education at Rio+20 conference
  • Fought against the practice of Female Genital Mutilation alongside multiple faiths, legally and culturally.

You’ve been in Vietnam since 2006, right? How has the tech or startup scene changed since when you first arrived here?

BC: It’s accelerating. There is more action, desire, maturity. I’ve been around developers for awhile, they used to develop for their day jobs then go home and relax. Now they are developing at home because they are passionate about their side projects. The acceptance that “it” is possible has increased so there is additional motivation to build. In terms of the official ecosystem, it’s still so early so there are opportunities to influence things at the beginning.

What do you think readers should know about the startup scene in Vietnam?

BC: It’s a bit rough around the edges. There are still significant gaps and opportunities for development. The momentum is accelerating. Before, when Saigon Hub was around, people wouldn’t pay for events. Now I see that many people are willing to pay for events. They recognize that there is better quality content available, so they pay for it. The ecosystem is maturing organically in that regard.
What should we keep an eye out for in terms of startups and innovation coming out of Vietnam?

BC: There’s a lot of really smart people in this country. If they focus energies on a startup they could make some pretty incredible things. We saw VP9 at TechFest Vietnam; that could be incredible. But he [the founder] is not unique, there are a lot of people out there who don’t know the value of their market knowledge. Vietnam is bursting with so much raw talent—and discipline to a specific expertise. But that’s all they have so there needs to be support around it.

There are tech people in hardware and academia who don’t know how to talk about or differentiate their products. If they got the support of the ecosystem—whereby if other skills to run a startup were made accessible to a broader audience, then some magic could happen. It would require other focus put on soft skills; being able to present and express ideas and then we could see some significant tech and intellectual property-based technology break out. There are a lot smart people whose inventions never see the light of day.

Also, uniquely Vietnamese styles are starting to come out. Vietnamese are being inspired by other cultures and are not just copying anymore— they are putting their own twist on things. The maturity is coming. The tech startup scene has some of that; big things are coming, not just copies.

If people want to get involved with the UNICEF Innovation Lab, how can they do that in Vietnam?

The first thing you should know is that if you walk in and say, “I want to make a difference,” then I’m not going to say no. Everyone has a part to play, from CEO on down. We have open global challenges on Wearables and Causetech.net and will be making UNICEF problems within Vietnam more visible to the tech entrepreneur community as well.

One feature would be a weekend workshop so we can recruit mostly marginalized people to train skills and create projects. The sustainable projects will be guided by mentors and eventually those projects will develop into organizations. We are basing this idea off a framework that has been used in Kosovo so it’s a “by youth for youth” component. It’s a model that has been crafted through iteration after two-to-four years of events so it’s not from scratch. This workshop will be coming in late 2015 in HCMC and hopefully we can see it in other cities in Vietnam in 2016.

In effect we are turning innovators toward UNICEF problems and are engaging marginalized youth to enable equitable access to innovation and entrepreneurship resources like accelerators and training. Everyone has the opportunity to participate as mentors, entrepreneurs, providing funding instruments, or just sharing the vision. If you simply want to follow our progress, check us out on Facebook.

Any advice for locals or foreigners who want to become entrepreneurs in Vietnam? 

Just do it. You don’t learn until you launch or until you do it. If your gut tells you that you want to try then do it, listen. Figure out a way to do it without losing your job. Judge for yourself how much risk you are willing to take.

Thanks to Brian Cotter, who shared his time with us.

First Mekong Entrepreneurship EcoSystem Summit

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From June 11-13, entrepreneurs, ecosystem builders, and explorers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam came to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to connect, build bridges, and compete for $20,000 to fund their initiatives during the first Mekong Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Summit, organized by the Centre of Business Studies and Assistance (BSA) and DHVP research as part of the TIGERS@Mekong public-private alliance.

TIGERS@Mekong (Technology Innovation Generation and Entrepreneurship Resources) is a consortium of country and region-specific partners. As found on the TIGERS@Mekong site:

“The U.S. Department of State launched the Mekong Technology Innovation Generation and Entrepreneurship Resources (TIGERS@Mekong) as a flagship project under the Connect Mekong framework at the East Asia Summit in 2012.”

Of the participant countries from the Lower Mekong, they are at different stages of market development and interest despite encompassing more than 230 million people in the region. The two shining stars, Thailand and Vietnam, currently have a lot of interest from venture capitalists and have almost 160 million people between them. Vietnam also has a lot of interest from foreign investors as the TPP is expected to pass soon. Laos and Cambodia are still largely developing and share approximately 22 million people between them; Cambodia, and especially Laos, have a lot of room to grow. And Myanmar (population north of 50 million), although “open for business” since 2011, has largely elicited a “wait-and-see” approach from foreign investors and their representative offices. There are elections later this year, so perhaps things will be different after. Already in the region, there is the Mekong Business Challenge, which has entered its 10th year so there is already some sort of dialogue in place and deepening it will only positively impact the region and its inhabitant.

So while it was good to bring the countries together, it’s also necessary to recognize that each country has its own strengths and weaknesses, and market opportunities. Thus, a tour through each country (perhaps a two-week Bootcamp to cover a topic) in a graduated fashion would allow participants to learn new skills, but also learn more about the countries in the region, and also establish a wider network. Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand could be a suitable 10-week path in the form of topics such as Ideation, Market Research, Concept Refinement, Prototyping, and Pivoting (if/when necessary).

The Pitches

Below, are some of the top 10 pitches for new initiatives which were presented at the summit (in their entirety, as described by those who pitched).

“LAUNCH PAD

The main reason of failure of tech startups in the region is the serious lack of VISION and KNOWLEDGE about the market, players and customers. And the 2nd main reason is, once they have built first versions of products or services, they don’t have a proper way to LAUNCH and TEST their business.

With these 2 reasons, I believe that we must build a LAUNCH Platform for all tech startups in the region to:

  1. join, see and learn what other tech startups are doing in the region (Eye-Open). This helps them a better VISION what should do.
  2. Test their products before launching, get feedbacks from peers. And
  3. Find partners from other countries for EXPANSION when they grow

 

CROWD FACTORY

CrowdFactory consists of three main parts: CrowdPitch, CrowdCoach and CrowdData.

CrowdPitch is an event that helps startups have a chance to practice their pitching to a live audience. There are multiple events every year (depending on each local landscape) and each event has 4 startups that pitch. Audience pays for a ticket to attend and 75% of their ticket money goes straight to their favorite startup. That means it’s an offline crowdfunding event. CrowdCoach is CrowdPitch’s sister event. The number one winner of CrowdPitch gets to attend CrowdCoach, where for two hours, the startup gets to interact directly with four mentors, who give private and in-depth feedback to the startup. All of this is supported by CrowdData, as the local organizers collect new startups and mentors, they slowly collect data on the ecosystem, supporting the cycle of events under CrowdFactory.

 

Mekong Startup Training for Trainer

The program trains startups on necessary skills needed such as sales and marketing skills, users experience, digital marketing, tech skills and so on. In order to complete the program, the group of trainees need to train other startups. For those outstanding ones, will be going to train startups in other countries.

By doing this, startups in each country will meet and they will then share the business and investment information of their own country and build there networks.

This program will help ensure the wellbeing and to strengthen the networks of our Mekong region startups ecosystems.

 

Mekong Startup Weekcamp

The IDEA behind his concept is about

–        – engagement between potential Tech-Startups and Business Start-ups to share of their skills and expertise each other.

–        – networking among key players in local and regional

al The event will take 4 day long at National Event and basically the following activities will include and can adapt as per local needs.

–        Selection Process to Potential Entrepreneurs (Potential Tech and Business Start-ups) to enter Training Session

Activities are:

–        National Start-up Weekcamp Training (2 days)

–        Industry Experts /Founders’ Talk – Experiential Sharing  (1 day) “Regional Founders or Experts will be invited” (1 day)

–        IDEA Showcase and Feedback from Regional Founders/ Experts and award ceremony at Networking Night (1 day)

Along with IDEA Showcase, local Business and Start-ups booths will be exhibited by regional Start-ups  (to meet with the regional accelerators/investors from the country and from the region)

We can adapt the activities as per local needs and can leverage this concept to local and regional areas.

 

Coenlight 

Coenlight is an innovative educational platform for effective skills-based learning and with the mission to create an edu-lab that incubates intellectual potential. This platform is a grassroots initiative tailored to the Cambodian and ASEAN context. We are driven by a strong social mission to revolutionize Cambodia’s and ASEAN’s education ecosystem based on our unique strengths. At Coenlight, we believe that any passionate skilled individual can develop into an extraordinary instructor. We seek to challenge the existing paradigm that becoming a teacher is a static threshold to pass over and uphold that learning is a life-long process.

Our Model:

1) Train individuals to translate their skills into innovative courses.

2) Match passionate instructors with motivated students.

3) Build an ecosystem that fosters critical thinking, skill building, and mentorship.

4) Empower the most talented students to “pay their learning forward” by becoming Coenlight instructors.

 

Wicked Problems Worth Working On…

Many times we get stuck into thinking about market size and we filter out everything except our customers (whoever we think they might be).  However, Southeast Asia has a number of major challenges common to almost everyone in the region: disparity between rich and poor, gaps in the education system, rural poor, corruption, energy, water issues…  These are major challenges which are bigger than any single country, and they represent big opportunities for impact entrepreneurs and impact investors who can craft the right solutions.

If we could only put together a list of the Wicked Problems, clearly defined, focused, and yet still significant, we could encourage players in the ecosystem to galvanize around one or more of them, to run themed boot camps, provide seed grants, compete in themed business plan competitions, and encourage funding from industry players.

This project asks for initial funding to help find a methodology to develop this list of Wicked Problems.  Tapping into the expertise and connections of government agencies like USAid and other aid organizations there must be people (academics? NGOs? or…?) who have developed a suitable methodology that could be used to seek out, define, and get support for a good list of Wicked Problems for Southeast Asia.  How do we find out what has already been done, what can be borrowed or co-opted for our purposes, and how could we implement it?

 

CrowdHelping

We want to build an online platform that transforms the way small scale local social entrepreneurs get access to funds, by crowdsourcing bureaucratic grant proposal writing to volunteers.

Picture a small scale social entrepreneur operating in rural Myanmar. She has intimate local knowledge, she know what kinds of ventures will have the most positive impact on her community, she is already bootstrapping her idea to build a social enterprise. All she needs is access to a small grant to push her idea to the next level.

Now picture a charitable organisation, an impact investor, or an aid agency sitting in an office in Yangon. They have money that they want to give away to people exactly like our social entrepreneur.

What stands between them? Bureaucracy.

Our social entrepreneur only speaks her regional language, she cannot write a 4 page proposal, she doesn’t understand the forms she has to fill out to qualify for grants. However, she does have a smartphone.

. How does it work?

  1. Social entrepreneurs simply shoot a short video of themselves pitching their idea in their local language, posts it on their profile on our platform
  2. A network of seasoned mentors who have close connections with local NGOs and social enterprises will vet the ideas that social entrepreneurs post, in order to create trust.
  3. Volunteers who have successfully applied for grants and know how to write proposals to apply for grants will browse the pitches of social entrepreneurs posted on the platform. Through the mentors vetting process, the volunteers will know which of the pitches are made by trustworthy entrepreneurs.
  4. Once the volunteer sees a pitch she likes, she will help fill out forms, write proposals and help submit them to organisations that can give out small grants

We want to replace bureaucracy with a trust network. It’s AirBnB for access to grants.”

Going Forward

The winners were Agri-Tigers, Mekong’s Next Top Mentor, and Crowdpitch but it would be great if the organizers could host all the pitch decks online for interested parties to view and perhaps develop. Across the board, technology and entrepreneurial leaders want to inspire venture building, boost the entrepreneurial capabilities of young people, and garner a stronger entrepreneurial spirit overall. In part, it will require a mindset shift, a way of not only thinking differently, but acting differently as well.

Last weekend’s event in Ho Chi Minh City was an opportunity for those on the frontline of building and shaping ecosystems to share ideas, failures, and successes with each other—and also garner support for new initiatives. In all, it was good step toward connecting key individuals and organizations in the region in a cohesive fashion and will hopefully lay down the groundwork for increased communication and cooperation in the region.

 

TechFest Vietnam 2015

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From May 15-17, history was made when the first TechFest Vietnam was held in Vietnam’s capital city of Hanoi.

According to TechFest Vietnam 2015 website:

“TECHFEST is an all-encompassing platform for All-Things-Tech.

From being the entrepreneurs building the next big thing, to innovators of cool gadgets looking to launch. From purveyors of cutting edge digital tools to latest digital entertainment platforms, we have it all. It’s a celebration of the 21st century; where technology meets lifestyle.

TECHFEST is a celebration of the Next-Generation innovators and their communities. This is a platform to build and foster great ideas and talents, gather thought leaders, stage for the next trend, better yet, be the trend-setter, where innovation begins.

TECHFEST is the platform where strong network and lasting collaborations begins between ASEAN and the world.

TECHFEST is the national festival for innovators, entrepreneurs, angel and institutional investors, supporting agencies and communities, technology experts, consumers and the tech media. With the selection and gathering of the most potential entrepreneurs as well as experts and investors with the rich and diverse experiences, NATEC and its partners are confident to bring about an informative, innovative and extremely practical event for the startup ecosystem in Vietnam.

The inaugural TECHFEST will be held this year and will be recognized as an integral activity within the Science and Technology Week, an annual national ceremonial week prior to the Science & Technology Day on May 18th, in celebration of S&T activities in Vietnam.”

Room to Grow

Entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and tech enthusiasts all gathered at Vietnam National University over three days to hear a variety of keynote speakers and panelists share their thoughts about funding, challenges to starting up, and building the ecosystem in Vietnam.

Three weeks later, we spoke to some startups, investors, and attendees to get their feedback on the inaugural event and see what impressions remained. Taken by itself, the event was a success—simply because it hadn’t been done before. [Note: your author helped to organize the event.] Overall, it was great; exactly what was needed to boost the community, build momentum, and to showcase the talent and innovation in Hanoi and in Vietnam.

There was consistent and positive feedback from investors in the region:

“I want to invest in Vietnam.”

“I don’t know much about Vietnam.”

“I want to learn more about Vietnam.”

“I’m concerned about investing in Vietnam.”

However, in terms of feedback from startups, it was a mixed bag. Many complained that the start up booths were outside in the sweltering heat—under a tent, no less. Then on the second day the entire startup section was moved indoors, which made those who had invested in their booths upset over the last-minute logistical changes.

One startup in particular commented that there was no official delegation to take the VIPs through to meet the startups in the exhibition area. A co-founder from the same team commented that he wished there had been more startups present; by his count there were about 14 startups which were exhibited.

Moreover, some out-of-town guests were surprised that the translation of services during major portions of the event were only from English-to-Vietnamese but not the reverse. Almost all of the investors spoke English but the VIP section in front row (ministers and other honorable guests) spoke Vietnamese so some startups pitched in Vietnamese with an English pitch deck shown behind them. Still, it was unclear if their respective target markets were at the event or if the presenters made lasting impressions on the front row audience.

(It’s important to note that once Vietnamese startups go beyond Vietnam they will have to pitch in English as it is the language of doing business around the world.)

As the event unfolded, certain workshops were entirely in Vietnamese and from the program guide it was not clear if a session or workshop would be in English or Vietnamese. The opening ceremony on the first day was full of young people but it did not seem like the students on campus took advantage of access to the event on other days.

In the future, it would be nice to have the festival portion at night on campus in the form of a concert. Thus, startups could play their promotional videos in between sets of musical acts. Sunday was the definitely the most relaxed day—it seemed like the event sort of tapered off so a closing ceremony would be good to unveil some major news or exploring the option to shorten the event to two days might be best way to start and finish the event strongly. Along those lines, perhaps a change of venue, with more accommodating facilities, would be apt for the next TechFest Vietnam. Foreign Trade University could be a viable option—or any rotational system to showcase the various universities in Vietnam.

Still, the event was a resounding success; ecosystem building, forging regional connections, and talent exposure are all steps along the path to greatness for startups in Vietnam. In some ways, it might surprise some outsiders that the event happened in Hanoi instead of another city in Vietnam. For one, Ho Chi Minh City is the economic capital of Vietnam; there are financial services companies, venture capitalists, marketing agencies, and the city itself has a greater entrepreneurial feel. On the other hand, Hanoi is the political and cultural capital—but it also positioning itself as the startup capital—something that might not surprise those who have spent considerable time in both cities. Even so, startups, as well as institutional and angel investors from Ho Chi Minh City did participate in the first TechFest Vietnam.

What’s next for TechFest Vietnam and the scene?

Overall, it would be great to see more entrepreneurs ad more product developers come to Vietnam and team up with local developers to develop products and services. Then the Vietnamese development team could leverage newfound skills, experience, and network to develop their own products and services.

Lately, things have been picking up here and even more exciting milestones are on the horizon. However, there is a clear need for additional information—the lack of coverage in the Vietnamese tech scene is startling, especially with multi-polar cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang. The under-reporting in Vietnam could be an obstacle to newcomers who wish to join the growing community but with drive, commitment, and investment in the right activities, all of those obstacles can be overcome.

As for TechFest Vietnam, the bottom line is that startups here are getting them ready to scale beyond Vietnam; the startup community in Hanoi sent a clear message to the outside world:

“This is what we have done.

This what we are doing.

This is what we are going to do—do you want to join us?”

Forty Years Later

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This week we are at the end of a six-day holiday: Hung Vuong Day (Hung Vuong, i.e., “Hung King” is to celebrate the history and lineage of Vietnamese kings.) on April 28; Reunification Day (also called Victory Day or Liberation Day in Vietnam) on April 30; and International Worker’s Day on May 1, also known as “May Day.” It’s the first big holiday break since the Tet holiday (Lunar New Year, a nine-day holiday) back in February. (Originally, the current holiday vacation was requested to be eight days, but only six days were granted.) Signage proclaiming and celebrating these three special days are all over Hanoi, citizens have their flags out in front of their homes, and nationalist songs are broadcast on public address systems in the streets. During significant year anniversaries (30th, 35th, 40th, etc.) parades are held in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate the north “releasing” the south and the veterans that led the way.

In general, the atmosphere in Vietnam is quieter between Christmas and the Lunar New Year (one-to-two months). Things pick up between the Lunar New Year and this current holiday, but slow down again as we enter this break—in effect, another “reset.” The last day before the holiday, April 27, was the deadline to push through agreements before the exodus to places like Ha Long Bay, Co To, and Cat Ba islands.

As with Tet, many workers return to their home provinces and the streets in major cities become a bit quieter with less traffic (and less honking but not less dangerous, unfortunately). However, some work still goes on: directly and anecdotally, some construction workers on residential projects, service workers in cafes and bars, and factory workers in Bac Ninh all maintained their posts. The next big holiday is in September when Vietnam celebrates its Independence day on September 2. Thus, there are four solid months where business can proceed, unimpeded by long stretches of holiday. At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City’s rainy season begins, which can slow down travel around town due to flooding, and the weather in Hanoi heats up considerably (also slowing down the pace of things) since the city experiences proper seasons without snow.

This year is the 40th anniversary of Reunification Day, when North Vietnamese forces (NVA) captured Saigon and the Second Indochina War ended. In the US, April 30, 1975 is largely viewed as the final day of a tragic chapter in American foreign policy in Vietnam. For the more than one million Viet-Kieu (and their children) in the US, every April brings renewed memories of hardship, sacrifice, loss—and perseverance in a new land. There is no doubt that the war was a dark period for relations between the two governments at great expense of its peoples, some of which continues today. However, more than 40 years after Operation Frequent Wind, Vietnamese attitudes toward the US and capitalism may raise a few eyebrows.

New Attitudes

According to Pew Research, 76% of Vietnamese expressed a favorable opinion of the US during a 2014 poll. Almost nine-in-ten young people (as well as more educated people) were fond of the US. Of those who lived through the Second Indochina War (the Vietnam War as it is called in the US), six-in-ten over the age of 50 held a favorable view of the US. Perhaps the most surprising figure from the poll was that 95% of Vietnamese respondents believe “that people are better off in a free market economy, even if some people are rich and some are poor.” That’s not a typo; ninety-five percent of Vietnamese believe that people are better off in a free market economy (perhaps because the poll respondents picture themselves as the rich ones).

In fact, it’s not uncommon to hear from successful Vietnamese (with direct or close relations to VVIPs) that “making money is not bad… as long as you don’t hurt anybody.” Now, for those who have not spent much time in Vietnam, it may be surprising that there are so many “pro-American” attitudes in a one-party state, especially in the capital.

But spend some time working with Saigonese and doing business with Hanoians and the Pew Research results aren’t that hard to believe at all. For one, Vietnamese love and voraciously consume American culture. Furious 7, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, and Terminator Genisys are all films that have been screened or will be screened in Vietnam. Along with KPOP, Vietnamese youth listen to a variety of American music artists such as Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, and Katy Perry. American flag backpacks (as a fashion statement) are an occasional sight in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly and still known as Saigon). Last autumn in Hanoi there was even a American-style prom organized and American-style wedding requests aren’t that uncommon. (In fact there is even an American ordained minister who has performed a ceremonial wedding in Hanoi.)

In terms of American products, the Apple iPhone 6 is perhaps the most desired phone in Vietnam. Getting a gold iPhone 6 Plus is even better. Workers will spend two, three, or more months of their salaries just to have it and show off that they are able to afford one. Silicon Valley is the envy of many Vietnamese entrepreneurs in the tech industry. Even the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) initiated a Vietnam Silicon Valley program in 2013. And later this month the National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Development (NATEC), a division of MOST, is the main organizer for TechFest Vietnam, a three-day festival which will be held from May 15-17 at Vietnam National University in Hanoi.

And if you were to directly engage and question Vietnamese about the American War (as they know/learn about it), they would most likely respond with “No problem, it was not me and you who were fighting each other.” With two-thirds of Vietnam’s 90 million population being under the age of 30, that is not a surprising response at all. Other Vietnamese have described the US to your author as a “big and strong country,” a “rich country,” and even as “number one” in casual discussions over beer or coffee. (Of course, there are ideologues and “politically correct” apparatchiks to encounter as well.)

One Direction

But it’s not just people-to-people ties that are being forged; there are ever-growing official ties between the two countries as well. Coincidentally, this year is also the 20th anniversary of normal relations between the US and Vietnam. Looking forward, the US intends to be Vietnams’s largest trading partner (having traded $35 billion in total goods last year, the US is already Vietnam’s largest export market), and the TPP will only reinforce the relationship between the two countries even more. However, the intertwined paths of these two countries started long ago, and came to a salient point shortly after the end of the Second World War.

Thirty years before the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Ho Chi Minh stood in Ba Dinh square in Hanoi and read the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; it contained a familiar passage: “All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” “Uncle Ho,” as he also known, has another particularly famous saying that Americans might identify with: “Nothing is more precious than Independence and Liberty.” The American Founding Fathers would almost certainly agree with that sentiment.

Forty years later, Vietnam has transitioned from a war-torn economy to a manufacturing center and serves as an integral part of the global supply chain. Beginning with Doi Moi (“Renovation”) in 1986, the Vietnamese economy has become increasingly integrated with the world economy. There have been and will be other significant milestones as well: the US embargo against Vietnam ended in 1994, Vietnam ascended into the WTO in 2007, the TPP will most likely be implemented this year, and by 2018 all tariffs will be reduced to zero as part of ASEAN integration in the region–not to mention a host of other trade promotion vehicles that Vietnam is involved in at various stages. To some, the changes in Vietnam since 40 or even 20 years ago may be surprising, but as someone who heads a department in a ministry recently stated, “the world is changing so we too must change with the world.”

Michelle Phan and Vietnam

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“I am first a creator, but my ongoing objective is to leverage my personal success, to help mentor new and existing talent, and further help them achieve their goals.” —Michelle Phan

Michelle Phan is many things; an entrepreneur, a Vietnamese-American, a role model, a success story, and a phenomenon. Coming from humble beginnings, in 2007 she was rejected by Lancome for a makeup artist position because she had no prior sales experience. Instead, Phan turned to blogging and after two readers requested that she make a video tutorial, she obliged and a week later the video had 40,000 views. Today, Phan’s legacy so far is defined by $120 million in annual sales and 100 employees with brands like ipsy (offering a monthly makeup subscription) and her ICON Network (formerly “FAWN” or For All Women Network). Above all, Michelle Phan seems like she hasn’t reached her peak; just recently she was compared to and proclaimed as the next Oprah—all at the age of 27.

While Phan certainly hasn’t shied away from her roots, she also hasn’t seemed ready to take a plunge into business ventures in Vietnam. Phan’s first scheduled time in Vietnam was in November, 2010 (though she was not able to make it) and by her own account, the last (and first) time she visited Vietnam was in August, 2012. Recently, she celebrated her birthday in Japan, where she seems to prefer spending her time in Asia. However, she might be currently missing out on some very big opportunities in Vietnam.

[Update: Michelle Phan appeared at an event in Ho Chi Minh City on May 12, 2015.]

Investing in Vietnam would allow Phan to tap into one of the fastest growing markets (annual growth between 5 and 6 percent) in the world where Phan has clear and demonstrated cultural and heritage ties. Vietnam is part of the group dubbed “New Wealth Builders” which will outnumber mature markets after 2020. Already, the number of super rich (defined by having net worths over $30 million) in Vietnam has increased to over 100 in 2013 from only 34 in 2003. In short, many people are becoming successful as a result of the growing economy here and the growing middle class is continuously demanding newer and higher-quality products, fueled by their increased purchasing power.

Foray into Vietnam

Exactly how Phan should enter the market here is debatable. Vietnam is a complex market—each region (north, south, central, etc.) has its own quirks and consumer styles. However, there are over 90 million people, almost two-thirds of which are under the age of 40 and about a million babies are born here every year. The common area and interest is in two parts: foreign products are preferred in Vietnam, and young Vietnamese are already familiar with “vlogs” or video blogging—something that Phan pioneered in the US.

More importantly, Phan could be a role model for the country’s youth, especially its girls. In local advertising, White, Korean, or Japanese women are mainly present in ads—bombarding the youth with carefully crafted forms of “acceptable” beauty. But in Phan, young and impressionable Vietnamese women can see something else: themselves, i.e., someone who looks like them, who is successful, and who overcame a variety of challenges that they can directly relate to (gambling and/or absent father figure, sharing sleeping surfaces with siblings, financial troubles, rejection, etc.).

Phan’s makeup tutorials and other media can ultimately inspire and build confidence in young women. And in Vietnam that confidence can take several forms—both in the ability to do something (or try something new) but also to ask clarifying questions without the fear of looking foolish in front of colleagues (a significant problem in workplaces). And it can also provide something that money can’t buy: hope.

Cultural Trends

Even though KPOP, Korean soap operas, and other aspects of Korean culture have huge influence in today’s Vietnam, many young Vietnamese love American cultural products. American flag-themed fabrics can be seen in the streets of Ho Chi Minh City along with “Je t’aime Paris” apparel. Things are more toned down up north but in general, blonde-haired and blue-eyed people are often seen as the archetype of beauty and they are consistently showered with compliments when traversing the city streets in Vietnam.

For many Vietnamese, having white skin is one of their ultimate desires (meanwhile countless White people are trying to become a darker color via tanning—both naturally and artificially). There are entire product lines that are dedicated to skin whitening creams and bleaching lotions—a very different approach to beauty care than some westerners might be used to. In the streets, female motorbike drivers will go to great lengths by covering their entire bodies in order to prevent even a single ray of sunlight from reaching their skin (even in the blistering summer heat). There just aren’t many Vietnamese (role) models who are able to balance their local roots with international expectations (with the exception of some niche Viet Kieu singers) and transcend cultural boundaries.

Again, Phan is different; she is American and Vietnamese and she can help to bridge the cultural and understanding gap between people in both countries—imagine her appearing in a travel blog while going through Vietnam. It would help put Vietnam on the map for her legions of fans (whom she refers to as “Dreamers”). Right now the interest between the two countries is in one direction: toward the US for study (more than 16,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in the US).

Additionally, Michelle, with her model/foreigner boyfriend would be a surefire hit in Vietnam. Husband and wife/DJ duo Matt (of Poreotics) “Dumbo” and Tessa Nguyen are an example of a cross-cultural couple who has found success in Vietnam (mostly based in Ho Chi Minh City). (They spin regularly at Ace Club in Ho Chi Minh City.)

A Rising Brand

As profiled in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 recently, “She’s also got a line of makeup at L’Oréal, a music venture that promotes artists on social media and a deal with reality-TV giant Endemol for an online lifestyle channel. ‘I feel like this is just the beginning,’ she says.” Indeed, Michelle Pham is just getting started: imagine the brand and licensing opportunities when she gets married, has a baby, and her firstborn goes to school for the first time, etc.

Her “name and fame” would allow her to take smart risks in Vietnam to extend her brand. In the future, the Icon Network could be the roadmap for young Vietnamese: lifestyle, personal interest, comedy, and other advice all intersecting together in unison. Some adventurous Vietnamese YouTubers have started to push boundaries here in cyberspace like An Nguy, DamTV, and Mie Nguyen, but a unifying platform (like Icon Network) does not yet exist.

(What’s the alternative? The most famous private television channel in Vietnam is scaling back its programming and some new experiments like Can Ho So 69 have been tried but have proven to be too risqué for mass consumption.)

Thus, Phan could make an impact here and leverage the Vietnamese diaspora in France, Australia, Eastern Europe, and so on. In other words, first establish a brand in Vietnam and then expand outward again, tapping into those existing networks between Vietnamese and Viet Kieu. An alternative is to form a following then expand into other areas such as fashion— and Vietnam already a has robust textiles and manufacturing industries. Michelle Phan already disrupted the cosmetics industry–what’s next for her?

Into Vietnam

Ipsy (or something like it) in Vietnam can find the right niche (via clever experimentation since most e-commerce here is COD). If not, then Birchbox, Loot Crate, Barkbox, or any other monthly subscription service (most likely after proving it can be done in China) will be the first to break into this and other emerging markets (already Bethany Mota has visited India, a one billion plus consumer market). That’s not to say that Michelle Phan hasn’t attempted to connect more deeply with Vietnam. Em, “a reflection of Me” is Phan’s attempt to mate her culture and her personal brand. “Em” meaning “she” or “her” in Vietnamese (and other things, depending on the  context); but there’s no need to stop there—keep going until something beautiful happens.

So how exactly to build up in Vietnam?

  • Start small: aptly translate YouTube videos for Vietnamese or release special videos for the Vietnamese market (which means videos 30 seconds to one minute in length—any longer and there’s not enough patience/attention span);
  • Make more regular visits to Vietnam (and bring your boyfriend);
  • Expand the Icon Network into Asia, especially Vietnam. There are a number of successful YouTube VJs here but you can also hand-select and cultivate suitable talent;
  • Good quality and affordable makeup is hard to find in Vietnam; explore localization options for ipsy;
  • Develop service learning, social enterprise, or impact investing opportunities—the dollar goes much further in Asia and being a good citizen is good marketing; and
  • Mentor new and existing talent in Vietnam; there’s a lot of talent here. Young Vietnamese people are in the middle of changing times between tradition and modernity and feel like their generation is unlike any other. Start with the 2014 Graduate of the Year.

Raising the Bar Across Vietnam

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Currently, Ho Chi Minh City has a number of transformative and boundary-pushing new construction projects in various stages of completion. This pipeline of towering skyscrapers is fueled by creative architectural exploration which will help to redefine Ho Chi Minh City’s skyline for years to come. Many of these projects present developers with the opportunity of implementing evolving and emerging technologies into their respective visions. Therefore, high-tech, eco-friendly, renewable, innovative, and ergonomical designs, spaces, and solutions should all be seriously considered and employed where possible by project stakeholders, thereby raising the bar across Vietnam.

According to Asia Property Report, a “large group of Vietnamese shoppers said that they value security and cleanliness of a shopping centre, rather than putting a premium on prices and top foreign brand names, unlike their other Southeast Asian neighbours.”

Additionally, CBRE reports: “Luxury and high-end products will be sought-after, especially in Hanoi… [so] domestic retailers need to reassess and renovate themselves in order to compete with the new entrants [due to ASEAN integration in 2015 and beyond.]”

Furthermore, Cushman & Wakefield projects that, in 2015, “incentives will remain high as supply build-up pushes up vacancy.” How will developers differentiate their offerings from an increasing real estate inventory? LEED and LOTUS ratings help provide guidelines for green buildings, but there are additional options for homeowners, businesses, and developers.

These and other ongoing projects are in the middle of changing standards, expectations, and technologies here in Vietnam. Homeowners and other building occupants—especially those who are new to the idea of smart technologies—might have questions about different options.

  • What is it?
  • Why does it matter?
  • How will I benefit from it?

Well, ask yourself these questions first: is your home a smart home? (Swap out “home” with “workplace” or “school” since these technologies can cross boundaries in our lives.)

For example, is your home energy efficient? Can you control lights, TV, music, or the temperature from your smartphone? Are you breathing clean air and drinking filtered water? Not just cleaner air than what’s outside, but the best air in the world. Not just safer drinking water than your neighbors, but the safest in the world. (And yes, air and water can help distinguish a smart home from other homes: you can send your children to a better school but you can’t buy better ozone for them, at least not outside.)

Basically, our homes are made up of different systems: security, lighting, temperature, A/V—all of which can be automated, integrated, and controlled in different ways. We integrate these technologies together to form a single seamless point of control. “Technology integration” is the design, implementation, or programming of automation, integration, and control systems (such as Lutron, Crestron, and AMX) in residential and commercial settings. To date, we have operated as integrators, consultants, and advisors to companies and individual clients in HCMC and Hanoi since 2011.

These different technologies allow a homeowner or end user to control most systems via his/her Apple iPhone, iPad, or other smart device, i.e., control lighting, motorized shades, temperature, audio, and video distribution systems all with simple button presses. Any of these technology platforms can be utilized as a standalone product as well, including individual room solutions depending on a client’s budget. In short, a smart home means having one of the best homes; safe, luxurious, and unique. It goes beyond the basics in a tasteful and elegant way.

Imagine coming home: you walk up the steps and once you are inside, you press the “Welcome” button on the nearest keypad to the main entrance. Immediately, certain lights (we call these “presets”) begin turning on—accents, down lights, and chandeliers. At the same time, automated shades begin raising to reveal the full-length windows and the stunning view behind them.

As you move beyond the foyer and into the living room, your favorite art pieces are softly lit and soothing music is playing through the in-ceiling speakers—all automated, of course. Your focus turns to the faint scent of fresh herbs so you stop by the kitchen to see what’s on the menu for tonight before continuing on to the study, your inner sanctum. The study is a toasty 28 centigrade, just as you set it from your smart phone even before leaving the office. Time to wrap up those last few emails before dinner.

After dinner, you decide to watch a movie; as you walk into your living room, it dawns on you that it could double as a Bang & Olufsen show room: BeoVision Avant, BeoSound 5, and BeoLab 5 models are the first objects that catch your eye.

Sitting on the couch, you try to decide what to watch. Thanks to a VPN, you have the option of Netflix so House of Cards comes to mind. You remember that your building began offering Nevaya’s services the month before so you browse the selection of new releases. It’s nice to unwind with a glass of wine, so you settle on your favorite comedy.

Halfway through the movie, your phone rings: it’s a friend who wants to meet up for a drink. “Sure, let’s meet downtown in 20 minutes,” you respond. Reaching for your glass of wine, you take one last sip before heading toward the front door.

Before leaving, you press the “Goodbye” button on the keypad next to the front door. Within seconds all the lights in common areas turn off. Whatever audio or video zones were active before are now silent. Within a few minutes all the lights, music, and video zones are off and while you are already on the way to meet your friend.

These are some of the most visible benefits of smart technologies—but it gets better once you notice the energy savings on your monthly utility bills.

A Smarter Work Environment

Time is money; the new year is coming up and you have to report back the year’s financial reports via teleconference. As ASEAN integration proceeds, Vietnamese companies will have to interface more often with foreign companies and their workers. As future workers in a dedicated teleconferencing room, students are able to schedule e-meetings with experts in other cities or even work together with students in other countries.

Imagine that you are at work, early in the morning. The sky is clear so the sun’s rays are strong as they enter the window next to your desk. Sensors in the ceiling are able to detect the amount of sunlight coming in from the window. Since the office is on one of the upper floors, there is a clear line of sight. However, the shades automatically lower to reduce the amount of overwhelming sunlight.

As the day enters the afternoon, the shades slowly raise as the sun begins to set. Soon, lights begin to turn on once the natural light in the space reaches the lower limit. The shades are fully raised when the team decides to call it a day as they head out to share dinner.

The temperature, lights, and shades are all operating on “Away” mode now. Occupancy sensors in the main common areas allow lighting where and when it is needed, thereby keep operating costs low.

Education for the 21st century

The professor goes up to the lectern in the front of the classroom. She presses a button soon the bright blue light of a projector appears on the smart board behind her. The projector has several sources: she can show a documentary from the DVD player, pull up a webpage from the computer in the lectern, or show a document on the digital camera. Her students pay attention—will it be a movie today? Or a new and interesting interactive experience?

Technologies That Help You

There may be a number of sub-systems in a building: HVAC, Power/Lighting, Building Energy Management, Security, etc. Together, they actively communicate to make sure a building operates as leanly as possible, depending on how many people are active inside. While each company that specializes in a certain technology has different national origin, they all have one share aspect in common: they are among the best in the world.

AMX is an American company—its technology has been used in celebrity homes, corporate boardrooms, and even the White House. AMX specializes in meeting technology which is suitable for hotels, convention centers, and other spaces.

Lutron, an American company founded in 1961, has been a pioneer in lighting, shading, and temperature solutions. Today, the company holds over 2700 patents. In Vietnam, Lutron products have been used in the Park Hyatt, in the Summit Lounge at the Sofitel Plaza, at the JW Marriott, and in villas throughout the country.

Nevaya, a British company, to promote a cloud-based IPTV solution ideal for hotel operators and serviced residences in Vietnam and Asia. Let’s say that you want to watch a movie. Well, with Nevaya’s IPTV services you can do exactly that. Best of all, basic services are included in your service fee that you pay to the company that manages your serviced residence.

OnControls, an American company, offers room control solutions that are hosted in the cloud. This advantage allows the cost of room control to be lowered since the hardware footprint is less and changes can be easily made from the web portal.

Bang & Olufsen, a Danish brand, complements any luxury housing as it has done for the past 90 years. Its products are distinct showcases of quality, design, and art.

IQAir is a Swiss family owned company with 50 years of history in air purification. All IQAir products are made in Switzerland, conform to the strictest standards, and are considered the leading edge in their respective categories.

BWT, a German company, is Europe`s number one water technology company. The company has proven expertise in both domestic and industrial water technology. Here in Vietnam, the company concentrates on small (domestic, small office, restaurant, etc.) installations.

All of these technologies are available today—in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang or any other location. By the way, other technologies will soon arrive as well to help eliminate skills, craftsmanship, and corruption challenges.

Impacting the Environment Around Us

Five-star luxury in your home—did you think it was possible 20 or 10 years ago in Vietnam? You can make it happen today. A smart home allows you to express yourself and it allows you to simplify your life by providing convenience, safety and peace of mind. You can either help set the trend or play catch up in the future. You drive a nice car, you have a cool phone, but what about your home?

Set your life apart from your friends’ and family’s home. Make your own style; we can help you do that. Experience a comfortable temperature all year round in your home. No wet and dry season—always the perfect humidity indoors. Have a Smart Home, the Best Home, a Future Home.

While individuals can take it upon themselves to convert their residence into a smart home, the most efficient way to create a smart ecosystem is to incorporate units into the smart building design, or even better, to incorporate buildings into the smart city design. Ultimately, specifying and utilizing these technologies allows architects, developers, and designers to differentiate their projects from others in Vietnam and Asia (and provides homeowners/residents/occupants with a new level of technological and luxurious living). Everybody wins.

Vietnam Today

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Vietnam means different things to different people—some of these perceptions change every day, every year, or every visit and some of them remain frozen in time.

Tradition. An untapped opportunity. A glorious past. Increasing competition. The Fatherland. Independence. Echoes of war. A bright future. A rising dragon. The party. People of the sea. Resilience. Freedom. Children of the mountains. Liberalization. Home. Happiness.

So, what is Vietnam today? This post attempts to encapsulate daily life in Vietnam as a snapshot of some of the most common sights, sounds, and experiences in the country today. Some items on this list are not exclusive to Vietnam (or even Asia) but they are still noticeable in daily life in a major city like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi.

Vietnam is the land of…

1. “Selfies”

If you go out one night in either Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, you’ll probably find people taking selfies or self-captured photos. There are certain requirements for where and when one should take a selfie, including being with a significant other, before eating, being with friends, and generally anywhere and everywhere in between. The ubiquity of smart phones in Vietnam allows for the endless flow of media experiences to be captured, shared, and commented on to form an constant feedback loop.

2. Cafes

The cafe is an important part of life for Vietnamese. They are used for a bunch of core activities including meetings, relaxing, literally sitting around, playing games (multiplayer and single player), and to communicate status. Some common drinks are cafe sua da (also known as cafe no da in the north), xinh to xoai, and tra da. The cafe culture here is strong, rich, and all-encompassing but still very different in parts of the country.

3. iPhones

Not just smartphones, but Apple iPhones. These devices are seemingly everywhere and can be seen used by celebrities as well as (some) shopkeepers and street vendors. One way that the number of iOS devices increase in the country is through family: as people upgrade their handsets to the latest models, they pass on their older models to family members. There are millions of iOS devices in Vietnam but the app marketplace is largely fragmented with third party app portals.

4.Honking

A sea of traffic, clouds of exhaust, and incessant honking. Many Vietnamese drivers seem to use the horn simply because it is there. Another large portion seem to use the horn as if were sonar by sending out “pings.” The horns here seem to be at least 30% louder than US models and we could see custom horns emerge here similar to how there are custom ringtones for phones.

5. Wi-Fi

There is no need to ask if a venue has WiFi since it’s more efficient to ask what the password is (usually 12345678 or some similar variation). Almost every cafe or restaurant provides free Wi-Fi (that works when an undersea cable isn’t damaged). The widespread availability of Wi-Fi could pose a cyber security risk in the future, especially if the lax attitude toward privacy continues here.

6. Motorbikes

Vietnam is the world’s fourth largest market for motorbikes. During rush hour, motorbikes form rivers, which larger vehicles attempt to ford or cut through with impatience. Trying to navigate an intersection with other motorbikes is probably akin to being in a mechanized phalanx. Companies like Yamaha Motors Vietnam need to position themselves carefully considering that the Vietnamese dream is to drive to work in a car.

7. New construction

Drive around Hanoi and you can hear and see the future of Vietnam. Fly into Ho Chi Minh City and you can see the cranes that dot the city from above. Some future projects will be added to an already large real estate inventory (with outrageous prices per square meter) while smarter developers will find ways to differentiate their projects via advanced automation, control, and integration technologies in buildings to benefit end-users (and ultimately, to increase ROI).

8. Recycling

“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” here is “Resell, Reuse, Repurpose.” Empty water bottles are collected and sold to recyclers. Anything that is not completely broken or destroyed is used or repurposed until it falls apart. It’s one of the most efficient aspects of Vietnam—especially when contrasted to some western habits of instantly replacing or upgrading appliances.

9. Name Brands

Nouveau riche are rising in status and increasing in numbers. Of course they are flocking to luxury brands but some lack the sophistication that usually comes with style. As they say, “money doesn’t buy class” so there is opportunity for etiquette schooling and training, especially in the north.

10. Youth

Young people are everywhere and although there are far too many banking and finance majors, they are the future of Vietnam (as cliched as it may be). A segment of them are break dancing, popping, locking, and dropping their ways into adulthood while those studying STEM subjects seem to be diving headlong into startups and IT outsourcing. Right now, many young Vietnamese idolize KPOP stars and are hungry for American culture—but they will all eventually craft their own styles.

11. Touch

Personal space does not exist here. Touching, at times inappropriately (from western point of view), is a way to communicate (since much of Vietnamese language relies on context). Couples (not just romantic ones) can be seen walking together in a semi-drunken stagger while talking loudly, laughing, or sharing some inside joke.  Be prepared to “pinball” off some people in crowded public spaces as space is at a premium. Co-workers regularly and playfully slap each other; a sign of affection.

12. Drinking

Drinking and Vietnam go hand-in-hand. Beer Hanoi, Beer Saigon, Beer Truc Bach (the finest beer in Vietnam), Beer Halong, Beer Hue—you get the idea (those are all beer brands, by the way). Then there is ruou, rice alcohol which can come in a variety of flavors. Drinking is an occasion for bonding, building soft relationships with counterparts, and for social (and professional) lubrication.

13. Smoking

Cigarettes, traditional bongs, and hookah. Non-smokers are in for a rough time in Vietnam—there’s always someone smoking nearby (usually Marlboro or Thanh Long brands). Smoking is allowed indoors and is encouraged in nightlife spaces. The air quality already is not great in major cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi—the longterm health implications of these combinations are alarming. Purchases and installations of air and water filtration systems will become more common as Vietnamese seek to protect their children from harmful exposure to pollutants.

14. Music

Music is used to attract customers on the street, to drown out one’s senses in nightclubs, and just because someone is in the mood to blast it. Young people on the street break out into impromptu ballads or sing along with songs in unison. Overall, music here is dangerously loud and Vietnamese will pay the price for these unsafe audio levels in the form of fees to audiologists.

15. Stares

Everyone stares here, especially if you are an attractive woman, a foreigner, or are different in any way, shape, or form—in that case then they stare at you as if you are an alien. A simple smile or wave can break the ice but coming from a culture where staring is considered impolite, it can be jarring to some.

20 Years (+/-)

Twenty years ago this list would have been radically different except for a few items. Most vehicles on the roads were bicycles at that time. Imagine what a snapshot of Vietnam will be in the year 2035 with approximately 110 million people. Unrecognizable? Some parts Bangkok and other parts Hong Kong? Sustainable eco-tourism? A center for innovation in Southeast Asia?

In the early 20th century, the population of Vietnam was about 20 million. Today, Vietnam has over 90 million people. Vietnam is rapidly changing; some changes are positive and while others are unclear. What will be Vietnam’s role as we continue deeper into the 21st century? Only time will tell but one thing is certain—the pace of change here will surely increase.

A traditional Tet meal on Lunar New Year’s Eve.

Tet in Vietnam

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Hanoi is currently shut down; countless stores are closed, it’s hard to find a meal in town (in certain areas), and at times, the city almost feels as if it is under curfew. However, Hanoi is not the only city that is experiencing these conditions–across the entire country, Vietnamese are currently in the middle of celebrating Tet, which marks the transition from the Year of the Horse to the Year of the Goat. This year, the Tet holiday (Tet Nguyen Dan) is officially observed from February 15 to February 23, but the New Year’s Day is on February 19.

To foreigners, Tet is New Year’s, Christmas, and Thanksgiving all rolled into one extended holiday. It is based on the same lunar calendar that other Asian cultures, such as the Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, subscribe to. Indeed, it can be difficult to celebrate Tet as an expat or tourist unless there are existing familial or close friendly ties with people here. For Vietnamese, the holiday is a time to remember ancestors and a time to spend with young and old family members alike. During Tet, people look back on the old year and look forward to the new year. Overall, people wish each other health, happiness, and success; and hand out lucky money to children and old people. For many Vietnamese, Tet is the only vacation that they will have the entire year, which is the main reason why there are so many pilgrimages to respective hometowns (where they gather with the rest of the family to have meals together).

To historians (and some Americans), hearing the holiday’s name may remind them of the Tet Offensive, which took ARVN and American forces by surprise in 1968 during the Second Indochina War when, before going into battle, General Vo Nguyen Giap ordered the forces under his command to “Crack the Sky, Shake the Earth.” As with many national holidays, Vietnam’s flag is flown from almost every home and business, reflecting the deep nationalism and patriotism that permeates every facet of Vietnamese society. In this sense, tradition, national sovereignty, and history are all intertwined in the celebration of the Tet Nguyen Dan holiday in Vietnam.

Preparing for Tet

In the days leading up to New Year’s Eve (February 18) there are a number of preparations that must be carried out for every family. These duties range from cleaning to paying off debts to stocking up for food to celebrate the holiday during “hibernation.” There are a number of fairs that pop up throughout the country, which allow Vietnamese to shop for essentials and new items to bring in the new year. All kinds of rooms, transportation, and everything else travel-related is nearly fully booked weeks in advance. Even getting a taxi in the days before Tet becomes a challenge (and the experience reminded your author of trying to get a taxi in San Francisco before Uber and Lyft were available) and makes running simple errands take even longer than usual. Traditionally, a family must clean their home (and vehicles) and prepare Tet food—some of which can take hours to make (like banh chung). However, in recent years the widespread availability of Tet foods at local markets have allowed some families to transition away from preparing Tet foods themselves.

But really, preparation for Tet begins weeks before—perhaps even as far back as the western New Year. There’s a festive attitude and laid back mindset that seems to swallow Vietnam entirely; it is a distinct “post-Tet” and “pre-Tet” atmosphere that affects everything from meetings to schedules to business deals. As early as January people are already looking forward to Tet and many business activities will be pushed into next (lunar) year. Thus, the focus around this time before Tet is on end-of-the-year parties for workers, which begin shortly after a workday and continue late into the night (as allowed by local ordinances).

That’s not to say that Tet isn’t a busy time—it is, just from a personal orientation (and relationship—but that too can blur the line between personal and professional) rather than a professional orientation. Everyone is rushing around to wrap up last minute items and to get everything ready for Tet and the subsequent shutdown. Flowers are everywhere; in the north, orange kumquat trees are preferred, while in the south yellow flowers are associated with Tet. Interestingly enough, a week before the Tet holiday, the kitchen gods must be appeased (by releasing fish) so that a family will have a good report for the Jade Emperor; this year even US Ambassador Ted Osius and his family joined in the festivities to release fish into Hoan Kiem lake.

All over town, “Mung Dang, Mung Xuan” banners are seen in various shapes and forms; it means, “greet the party, greet the spring.” Here, spring is the first three months of the year, the first season of the year, and the new start as well as the start of prosperity for the new year. (During this time, prisoners who are eligible for good behavior are released so that they too can spend the new year with their families and to have a “new start.”)

Then, starting on the day before New Year’s Eve most shops close their doors for at least several days. There is an eerie sense of calm in usually busy areas of the city and the few motorbikes and cars on the road are sparkling clean. Daily trash pickup occur earlier than expected to accommodate the vigorous spring cleaning and the Tet fairs have all shut down, replaced by flower sellers. The first day of the new year is on the horizon.

Tet Arrives

The last meal of the year is one of the most important because it brings family, the ultimate glue of Vietnamese society, together: banh chung, the traditional Tet cake, is the most widely known Tet food but there are several other side dishes that are only prepared for Tet. If Hanoians don’t stay at home to bring in the new year with family then they go to Hoan Kiem lake (also known as Ho Guom) to see the fireworks. Another popular gathering point is My Dinh stadium, which was built several years ago as part of a sports initiative for the New Tu Liem District and where we celebrated the new year.

Vietnamese began assembling around My Dinh stadium early in the night so as midnight approached the area was full of motorbikes and cars. As the fireworks began shortly after midnight almost everyone took out their smartphones and began recording the illuminating display overhead. Those who weren’t transfixed by the fireworks were riding (at times, driving so fast that they appeared to fly) their motorcycles between the improvised lanes of spectators. Some riders honked loudly while others waved Vietnam’s flag behind them, procession style. About twenty minutes later, when the fireworks had ended, a mass exodus began and the entire area transformed into a frenzied parking lot. It is considered good luck and tradition to bring home a tree branch so several were on sale on the side of a few roads leading away from My Dinh stadium–there were also envelopes for lucky money as well as giant red balloons which had the traditional new year greeting, Chuc Mung Nam Moi (Happy New Year!), on them. Some children who were riding on the back of motorbikes wished those around them a “Happy New Year” as their parents looked on approvingly.

Superstitions dictate many activities in Vietnam so it is important to pay respect to spirits, especially ancestral ones. Some Vietnamese rush to the pagodas in the early hours of the new year in order to be the first to pay respect to ancestors, spirits, ghosts, and other otherworldly elements. For those who can wait until daylight, the pagoda is perhaps even more crowded than shortly after midnight. For us, we started the new year off with a bottle of Hanoi beer and then proceeded to go home to rest after a long and enlightening night.

The first official visitor of the new year at a house needs to be good (character, esteem, success, etc.) in order to bring the family good luck for the rest of the year. Tet is celebrated in a series of days: traditionally, the first day is for the father’s family, the second day is for the mother’s family and the third day is for teachers. Lucky money, “li xi,” is presented to older family members as a sign of respect—as well as to younger children (up to around 21, in some cases). $2 bills are given out to children (with particular attention paid to the serial numbers or other significant numbers) and all money must be in crisp, new condition. The numbers two, six, and eight are particularly auspicious numbers in Vietnam.

The Effects of Tet

Tet is a deeply family-oriented and nationwide experience. Any manager must be aware of the impact that Tet has on the country during the actual holiday but also for the schedules that it may impact. Business will mostly return to normal within 15 days after Tet but in reality the economic climate is affected for five or six weeks before and after Tet. For example, to some, it is considered bad luck to do real estate transactions in the first lunar month (until March 19). A few years ago, many stores and shops used to be closed. But now there are places that remain open for tourists and expats. Many workers look forward to the Tet bonus or “13th month salary” (and some workers even plan job changes around it) which can drive up the costs for a company–or negatively impact morale if the Tet bonus is not aligned with workers’ expectations.

Tet has its origins in the old agrarian society in Vietnam—it gave workers a chance to rest before doing hard work on the fields. However, as Vietnam has shifted to a service oriented economy, some have called to get rid of or shorten Tet because of productivity and other economic losses. Sometimes, there are some negative elements that are associated with the holiday season. For example, criminal activity can sometimes increase shortly before Tet as a result of people trying to pay off their debts. However, the real danger during Tet is the drunken driving and traffic accidents. One reason is lack of experience: people rent cars to drive to their hometowns and do not really have experience or skills to drive larger vehicles (since most of the time they are driving motorbikes).

However, good food, which is only cooked at this time of the year, can lift the spirits of everyone—-although if you are a foreigner, finding a meal can be a challenge with the exception of chains and larger retailers. But basically, it is the few days per year when everyone is nice to each other (or so we have been told by locals). Most expats leave during the holiday, but Tet in Vietnam is something that you should try to experience for yourself. The bottom is line is: do not underestimate Tet, its significance, or the impact it has on plans and travel—the impact on business here is real. But do not worry–soon, the hustle and bustle will be back, the deals and money will start flowing again, and things will be back to normal (for better or for worse).

We wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and prosperous Year of the Goat–Chuc Mung Nam Moi!