Vietnam Innovators

The global gaming industry is entering a period of rapid growth, where developers are fiercely competing for players’ attention and time. According to Newzoo’s latest report, the global games market generated USD 187.7 billion in 2024 (Dân Trí, 2025) - a figure that reflects immense potential but also raises the bar for product quality.

In this context, game art has become a critical “weapon” - from character design and world-building to the careful selection and harmony of colors, sound, and animation, ensuring every detail works together to create a vivid, engaging experience that keeps players coming back.

In this week’s Vietnam Innovators Podcast (English edition), our guest is Mr. Tamir Nadav, Head of Creative at Kokku - one of the largest game development studios in Latin America. With over a decade in the industry, he blends creative vision and strategic thinking to craft captivating game worlds, and shares his insights on AI trends as well as the growth potential of Vietnam’s gaming sector.

If you want to uncover the secrets behind turning a game into a phenomenon embraced by millions, don’t miss this episode!

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As of April, Vietnam recorded 104.7 million mobile broadband subscriptions, marking a 14.4% increase compared to the same period last year (VnExpress, 2025). This clearly reflects the growing dominance of mobile-first behavior among consumers. In response, Google is adapting its advertising solutions to better align with local user habits. From integrating Click to Zalo and YouTube Shopping to applying AI in ad optimization, these strategies are designed to help businesses reach their customers more effectively in a digital landscape increasingly centered around mobile devices.

In this week’s episode of the Vietnam Innovators podcast, we speak with James Lange, Customer Solutions Director, Google Vietnam. With over 15 years of experience leading digital growth initiatives across the US and Asia, James is a key figure in driving the adoption of AI-powered marketing solutions among Vietnamese businesses. In conversation with host Hao Tran, he shares strategic perspectives on how Google is localizing its technologies to support Vietnam’s digital transformation.

If you're a marketer looking to better understand how to reach Vietnamese consumers, don’t miss this episode of Vietnam Innovators.

Listen to this episode on YouTube

And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at [email protected]

Since 2023, interest in the keyword “freelancer” in Vietnam has remained consistently high, ranging from 60% to 100% on Google Trends — peaking shortly after the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tiền Phong, 2024). This signals a growing appetite for flexible, independent work. When properly supported, the freelance economy could be a powerful catalyst for sustainable growth in regional areas — helping provinces thrive rather than relying heavily on major urban hubs. It’s also a promising strategy to close the urban-rural divide and unlock the full potential of local talent.

In this episode of Vietnam Innovators, host Hao Tran speaks with CK Cheong, Founder & CEO of fastwork (fastlance Vietnam) — Thailand’s leading freelance services platform, trusted by over 300,000 freelancers and thousands of businesses. Originally from Thailand and educated in the U.S., CK is now spearheading Fastwork’s regional expansion with Vietnam as a key market. His mission? To create meaningful job opportunities for everyday workers and empower SMEs to become a new force for economic growth.If you're part of the freelance community — or simply curious about the future of work in Southeast Asia — don’t miss this episode.

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And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at [email protected]

In this week’s episode of Vietnam Innovators, host Hao Tran is joined by Vasilis Arkomanis – Vice President, APAC Client Service Lead, and Khanh Tran – Senior Manager & Head of Office Operations, Dialectica Vietnam. As key leaders in the region, they are driving Dialectica’s growth across Vietnam and the broader Asia-Pacific market.

Founded in 2015, Dialectica is now one of the top five expert networks globally in an $80 billion industry. The company enables better decision-making by providing tailored, on-demand insights to the world’s leading consulting firms, investment funds, and Fortune 500 companies. With over 1,400 team members, 70,000+ users across 160+ countries, and five consecutive appearances on the Financial Times and Statista list of Europe’s 1,000 fastest-growing companies, Dialectica continues to scale its global presence.

As the company celebrates its 10th anniversary, this conversation offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Dialectica is growing its footprint in Vietnam — and helping shape the future of information services worldwide.

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And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at [email protected]

On April 2, President Donald Trump announced a surprise 46% tariff on goods imported from Vietnam. Just days later, the U.S. government decided to postpone the implementation for 90 days to allow room for negotiation. The move has drawn close attention from Vietnamese businesses and raised questions about the future of trade relations between the two countries. In this context, Vietnam’s role at the international negotiating table and its ability to maintain its position in the global supply chain have become key areas of focus.

In this week’s episode of Vietnam Innovators (English), we are honored to welcome Daniel Kritenbrink, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam and now a Partner at The Asia Group, where he advises on strategy, policy, and geopolitics across the Indo-Pacific region. He previously appeared on Vietcetera in the 2021 Tet rap video alongside rapper Wowy, leaving a lasting impression as a diplomat who embraced Vietnamese culture with warmth and openness.

Now in a new role, he returns with candid and thoughtful reflections on the future of U.S.–Vietnam relations in a world that is rapidly evolving. Can Vietnam become the next “Singapore” with a neutral, dynamic, and forward-looking position? Or will it define a development path entirely its own? And along the way, what strategies will be key to strengthening Vietnam’s role on the global stage?

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And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at [email protected]

Even the most advanced medicine becomes meaningless if patients can't access or afford it.

So what is healthcare truly innovating for — technological breakthroughs, or the basic human right to live? As treatment costs rise, supply chains remain fragile, and quality varies, Vietnam’s healthcare system faces a complex balancing act: affordability, quality, and reliability. Can we achieve all three, or must we accept trade-offs?

In this week’s Vietnam Innovators (English edition), we dive into the current landscape, opportunities, and challenges shaping Vietnam’s healthcare sector. Our guest, Charaf Eddine Kadri, Country Head of Sandoz Vietnam, brings over 18 years of pharmaceutical leadership experience across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East — offering a sharp, global perspective on innovation in healthcare and the evolving pharmaceutical market.

Listen to this episode on Youtube

And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at [email protected]

The journey of “growing into” leadership is not just the story of a technology company founder, but also offers a thoughtful perspective on how to nurture passion, shape a leadership mindset, and build lasting value over time.

Every decision calls for intention, and every step forward comes with a growing sense of responsibility — not only to oneself but to the entire team. It is a journey that starts with carving out a path when none exists, and continues with the ability to inspire others to join in pursuing an unfinished dream. Each stage requires both vision and enduring inner strength.

This week’s guest on Vietnam Innovators (English) is Mr. Le Hong Minh, Chairman & Founder, VNG Group. Under his leadership, VNG has grown from an online gaming publisher into Vietnam’s leading technology group, with a comprehensive digital ecosystem serving tens of millions of users. VNG has also been at the forefront of major technology waves — from PC and Mobile to Artificial Intelligence (AI). With strategic thinking and an unwavering drive for innovation, Mr. Le Hong Minh is recognized as one of the most influential figures in shaping Vietnam’s Internet landscape over nearly two decades.

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Listen to this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠

And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: ⁠⁠https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator⁠

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at ⁠hello@⁠⁠vni-digest.com

Vietnam is emerging as one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical markets in Southeast Asia. Rising healthcare demands, coupled with ongoing policy reforms, are creating exciting new opportunities. However, these developments also present significant challenges that businesses in the industry must navigate. So, what does it take to unlock the full potential of this dynamic and fast-evolving market?

Our guest on this week’s English edition of Vietnam Innovators is Ms. Katharina Geppert, Managing Director, MSD Vietnam, who has spent over four years living and working in Vietnam. Drawing from her leadership experience across multiple major markets, Ms. Geppert offers valuable insights into MSD’s growth strategies, emerging trends in the pharmaceutical industry, and the collaborative opportunities between businesses and policymakers to build a more sustainable healthcare ecosystem for Vietnam.

Thank you MSD Vietnam for accompanying Vietnam Innovators. MSD, known as Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA in the United States and Canada, is one of the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical companies in the world. With more than 130 years of experience, MSD is at the forefront of research, delivering innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in both people and animals. The company fosters a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, please visit www.msd.com and http://www.msd-vietnam.com; and connect with the MSD team on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube...

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Listen to this episode on ⁠YouTube⁠

And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: ⁠⁠https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator⁠

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at ⁠hello@⁠⁠vni-digest.com

Binh Duong New City is one of the most well-planned urban areas in Vietnam and is gradually becoming a model for sustainable, integrated, and modern urban development thinking. But what truly sets this project apart from the many new urban areas across the country? In this episode of the podcast, we’ll explore the key to the success behind Binh Duong New City's urban development model.

Our guest is Mr. Oh Dongkun – CEO of Becamex Tokyu Vietnam. Having lived and worked in Vietnam for 14 years, Mr. Oh is currently leading urban development projects in Binh Duong City. With cross-border management experience and a perspective shaped by both Japanese and Vietnamese cultures, he is not only a representative of long-term collaboration but also a witness to the region’s strategic transformations.

From the context of Tokyu choosing Vietnam as an investment destination to the urban development philosophy adapted to the local environment, Mr. Oh shares deep insights into Vietnam’s evolution, the Vietnamese people's capacity for cross-cultural cooperation, and why Binh Duong New City is not just a project—but a livable ecosystem worth learning from.

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Listen to this episode on Youtube

And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: ⁠https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at hello@vni-digest.com

As Vietnam accelerates its efforts to reform the business environment and improve the legal framework for the private sector, many enterprises still face an invisible barrier: an overly cautious mindset, driven by fear of making mistakes. This hesitation not only slows down decision-making but also hinders business expansion and innovation.

In Episode 55 of the Vietnam Innovators (English edition) podcast, we welcome Mrs. Bình Lê Vandekerckove – Founder, CEO, and Head of Advisory at ASART Deal Advisory. With over 16 years of experience, she has advised more than 250 Vietnamese and international companies across 120+ projects from 15 countries, with a total transaction value exceeding USD 4.5 billion. Her deep expertise spans M&A, fundraising, valuation, corporate strategy, and government relations.

Through Mrs. Bình Lê Vandekerckove’s sharp and practical lens, this episode explores not only the evolving legal landscape and the implications of Resolution 68, but also the importance of trust, openness, and strategic thinking in doing business. A must-listen for anyone seeking a more confident and sustainable path to entrepreneurship or business growth in Vietnam.

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Listen to this episode on Youtube

And explore many amazing articles about the pioneers at: https://vietcetera.com/vn/bo-suu-tap/vietnam-innovator

Feel free to leave any questions or invitations for business cooperation at hello@vni-digest.com