On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 – June 21, 2025)—a proud historical milestone—the continuous flow of journalism has paralleled the country’s every shift. In this journey, the deep connection between the press and the Vietnamese business community stands out as a particularly bright highlight.

Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), shared heartfelt reflections on this historic path and outlined future directions, affirming the foundational role both the media and business sectors play in the nation-building process

Looking Back on the Shared Journey of Business Development

– Looking back at nearly 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation), could you share your thoughts on the press’s role—especially economic journalism—in supporting the formation and growth of Vietnam’s business community? Do you have any memorable personal experiences with the media from this period?

Mr. Pham Tan Cong:

It has been several decades since the early days of Vietnam’s business community post-Đổi Mới. Especially since the enactment of the Enterprise Law in 1999—a historic milestone—numerous newspapers, particularly in the economic press, have stood shoulder to shoulder with Vietnamese entrepreneurs. Personally, I’ve had many emotional and memorable experiences with journalists during that time.

I vividly remember the early days after returning from overseas studies, when I was involved in policymaking and development. Back then, nearly every important draft law received lively, constructive input from journalists and passionate media outlets.

Later, when I began building the Vietnamese Young Entrepreneurs movement, I worked closely with several newspapers. Many journalists joined us on this journey and reported on those foundational moments. Looking back, many of them were young and full of enthusiasm. We would meet regularly, discuss ideas in depth, and even "eat, sleep, and work" together during the early brainstorming of initiatives and events.

Thanks to the press’s dedicated support and collaboration, the spirit of entrepreneurship and the aspiration for legitimate prosperity were powerfully awakened in society.

Mr. Pham Tan Cong shared heartfelt reflections and emphasized the vital, nation-building roles of both the press and the business sector as two core pillars in Vietnam’s development. (Photo: Vietnam+)

In the early years after the Enterprise Law officially came into effect, newspapers continuously published updates and in-depth analyses on the significance and impact of this revolutionary piece of legislation. I remember how several major newspapers at the time took the lead in organizing meaningful field trips—from North to South, all the way to Cape Ca Mau—to vividly and authentically capture the entrepreneurial spirit and start-up efforts of young businesspeople, as well as the dynamic formation of business movements across the country. The atmosphere back then was truly electrifying! From the launch of the Red Star Award honoring outstanding young entrepreneurs—a prestigious award first held in 1999—to the Vietnam Gold Star Award celebrating exemplary national brands, and later, the Thanh Giong Award recognizing outstanding Vietnamese entrepreneurs, many forms of recognition were introduced. Across the country, business associations and organizations became very active in their regions. These entrepreneurial awards and honors were always a focal point—and the press played a key role as both a bridge and a powerful force in spreading those values.

– You just mentioned the “entrepreneurial spirit.” In your view, how has the press specifically contributed to igniting and spreading this spirit among the Vietnamese people, leading to the impressive transformation of the business community—with nearly 1 million enterprises and millions of entrepreneurs today?

Pham Tan Cong:

The press has played a critical role in portraying a multidimensional view of the business world—from inspiring success stories to lessons learned from failures, and even exposing negative practices in need of correction. These stories captured public interest and helped shape societal perspectives. In particular, economic journalism has seen remarkable growth. Many major newspapers, with sharp and highly knowledgeable journalists, have actively engaged in economic reporting and commentary, creating a wave—a true nationwide business momentum.

On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, we look back on these memories with pride.

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the reporters and journalists—especially those working in the field of economic journalism—who have been loyal companions to the development of Vietnam’s business community. From the early days, when the concept of the “private enterprise” was still new, or even virtually nonexistent, we’ve now grown to nearly 1 million active businesses and millions of entrepreneurs. If we also count around 5 million individual business households, the number of people participating in the country’s economic activity is incredibly vast—a truly impressive figure.

The entrepreneurial spirit has spread powerfully, overcoming old stigmas and prejudices. Once Vietnamese people were “unshackled” by policy reforms and allowed the freedom to do business, this spirit exploded in an extraordinary way. Especially in the 1990s, we saw a vivid picture of individuals and families enthusiastically launching businesses and seeking opportunities to prosper—something not every nation possesses.

The Vietnamese people have an inherently strong entrepreneurial spirit—it's in our nature. We instinctively know how to survive, adapt, and thrive. Vietnamese are especially quick to seize opportunities. In that sense, our nation has a deep-rooted business instinct, and the press has made an undeniable, vital contribution in promoting and amplifying this spirit—turning it into a national trait, a passion, and a competitive advantage.

Today, Vietnam has nearly 1 million active enterprises and millions of entrepreneurs. (Photo: VNA)

Elevating Cooperation, Realizing Vietnam’s Aspirations

– In this new era, with Vietnam setting ambitious development goals, how do you envision the continued role of the press in accompanying Vietnamese businesses on their journey to reach new heights? And how can the cooperation between VCCI, the business community, and the press deepen and become even more effective, in your opinion?

Pham Tan Cong:

I firmly believe that in the new era ahead—just as General Secretary To Lam has emphasized—the press will continue to play an extremely important role. In the end, the social atmosphere, public trust, and national consensus—whether rising or falling—depend greatly on the press’s ability to guide and shape public discourse.

The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in the Vietnamese people’s blood, but it is the press that has acted as the “torchbearer”—awakening, encouraging, and turning that spirit into a powerful driving force. Today, with greater openness in policies and the progressive mindset of the Party and State, the last remaining bottlenecks in institutions and regulations are gradually being removed, creating more favorable conditions than ever before for businesses to thrive.

Looking back on the country’s economic journey since the beginning of Doi Moi (Renovation), we’ve gone from a fragmented and underdeveloped private sector to a robust and dynamic business community—one that is now poised to take on the mission of being a main engine of national development. This profound transformation owes a great deal to the role of the media.

I believe even our top leaders read the news daily, and thanks to the press’s diverse, timely, and insightful reporting, they can stay informed about real-life developments, clearly see the transformations happening across the country, and recognize the growing importance of all economic sectors—including enterprises and entrepreneurs.

On the economic front, Vietnam needs leading enterprises—“head geese” capable of guiding and creating a ripple effect. (Photo: Vietnam+)

For Vietnam to stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s great powers, as our beloved President Ho Chi Minh once dreamed, we must rely on internal strength, with entrepreneurs and enterprises at the core. On the economic front, we need pioneering enterprises—trailblazers or “leading geese”—that have the capacity to lead and generate widespread impact.

I recall the early days when many Vietnamese entrepreneurs began their businesses with very modest, even humble, means. Today, some of those same individuals have built powerful economic conglomerates employing tens of thousands of people, making significant contributions to the national budget and providing jobs to society.

In the past, just the chance to meet with a foreign business—or even dream of approaching a large multinational corporation—was a distant goal for many Vietnamese entrepreneurs. But now, the situation has reversed: many international corporations and business leaders are proactively seeking partnerships with major Vietnamese companies. This shift demonstrates how much the stature of Vietnamese entrepreneurs has grown—some are now standing on equal footing with top business leaders around the world.

This is an inspiring reality—a testament to the success of the Party’s and the nation’s strategic vision and goals, as Vietnam moves toward its ambition of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045.

Vietnamese people are quick to seize opportunities. (Photo: Vietnam+)

– From the perspective of VCCI and the business community, do you have any further elevate Vietnam’s entrepreneurs and businesses to meet the country’s expectations in this new stage of development?

Pham Tan Cong:

On behalf of the national business community, I would like to sincerely and wholeheartedly thank all journalists and reporters, especially those in the economic field, for their unwavering dedication, tireless efforts, and significant contributions. It is thanks to the active involvement of the media that Vietnamese entrepreneurs and businesses have continued to grow in strength, stature, and reputation within society.

From the business community’s side, VCCI affirms its commitment to further promote its role and strive harder to live up to the trust of the press, society, and the nation. We are committed to continuous innovation, enhancing governance capacity and competitiveness, upholding the rule of law, and promoting business ethics and a strong entrepreneurial culture—contributing to building a more dignified and prosperous Vietnam, just as our beloved President Ho Chi Minh envisioned.

However, we still have much to do to further elevate our business community in terms of scale, quantity, quality, and capability, so that more Vietnamese entrepreneurs can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world’s leading businesspeople. This will allow Vietnamese enterprises to make even greater contributions to the country’s sustainable development and confidently expand their global presence.

With that vision in mind, I would like to recognize and deeply appreciate the significant contributions of the press—of reporters and journalists working on the economic front—who have walked alongside and supported the growth of our entrepreneur community. For nearly 40 years, we have been close partners, especially throughout over 30 years of Đoi Moi and since the Enterprise Law of 1999, a milestone that truly sparked the transformation of Vietnam’s private sector.

We will continue to build on the achievements we’ve made and further deepen this partnership. VCCI has also tasked the Center for Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises to serve as a strategic focal point for strengthening the connection between VCCI and the media. This will ensure that every story, every meaningful message from entrepreneurs and businesses, has more effective, timely, and impactful channels of communication.

We firmly believe that with shared commitment and unity, we will create more programs and activities that foster deeper engagement, openness in information-sharing, and constructive spaces for dialogue.

Thank you very much!