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E61: Factory towns, gig work, and the untold side of Vietnam’s economic boom
Season 1 Episode 61
Vietnam’s economy is booming. Foreign factories are multiplying, GDP is surging, and global investors are calling it the next Asian powerhouse. But who’s really benefitting from this rapid growth? In…
Published on 8 hours ago
E60: Why foreign leadership styles fail in Vietnam (and how to fix yours!)
Season 1 Episode 60
Many foreign leaders arrive in Vietnam full of confidence — armed with a leadership style that’s worked everywhere else. But within weeks, frustration sets in. Teams seem hesitant, feedback is quiet,…
Published on 2 weeks ago
E59: Navigating the grey area that can decide life or death for business in Vietnam
Season 1 Episode 59
"That grey area or that almost darkness within a conversation can be life and death. And if you don’t have the trust to be able to have an honest conversation, you can meet an impasse and never move …
Published on 4 weeks ago
E58: Eat alone? Not in Vietnam — the F&B localisation playbook
Season 1 Episode 58
What makes Vietnamese dining culture so unique—and why do so many global F&B brands stumble here? In this episode, Ian Paynton speaks with Loan Vu, hospitality expert and co-founder of SNL’s Diner in…
Published on 1 month, 1 week ago
E57: The future of retail in Vietnam — with e-commerce veteran Benji Lamb
Season 1 Episode 57
If you're on LinkedIn and interested in Vietnam, you've probably already heard of Benji Lamb. He's the founder and CEO of Asia Circles, a company that partners with global brands to help them break i…
Published on 1 month, 3 weeks ago
E56: Copywriting, killer audio ads and a drone show fail — the state of advertising in Vietnam
Season 1 Episode 56
What’s really going on in Vietnam’s advertising scene? In this episode of You Don’t Know Vietnam, we sit down with creative director Espin Hoan to unpack the fast, loud, and ever-changing world of Vi…
Published on 2 months, 3 weeks ago
E55: Can Hai Phong become Vietnam’s Shanghai?
Season 1 Episode 55
In this episode of You Don’t Know Vietnam, Ian Paynton travels (virtually) to Hai Phong — Vietnam’s third-largest city and rising industrial powerhouse — to speak with Koen Soenens, the Sales & Marke…
Published on 3 months, 2 weeks ago
E54: Why slow is better in speedy Vietnam – with kombucha entrepreneur Faya Nguyen
Season 1 Episode 54
In Vietnam’s fast-paced F&B landscape, where trends explode and vanish overnight, kombucha entrepreneur Faya Nguyen chose a different path — and it’s working. In this episode, Faya shares how she gre…
Published on 4 months ago
E53: Meet the stand-up comedian who made Durex Vietnam hilariously hyper local
Season 1 Episode 53
Meet Ankita Ghosh, a creative director and stand up comedian who is based in Ho Chi Minh City and runs Saigon International Comedy. In this episode of You Don't Know Vietnam, she talks about the stat…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
E52: Is Vietnam's richest demographic being ignored by brands?
Season 1 Episode 52
Vietnam’s Gen Z may get all the attention but there’s another demographic with deep pockets and untapped potential. In this episode, Ian Paynton speaks with Lai Tien Manh, Managing Director of market…
Published on 5 months ago