In Episode 390 of Vietnam Innovators (English Edition), Giovanni Zangani, Founder and Managing Partner of Maestro Equity Partners, shares his perspective on what foreign investors often misunderstand about doing business in Vietnam.

Beyond the country’s strong macro growth story, Giovanni explains why real returns come from understanding local entrepreneurs, family-run businesses, and the operational realities behind the market. The conversation also explores the importance of trust-building, cultural nuances, and taking a hands-on approach when working alongside Vietnamese founders.

Through practical insights and real investment experiences, the episode offers a closer look at what it takes to build long-term business success in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing markets.

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As consumers are presented with more choices than ever before, packaging is becoming an increasingly important touchpoint between brands and customers.

Beyond helping products stand out and capture consumer attention, new packaging solutions also enable businesses to optimize transportation costs, expand distribution capabilities, and meet rising standards for food safety and sustainability.

Episode 389 of the Vietnam Innovators podcast (English edition), featuring two special guests from Ecolean - Thomas Hultin, Group CEO, and Peter Hauggaard, Managing Director for Southeast Asia & the Middle East - offers deeper insights into the increasingly important role of packaging innovation in shaping the future of F&B industry.

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Vietnam is gradually evolving from a traditional manufacturing hub into a market where local businesses are building their own brands and reaching global consumers through e-commerce export.The growth of digital platforms is lowering barriers to entry, enabling Vietnamese companies - especially SMEs - to participate more directly in global value chains. This shift is also extending beyond major urban centers, beginning to impact traditional industries and regional communities.In this episode of the Vietnam Innovators podcast (English edition), Larry Hu, Head of Amazon Global Selling, Southeast Asia, shares his insights into this transformation and what it could mean for the next phase of Vietnam’s export economy.---

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In Episode 387 of Vietnam Innovators, Eddie Thai, Co-founder and General Partner of Ascend Vietnam Ventures, shares his perspective on the unique “DNA” of Vietnam’s tech ecosystem. From the country’s impressive economic growth, averaging 7% annually since 1990, to ongoing structural reforms in government, Vietnam is steadily building a strong foundation for long-term potential.

The conversation highlights the resilience of Vietnamese startups amid a volatile capital market, the transformative role of technology in traditional sectors such as agriculture, and the challenge of building large-scale businesses to unlock global expansion opportunities. Eddie Thai also reflects on lessons from missed investment opportunities and shares his outlook on the future development of Vietnam’s capital markets.

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With the strong economic fundamentals and growth potential, Vietnam has emerged as one of the most dynamic markets in Asia, drawing increasing attention from international investors and businesses.

Yet alongside these opportunities come operational challenges, particularly in areas such as cross-border payments, capital controls, and foreign exchange conversion costs. These financial frictions can add unnecessary expenses for businesses and slow their expansion into global markets.

To help address these issues, Airwallex - a global financial infrastructure platform - is building solutions designed to simplify international payments, reduce FX costs, and help companies manage cash flow more efficiently so they can focus on long-term growth.

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Amid ongoing political tensions in the Middle East, attention is increasingly turning to the potential ripple effects on the global economy, including Vietnam.

Volatility in oil prices, risks to global supply chains, and potential spillover effects on inflation and economic growth are among the key issues being closely watched as geopolitical tensions in the region persist.

Back on the Vietnam Innovators (English) podcast, macroeconomics expert Michael Kokalari shares his insights and offers further analysis on how these developments could affect Vietnam’s economy.

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What is the key to successfully scaling a business?

If your answer is a well-crafted strategy, that may be necessary, but it’s not enough. According to Mr. Vinnie Lauria, Founding Partner at Golden Gate Ventures, the real differentiators are people and a deep understanding of cultural nuances - factors that help companies grow sustainably as they enter new markets.

Lauria began his career as an entrepreneur before moving into venture capital. Today, he is a Founding Partner of Golden Gate Ventures and is known for helping connect the startup ecosystems of Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia. He has also been recognized by the Founder Institute as one of Asia’s top startup mentors among a global network of more than 2,500 mentors.

Drawing on these experiences, he and his co-authors recently released Mind the Gap: Scaling Businesses Across Cultures, a practical guide for leaders looking to scale their businesses across different cultures.

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Sustainable farming practices and the application of science and technology are becoming increasingly important for Vietnam’s agricultural sector, helping improve productivity, reduce environmental impact, and enable farmers to better adapt to market fluctuations.

Against this backdrop, companies such as De Heus are playing an increasingly important role by working alongside farmers to support a more sustainable and efficient agricultural ecosystem.

To learn more, tune in to Episode 382 of the Vietnam Innovators podcast (English edition), where host Hao Tran speaks with Rick van der Linden - Managing Director Livestock & Genetics at De Heus - about the challenges and opportunities shaping Vietnam’s agricultural sector.

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Higher education, especially the research university model, plays an increasingly important role in developing Vietnam’s skilled workforce. It also gives students greater access to international academic and research environments.One of the most notable education partnerships between Vietnam and Germany is led by Prof.Dr. René Thiele, President of Vietnamese-German University (VGU). Before taking on this role, he was Professor of Geoinformatics and Vice President for Studies and Teaching at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences (Germany).In Episode 381 of the Vietnam Innovators podcast (English edition), Prof.Dr. René Thiele joins host Hao Tran to discuss the forces shaping the future of higher education. During the conversation, he also highlights the role of research universities such as VGU in addressing pressing energy challenges while preparing the next generation of talent for Vietnam’s emerging industries.

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The rapid growth of the healthtech industry and AI in digital health is reshaping how people access and manage healthcare worldwide. Instead of relying solely on hospital visits, many technology-driven solutions now allow users to track health metrics, manage chronic diseases, and build healthier habits directly through mobile applications.

Amid this wave of innovation, technology entrepreneurs are increasingly combining artificial intelligence, health data, and mobile platforms to create more personalized and preventive healthcare solutions. One of the notable figures pursuing this vision is Ofir Ejnes, CEO and Co-founder of Elfie, a digital health platform that is expanding across multiple Asian markets, including Vietnam.

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