Viet Kieu desire to enrich homeland

You have been serving as a bridge for overseas Vietnamese to return to their homeland to do business. What are the reasons?

In the 1990s when Vietnam started the doi moi reform, I had the opportunity to be one of the first Viet Kieu companies organising tours from North America. At that time, several Viet Kieu policies were not carried out for reasons such as the Vietnamese State’s inadequate awareness of the strengths of the Viet Kieu community of about three million people. There were prejudices against Viet Kieu at that time. But that did not diminish Viet Kieu desire of returning to their homeland.

During my visits to Vietnam, I and other Viet Kieu had the opportunity to make suggestions on state policies related to investment, remittance, travel and so on. As 20 years have passed, many things seemed to be very difficult to be implemented, but was later well accomplished. The fact that Viet Kieu can now acquire Vietnamese nationality to be investors in the country is an example. I and my family are enjoying incentives from the Vietnamese government while still being a Canadian citizen.

Vietnam’s open-door policy and its recognition of Viet Kieu as an integral part of the country, have been catalysts to lure many Viet Kieu to return and contribute to their homeland.

In your opinion, what kind of Viet Kieu expertise that the country should tap into for its development?

Now, more and more Viet Kieu are returning to their homeland to live and work. Not only Vietnamese in North America and Europe have made big contributions to the motherland in terms of remittance, expertise and knowledge. Many Viet Kieu from Russia and Eastern Europe have found investment and business opportunities in Vietnam, operating many large corporations in finance, real estate, consumer goods and other fields.

In North America and Europe, the second Viet Kieu generation which includes young people with expertise in information technology, finance, banking and other areas, has seen Vietnam as a promising market. Meanwhile, Vietnamese students studying abroad and Vietnamese guest workers overseas are also strong human resources. In addition, I know that many Vietnamese companies are investing in other countries. All could make contributions to Vietnam’s development.

What is your advice or  message to overseas Vietnamese who are returning or have plans to return to the motherland to do business?

My experience is the ability to adapt to the reality in Vietnam is important to make a success, besides professional skills, capital and social relations. Do not compare Vietnam with North America in terms of working conditions like traffic, pollution, social evils, bureaucracy, or a fact that ‘relationships speak louder than talent’.

Taking such issues into consideration, Viet Kieu investors might lose their heart easily. Many Viet Kieu have come and done, again and again. But there are also many stories of success. The current global economic downturn has affected global investment but Vietnam is showing signs of recovery, such as already curbing high inflation and more banking services available. These are encouraging us.

Why did you choose tourism as your business scope?

I established a travel company in April, 1986 in North America. In 1990, I operated a tour for visitors to Vietnam. In the past, for a Vietnam tour, we had to make a transit in Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong or other countries. I sometimes felt sad to see Vietnam’s tourism develop too slowly and the gap between this sector of Vietnam and other regional countries still big.

But Vietnam’s hospitality industry has so far established a foothold and determined its strengths.

In 2004, we set up Seahorse Resort in the beach city of Phan Thiet. We were no longer a seller of products, we became a maker of products to serve international markets. Vietnam with more than 3,000 km of coastline and about 2,000 islands, together with lots of natural resources, has good conditions to develop a marine economy. Because of that, I made my mind to make tourism my business scope.

What are your business expansion plans?

We made the official opening for the Cliff Resort & Residences this August 2012, and it is our second resort in Mui Ne area of Phan Thiet. We have made great efforts to put the project online.

Given with our business experience in tourism in the region, we feel confident in our products.

The Cliff Resort & Residences has condos, villas and about 150 rooms, and is located right in the gateway to Mui Ne – the hub of resorts. I’d like to say that this asserts a Viet Kieu’s spirit of taking challenges to return to do business in the homeland. I have never regretted this decision.