Vietnam Semiconductor Investments with President Biden, Professional Learning White Space & Local Consumer Trends - E332

In this episode, Valerie Vu, Founder of Ansible Ventures, and Jeremy Au discuss three main topics:

1. Vietnam's Semiconductor Investment: Valerie and Jeremy shed light on the substantial investments pouring into the microchip space. They talked about President Biden’s recent visit to Vietnam, accompanied by senior executives from Intel, Google, and Amcor, which served as a catalyst for furthering ties and promoting investments between the two nations. They also discussed how the US is steering its capital toward this sector in Vietnam and highlighted the country’s potential to become a hub for microchip production and innovation. They explained the broader implications of these investments, suggesting that they are likely to create job opportunities, boost local economies, and position Vietnam as a significant player in the global semiconductor market.

2. Adult Learning Space in Vietnam: Valerie conveyed her frustration with the current state of adult education in the country, indicating that there's a need for reform and innovation. While Vietnam is witnessing a surge in foreign direct investments, there's a looming skill gap among its adult population, potentially hindering the country's progress and adaptation to a rapidly evolving global marketplace. Despite this, she’s optimistic about the investments in this sector, which will reshape the landscape of adult learning where they can easily access resources to enhance their skills, align with the nation's growth trajectory, and meet the demands of the global market.

3. Capital Investment & Consumer Trends: They discussed the $643M investment of South Korea’s conglomerate, Lotte, and its recent launch of a retail complex in Hanoi, signifying its pivot away from the Chinese market and a focus on Vietnam. Valerie explained Lotte’s familiar presence in Vietnam for years, with projects like Lotte West Lake having been in development for over a decade. Despite the significant investment, she observed that the shopping mall culture hasn't entirely resonated with the Vietnamese consumer base, which tends to prefer shophouses and street coffee outlets, signifying a cultural preference for value-for-money and localized shopping experiences.

They also delved into the welcoming approach of the Vietnamese government towards global tech giants like Facebook, Netflix, and Amazon, the competitive positioning of TikTok shop against Shopee, and the interplay of culture, economics, and strategy in determining business trajectories in the region.



Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/vietnam-capital-investments

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