Journalist: - Mr. Lauria, what made you decide that Vietnam is a place worth investing in for the long term?
Vinnie Lauria: - I’ve worked and invested in many parts of the world—from Silicon Valley to countries across Southeast Asia, like Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. But in 2019, I attended the first Vietnam Innovation and Investment Summit (VIPC Summit) in Hanoi, and something clicked. The energy in the room, the optimism, and the potential were just remarkable. It felt very real. That’s when I started truly believing in Vietnam as a long-term destination for investment.
In 2011, I founded Golden Gate Ventures with a focus on investing in Southeast Asia, and Vietnam has always been a part of our roadmap. Since then, we’ve expanded our operations across three continents, launched five funds, and we now manage over $300 million in assets. Today, we’re allocating a full one-third of our Southeast Asia fund to Vietnam.
This decision isn’t just backed by market research—it comes from deep conviction. We believe in Vietnam’s future. Personally, I even moved my family here and opened a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City. This country is where we want to plant long-term roots.
- What specific advantages do you see in Vietnam compared to other markets in the region?
- Each market has its strengths. Singapore is incredibly open and efficient, and Indonesia has the advantage of a massive population. But Vietnam stands out for its talent pool and domestic market potential. You’ve got a population of around 100 million, and a growing middle class that’s really starting to drive the economy.
More importantly, Vietnam has a workforce that’s smart, driven, and eager to innovate. The local founders I’ve met here remind me of the ones I met in Silicon Valley in the early 2000s—hungry to build something meaningful and ready to take on the world.
- Vietnam has recently been pushing for innovation through private sector participation. Has this influenced Golden Gate Ventures’ strategy?
- Absolutely. Golden Gate Ventures was built on combining Silicon Valley thinking with Southeast Asia’s entrepreneurial energy. Over the years, we’ve invested in more than 100 startups, including nine unicorns and two IPOs. But for us, the mission goes beyond just writing checks—we want to build ecosystems.
That’s exactly why we’re here in Vietnam. Last year, we co-founded the Vietnam Private Capital Association (VPCA). Its mission is to bridge the gap between investors, startups, regulators, and academia—to bring more structure and momentum to Vietnam’s private capital market.
When we launched VPCA, there were only six founding members. Now there are over 40 investment funds in the network, including top names like Do Ventures, AVV, Monk’s Hill Ventures, and Mekong Capital. It’s growing fast, and that reflects how much interest there is in developing Vietnam’s ecosystem.
- That’s a pretty bold ambition. Would you say Golden Gate Ventures has big goals for Vietnam?
- Yes, our ambitions are big—and very clear. We want to help position Vietnam as the regional leader in private investment, and our collective goal is to mobilize $35 billion in private capital by 2035.
We’re laying the foundation through VPCA—by improving data transparency, setting higher standards, and encouraging collaboration between government agencies, founders, and investors. This is how we kickstart the next decade of Vietnam’s growth story.
The momentum is already here. Vietnam is setting new records for foreign direct investment. The tech-driven manufacturing sector is booming. And most exciting of all, there’s a whole new generation of Vietnamese founders rising up—bold, resilient, and ready to lead. That’s why we’re here.
- You’ve lived and worked all over the world. Now that you’ve brought your family to Vietnam, do you see it as an ideal place to live as well?
- I used to live in Silicon Valley. My kids have gone to school in the U.S. and in Singapore. Now they’re enrolled in schools here in Vietnam—and we’re genuinely happy. The education is excellent, the community is warm, and the environment encourages creativity and learning.
Vietnam has a lot to offer—not just for business, but for quality of life. The people are hardworking and curious. The pace of change is exciting. And if you look at the opportunities ahead—in tech, education, energy, healthcare, finance—this is absolutely a place to build a future.
That’s why I say: we’re not just investing in Vietnam. We’re living our commitment here.
- What sectors are investors most interested in today when it comes to Vietnam?
- Aside from the usual high-potential areas like logistics, education, healthcare, and finance, we’re seeing a shift in investor appetite toward deep tech and high-knowledge industries. There’s growing interest in clean energy, artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing, and emerging tech industries.
Vietnam is well-positioned to move up the value chain. It’s not just a low-cost manufacturing hub anymore—it’s evolving into a place where high-impact innovation can happen. And international investors are starting to take notice.
- Thank you for sharing your insights, Mr. Lauria.
