Vietnam’s economy has witnessed a spectacular transition in gender roles in business during the nearly 40 years of “Doi Moi” (Economic Renewal). Whereas the business environment was once presumed to be the domain of men, governed by rigid management philosophies, women’s presence and intellect now permeate key sectors.
Vietnamese women are shifting from the “back seat” to the “captain’s seat”, steering enterprises forward. Combining empathetic leadership with decisiveness, women entrepreneurs are not only building personal wealth but also pioneering humane, sustainable value for the community, elevating the national economy in the new era.
Pivotal roles
According to the Agency for Private Enterprise and Collective Economy Development at the Ministry of Finance, as of October 2025, Vietnam had more than 1 million active businesses, of which an impressive 20 per cent or more are women-owned and more than half have female participation in ownership structures.
The number of women-led enterprises has been growing at a rate of at least 2 per cent each year; far exceeding the average growth of the business community overall. This has positioned Vietnam as one of ASEAN’s most dynamic markets for female entrepreneurs, with one of the region’s most effective networks of women-owned businesses.
Ms. Mai Thi Dieu Huyen, Vice Chairwoman in charge of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Council at the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), noted that the private sector currently contributes about 45 per cent of GDP and 33 per cent of the State budget. Within this vast growth engine, women entrepreneurs account for 24 per cent in number yet play pivotal roles across sectors from agriculture and consumer goods to services and, notably, innovation. No longer behind the scenes, they are on the frontlines confronting challenges to create value.
To attain today’s position, women in business have undergone a rigorous process of “tempering,” pairing elegance with extraordinary resilience and pressure tolerance. However, the path to success is not paved with roses. Ms. Huyen and experts from RMIT University have identified a range of systemic barriers still facing women business owners. Most women-led businesses remain small in scale, facing difficulties in accessing formal finance and limited market networks.
More concerning are the invisible barriers of social prejudice. The dual burden of family and work remains a persistent challenge. An RMIT study emphasized that gender bias continues to undermine women’s leadership authority, with real cases of clients doubting a female director’s role solely because of her gender.
Ms. Alice Hawkins, Second Secretary at the Embassy of Australia in Vietnam, agreed that women often lack access to comprehensive business networks and development services. Existing training programs can be overly theoretical, failing to equip them with practical skills such as negotiation, strategic management, and digital technology application in the Industry 4.0 era.
Yet it is precisely in adversity that women’s managerial identity shines. Attention to detail, perseverance in crisis, and an empathetic ability to connect teams become their defining strengths, turning pressure into motivation and prejudice into leverage to prove their capabilities.
Writing a new chapter
In the digital era, Vietnamese women leaders have demonstrated vision equal to any male counterpart. Mr. Dau Anh Tuan, Deputy Secretary General of VCCI, described them as true “female generals” in the marketplace.
One prominent example is Ms. Le Hong Thuy Tien, CEO of the Imex Pan Pacific Group (IPPG). Under her leadership, IPPG has transformed from a small distributor into a leading retail powerhouse over more than 35 years, bringing over 100 luxury brands to Vietnam. Beyond retail, she is building a strategy to position Vietnam as a regional shopping hub through modern duty free and outlet networks.
Her vision is closely tied to technology. Ms. Tien has anchored IPPG’s development on three pillars: intelligent automation using AI and big data to forecast demand and optimize supply chains; a hybrid intelligence model blending physical retail with digital platforms to personalize the customer journey; and investment in knowledge through sponsorship of AI training centers at universities to prepare future talent.
Aligned with the green transition, Ms. Huynh Bich Ngoc, Standing Vice Chair and CEO of the TTC Group, has chosen circular agriculture as a strategic direction. With targets including VND60 trillion ($2.31 billion) in revenue by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035, TTC demonstrates that business is not only about profit but also about responsibility to the planet. Through transparency and decisive green transformation, she has mobilized substantial international financing, reinforcing the credibility of Vietnamese women entrepreneurs globally.
The most distinctive trait of women entrepreneurs is inclusiveness in leadership thinking. They pursue not only personal prosperity but also community value, particularly supporting other women.
Ms. Tien said IPPG actively partners with small and medium-sized enterprises and collaborates with UN Women to promote Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). For her, sustainable development begins with equal opportunity for all genders.
At the BLUSAIGON JSC, meanwhile, Chairwoman Ton Nu Xuan Quyen has taken a deeply humanistic path by revitalizing traditional handicrafts. Through her pearl pens, she sells not just products but stories of women’s entrepreneurial resilience, believing that workers vulnerable to digital disruption deserve preservation and recognition through cultural values.
Within the multinational sector, Ms. Huynh Thi Ngoc Truc, Vice President, Country Head of People at Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam, has made women’s empowerment a mission tied to shareholder commitments. With a goal of 50 per cent female leadership by 2030, she has broken stereotypes that technical and supply chain roles belong only to men, even “exporting” Vietnamese female leaders to demanding markets such as India and Indonesia.
At the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), women constitute 60 per cent of the workforce. Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Giao, Senior Executive Vice President of BIDV, noted that women hold 99 per cent of leadership roles in retail banking. Leveraging empathy, they have designed initiatives such as “BIDV Women & Wealth,” redefining wealth beyond money to include knowledge, health, and networks.
No longer decorative figures in a harsh marketplace, women are architects of sustainable value, agents of change, and the clearest proof of equality in action. Whether leading a conglomerate or a handicraft workshop, they are writing a new chapter for the national economy with empathy and sharp intellect.
In the new era, I believe the role of businesses is also changing. Enterprises are not only generating profits but also helping shape industry development standards and enhance the national image. Each export shipment is not merely a commercial transaction but also a reflection of Vietnam’s credibility in international markets.
For women entrepreneurs, this is a period to demonstrate leadership through intellect and resilience. Women in agricultural exports are not only involved in operations but also directly engaged in strategic planning, risk management, and building corporate cultures grounded in integrity and discipline. In an increasingly transparent global business environment, sustainable competitive advantage does not come from noise but from stability and standards. Women entrepreneurs can contribute to this transition through long-term thinking and the ability to balance economic efficiency with social responsibility.
Our aspiration for the new year is not only to expand markets but also to elevate Vietnamese agricultural products through quality and standards. I believe that when each enterprise maintains its internal strength and each entrepreneur upholds integrity, the national economy will be reinforced from its most solid foundations.
In my view, the new era is one of intellect, standards, and responsibility - and women entrepreneurs can absolutely take the lead in elevating Vietnam’s value in the global marketplace.
To advance women-owned businesses, three core solutions are essential: institutional and policy reforms to create a more equal and transparent business environment; expanded access to finance to help women entrepreneurs obtain capital, particularly from the private sector and international funds; and digital innovation linked with building networks that support women entrepreneurs domestically and internationally.
Regarding institutions, empowering women entrepreneurs with intellectual property rights is critical, as up to 70 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises have not registered their own brands or trademarks. Ensuring gender-responsive transparency in intellectual property rights will help women protect creative assets, enhance competitiveness, and build sustainable brands.
In addition, leadership remains predominantly male. The share of women in leadership and management positions should increase from the current 24 per cent to 30-40 per cent in the near future. Achieving this requires institutional reform, simplified investment and business procedures, and the removal of gender-related barriers. Institutional reform will also help safeguard women entrepreneurs’ brands, especially major brands, from imitation or theft. When women have equal opportunities in leadership and innovation, the economy will grow more inclusively and sustainably. Politburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW represents a “golden opportunity” for Vietnam to realize this core solution.
Financial access solutions include venture capital, funding programs, and support resources such as STEM [Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics] scholarships for women entrepreneurs. For women-led businesses, I encourage entrepreneurs to invest in building and digitizing their brands and to treat these as assets when accessing loans.
As a woman entrepreneur, I understand the unique challenges women face in the marketplace. However, I also see significant opportunities. Women today are no longer on the sidelines but are increasingly becoming creators, leaders, and sources of inspiration. Flexibility in thinking, persistence in action, and the ability to balance business efficiency with human values are advantages that enable women entrepreneurs to adapt quickly to a new context, where success is measured not only by revenue but also by positive contributions to society.
In the new era, as sustainable development becomes an inexorable requirement, I believe a company’s core value lies not only in scale or growth speed but also in how it chooses to engage with society. On that foundation, I am confident that Vietnamese women entrepreneurs will continue to assert their pioneering role, contributing to the creation of a green, digital, and deeply humane economy for the country.
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