Vietnamese Enterprises in the EU: Solidarity, Development, and Returning to the Roots

(Chinhphu.vn) – Across Europe, in bustling cities like Prague, Berlin, Paris or Warsaw, it is not difficult to find shops, companies, restaurants or shopping centers bearing the Vietnamese mark. After more than three decades of integration, the Vietnamese business community in the European Union (EU) has become one of the most vivid and proud images of the Vietnamese spirit: industrious, persistent, united and always looking back to the roots.

The 14th Vietnam Business Forum in Europe gathered delegates who are businessmen, association leaders, experts, intellectuals and representatives of Vietnam Trade Offices in many European countries - Photo: VGP/Viet Anh

Now, as Vietnam and overseas Vietnamese everywhere are looking forward to the National Unity Day in 2026, the spirit of solidarity and always looking back to the roots is aroused more strongly than ever - not only as an occasion to meet, but also as a symbol of the blood ties, pride and aspirations of Vietnamese people abroad.

From initial hardship to the courage to integrate

In the 1990s, when Eastern European economies were transforming after the subsidy period, tens of thousands of Vietnamese – many of whom were workers, students, and interns – decided to stay, starting a challenging journey to make a living. They worked hard in markets and small workshops, learning the language and adapting to the new society.

From those uncertain steps, a class of pioneering Vietnamese entrepreneurs was born, not with large capital but with Vietnamese will and intelligence. They paved the way for the next generations, laying the foundation for the Vietnamese business community in the EU to develop more professionally and sustainably.

Nowadays, Vietnamese businesses are no longer limited to small businesses or traditional restaurants. From services, construction, information technology, e-commerce to logistics and agricultural exports, Vietnamese people in the EU have grown strongly, creating a diverse, dynamic economic community that is deeply integrated with the EU market.

In particular, in the Czech Republic, where more than 100,000 Vietnamese people live – the third largest community in the country, Vietnamese businessmen are not only economically successful but also create the image of a "model community": Respecting the law, internal solidarity and actively participating in social activities. Many localities in the Czech Republic have recognized the Vietnamese as an indispensable part of a multicultural society.

Unity – the foundation of community strength

That strength comes from the spirit of solidarity – a core value that has become the red thread running through all activities of the Vietnamese community in Europe. In each association and business association, the spirit of “helping each other” is still maintained. When a business encounters difficulties, other associations are always ready to join hands to support. When a locality organizes an event, people from neighboring countries come to contribute.

Activities such as the Vietnam Business Forum in the EU, the "Vietnamese Goods Week in the EU" program, or the Vietnamese cultural and culinary festivals in Prague, Paris, and Berlin are not only places for trade, but also opportunities to connect, share experiences, and together find new directions in the context of a rapidly changing global economy.

Many first-generation overseas Vietnamese businessmen – those who overcame countless difficulties in the early days – have now become “elders” in the community, dedicated to passing on the torch, sharing experiences and providing guidance to the next generation. They not only teach their children and grandchildren how to do business, but also instill in them the spirit of “Vietnamese people everywhere are Vietnamese”, preserving character, prestige and the spirit of mutual support.

Throughout the EU, from the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland to Slovakia, France, Belgium, etc., Vietnamese business associations all aim for the same goal: Sustainable development based on connection. Online forums, trade conferences, cooperation projects with the Vietnam Trade Office, the Ministry of Industry and Trade , or local organizations have created a widespread network of connections, where each business is a link in the big picture called "Vietnamese Entrepreneurs in Europe".

The 14th Vietnam Business Forum in Europe not only helps the overseas Vietnamese community exchange experiences and find cooperation opportunities, but also connects generations of entrepreneurs and strengthens Vietnamese identity in the integration environment - Photo: VGP/Viet Anh

Not only are Vietnamese businessmen in the EU successful in business, they are also the country's "economic and cultural ambassadors". They bring Vietnamese goods to the world, contributing to promoting the image of a modern, friendly and integrated Vietnam.

Trade offices and Vietnamese embassies in EU countries play an important role in this process – supporting information, connecting partners and accompanying businesses in fairs and economic forums.

In the Czech Republic, the Vietnam Trade Office has coordinated with the Vietnamese Business Association in the Czech Republic, the Vietnamese Association and its member associations to organize seminars and talks to promote trade and guide overseas Vietnamese businesses in accessing new EU policies. In the opposite direction, business associations are also the eyes and ears and extended arms of the Trade Office in understanding market realities, sharing information on needs, barriers and consumer trends.

This "State - Enterprise - Community" relationship has formed a triangle of sustainable development. The State creates policy framework and connection; enterprises implement practices; the community supports and spreads.

On many occasions, the Prime Minister of Vietnam and leaders of ministries and branches have acknowledged: "Vietnamese enterprises in the EU are a solid bridge promoting cooperation between Vietnam and the host country."

National Unity Day 2026 – Symbol of faith and aspiration

In 2026, for the first time, the Great National Unity Day of Vietnamese people in Europe will be held abroad and Prague (Czech Republic) will be chosen as the highlight of the event. This is a milestone of special significance, not only affirming the role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic - one of the most exemplary communities in Europe but also demonstrating the Party and State's concern for overseas Vietnamese.

The festival is not only an occasion for cultural exchange, but also a festival of faith and of the blood bond between compatriots far from home and the Fatherland.

In that atmosphere, Vietnamese businesses in the EU continue to demonstrate their pioneering role. They sponsor, contribute, organize booths to introduce Vietnamese products, perform traditional cuisine and participate in community activities. The event becomes a vivid demonstration of the spirit of "unity is strength", when economy and culture blend together in a common space of overseas Vietnamese.

The image of Vietnamese Ao Dai fluttering in Prague Square, the sound of lion dance drums, the sound of homeland songs mixed with the language of international friends is proof that: No matter how far away, the love for Vietnam still flows in the veins of every Vietnamese person.

Passing the torch to the next generation

If the previous generation was the "pioneer", then today's young generation is the "lighter". Growing up in a modern EU environment, with a thorough education, the young generation of Vietnamese entrepreneurs is bringing a new wind: Confidence, creativity and deep integration with the international market.

Many of them have become successful entrepreneurs at the age of 30-40, working in the fields of technology, finance, green startups, or leading Vietnamese brands to reach the EU market using modern methods.

The valuable thing is that, although born abroad, they still retain their Vietnamese identity, speak Vietnamese, love Vietnamese culture and are proud of their roots. Vietnamese cultural associations and centers in the EU also organize many programs to return to their homeland such as "Vietnam Summer Camp", "Journey to the Source", "Proud of Vietnamese Ao Dai", helping the young generation better understand history, culture and community responsibility.

In addition, the recently formed Vietnamese Young Entrepreneurs Association in the EU is becoming a dynamic forum for young people to meet, exchange ideas, start businesses together and support each other.

The second and third generations are inheriting not only material assets but more importantly, the spiritual heritage - patriotism and aspiration for sustainable development left by their fathers.

As a young Vietnamese businessman in Germany shared: "Our parents overcame difficult years to build their business. Our generation has the responsibility to preserve and develop it in a more modern way, not only for ourselves, but also for the image of Vietnam in the eyes of international friends."

The forum not only connects business opportunities but also unites Vietnamese hearts, together spreading Vietnamese values ​​- Photo: VGP/Viet Anh

From business community to national power

In the context of globalization and fierce competition, the Vietnamese business community in the EU not only represents individual mettle, but also a part of the country’s soft power. They are a force that contributes to shaping the image of modern Vietnam – a dynamic, trustworthy, integrated and humane country.

The Vietnamese Trade Offices in the EU, together with the Union of Vietnamese Business Associations in the EU, are working together to build a multi-layered trade and investment promotion network where information, opportunities and trust are spread rapidly.

Many new initiatives are being implemented such as the DNET.eu e-commerce portal, the "GoGlobal 2030" conference series, or cultural exchange programs - aiming to create a foundation for sustainable public-private cooperation between the State and overseas Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

All are aiming for a common goal: "Vietnamese people everywhere unite and contribute to building a rich and strong homeland."

From small stalls at the Indochina Market in Prague to large export companies connecting Vietnam with the EU; from Vietnamese language classes for children to international business conferences, all reflect a consistent message: Unity is strength, origin is support and inspiration, is mission.

The Vietnamese business community in the EU has been and will continue to affirm its pioneering role in connecting overseas Vietnamese and promoting economic and cultural cooperation with the homeland.

The 2026 National Unity Day in Prague is not only an event but also a symbol of faith, of the journey back in the hearts of every Vietnamese living far from home, where compatriot love, national pride and aspiration for development blend into a warm flame, passed from generation to generation.

That flame, wherever it is, in the heart of Europe or on the banks of the Red River, still burns brightly, guiding the Vietnamese business community to firmly step on the path of integration and serving the Fatherland.

Nguyen Viet Anh

Head of Vietnam Trade Representative Office in the Czech Republic

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/doanh-nghiep-viet-nam-tai-eu-doan-ket-phat-trien-huong-ve-coi-nguon-102251029074433287.htm