On the evening of October 11, VCCI held a ceremony to celebrate Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day and honour outstanding Vietnamese entrepreneurs with the 2026 Thanh Giong Cup. (Photo: Politburo Member and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc (seventh from left), VCCI President Ho Sy Hung (sixth from left), and participating entrepreneurs.)

Delivering the opening remarks at the ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day and honouring outstanding Vietnamese entrepreneurs with the 2026 Thanh Giong Cup, Ho Sy Hung, President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), noted that October 13 holds special significance for the business community. In 1945, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to Vietnamese industrialists and traders. Nearly 60 years later, in 2004, October 13 was officially designated as Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day.

Since then, the role of entrepreneurs in society has gained increasing recognition. Resolution No. 41-NQ/TW and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo continue to underscore the need to develop a strong Vietnamese business community characterised by ethical conduct, business culture, national pride, a commitment to contribution, and social responsibility.

Mr. Ho Sy Hung affirmed that, for VCCI, Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day is more than just an occasion for celebration. It is also an opportunity to take a serious look at the contributions the business community has made to the country, the challenges it is facing, and how it should prepare for the next stage of development.

VCCI President Ho Sy Hung delivers the opening remarks at the ceremony.

“The Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup” award was initiated by VCCI in 2006. Across nine editions, a total of 860 entrepreneur awards have been presented. The 2026 edition marks the 10th selection process. What matters most to VCCI is not the number of honourees, but the standards that the award represents.

An outstanding entrepreneur is assessed not only by the size of their business, revenue or profits. We also consider leadership and management capabilities, innovation, competitiveness, compliance with the law, business ethics, and responsibility towards employees, the community and society,” VCCI President Ho Sy Hung emphasised.

According to VCCI President Ho Sy Hung, the more than 260 applications submitted for this year’s programme reflect an encouraging development: Vietnam’s business community is becoming increasingly diverse in terms of sectors, regions, business types and generations of leadership, while sharing one common characteristic—the determination to advance through their own capabilities.

Based on figures declared by the businesses in their applications, the entrepreneurs selected for this year’s recognition lead and manage enterprises that make substantial contributions to the economy. In 2025 alone, these enterprises recorded total revenue of approximately VND 1.34 quadrillion, nearly VND 248 trillion in pre-tax profit, and approximately VND 97 trillion in state budget contributions, while providing employment for around 273,000 workers.

“These figures demonstrate scale. However, an outstanding entrepreneur is not defined by scale alone. More importantly, it is about the kind of organisation they have built, the team they have developed, how they have maintained competitiveness through difficult periods, and whether they can lead and exert a positive influence on the business community. These are the values VCCI seeks to highlight through this year’s recognition programme. The award is a form of recognition, but it also carries a responsibility to set an example,” Mr. Ho Sy Hung said.

VCCI President Ho Sy Hung expressed his hope that entrepreneurs would continue to take the lead, particularly in three areas: first, making their businesses better managed, more transparent and more resilient; second, promoting business cultural standards and a strong sense of responsibility; and third, expanding business linkages and supporting other enterprises in their growth.

“VCCI expects outstanding entrepreneurs to become key connectors within the business community, linking large enterprises with small businesses, domestic enterprises with foreign-invested enterprises, businesses with research institutes and universities, and Vietnamese enterprises with international markets and partners.

VCCI is also fully aware of its responsibilities. As the national organisation representing Vietnam’s business community and entrepreneurs, we must strengthen our role as a bridge between businesses and the Party and State; accurately convey the voices and concerns arising from actual production and business activities; and draw on stronger research, data and evidence when contributing to policymaking.

We will continue to closely monitor the difficulties and obstacles facing businesses, clearly distinguish between issues arising from the institutional framework, implementation practices and businesses’ own capabilities, submit recommendations to the appropriate authorities within their respective mandates, and follow through until the issues are addressed,” VCCI President Ho Sy Hung emphasised.

Politburo Member, Party Central Committee Secretariat Member and Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc (second from left), VCCI President Ho Sy Hung, and delegates attending the ceremony.

VCCI President Ho Sy Hung also stated that VCCI would place greater emphasis on delivering tangible value to businesses, including market information, legal support, management capacity building, supply chain connectivity, training, the promotion of business culture and entrepreneurial ethics, and support for business integration and sustainable development.

He also called on the Government, ministries, sectors and local authorities to continue treating the business community as a partner in policymaking and implementation. The voices and practical experiences of businesses need to be heard earlier and more comprehensively, and translated into reforms whose impact can be measured in terms of time, costs and business development opportunities.

“An award only has real value when its recipients continue to uphold the standards it represents long after receiving the trophy. VCCI hopes that the Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneurs of 2026 will continue to set examples of good governance, responsible business practices, a spirit of cooperation and a strong commitment to contribution, so that the success of each enterprise becomes part of the collective strength of Vietnam’s business community,” VCCI President Ho Sy Hung stated.

Extending his warm congratulations to the honourees on the occasion of Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day on October 13, VCCI President Ho Sy Hung, on behalf of VCCI, wished Vietnam’s business community and entrepreneurs continued resilience, innovation and success. He also expressed his hope that the aspiration of “Strong Enterprises – A Prosperous Nation” would increasingly become a reality.