“Starting and operating in the right direction” - A sustainable path for Vietnamese startups

Alpha Books and the Industry and Trade Publishing House have just released the book “Startup and Operation in the Right Direction” by author Le Dinh Hien, a practical document for startups and business managers. The work shares the roadmap and experience to help startups overcome the “curse” of failure, optimize operations and develop sustainably.

The book will be released nationwide in October 2025.

In the Vietnamese startup scene in recent years, the rate of new business formation remains impressive. According to statistics, on average, each month in 2024, about 19,500 businesses were newly established or returned to operation. In the first 9 months of 2025 alone, the total number of businesses entering and re-entering the market reached 231,337, an increase of 26.4% over the same period in 2024.

However, behind those growth numbers is a worrying failure rate. Experts say that about 93% of Vietnamese startups “fail” in just the first two years, and by the fifth year, this number can reach 95–97%. Many startup projects stop not only because of lack of capital but also because the founders lack management experience, operational skills and long-term development strategies.

From that reality, the question for the startup community is: how to "go in the right direction", avoid stumbling in the first years, and create an effective operating model?

From practical experience to systematic manual

The author, businessman Le Dinh Hien, who founded and ran three businesses with more than 600 employees, found the answer for himself and many others in the book “Starting a business and operating in the right direction”. With more than 17 years of experience in the field of management, and also being a delegate of the Provincial People's Council, the author combines practical experience with modern management knowledge to form a detailed roadmap from start to stable operation.

The remarkable point of the book is that it does not stop at the business planning step but goes into the operational stage - which is considered the "breaking point" of most businesses. Author Le Dinh Hien believes that sustainable success begins with careful preparation, from the way to build the apparatus, manage human resources and control risks.

The author analyzes the common causes of early business failure: poor financial management, lack of strategic vision and failure to build an internal culture. From there, he proposes specific solutions in each chapter of the book.

In the digital age, technology application is no longer an option but a requirement.

In Chapter 6 and Chapter 14 of the Startup Financial Management section, the author guides how to manage cash flow, optimize capital sources, and help businesses maintain operations in the risky early stages. In Chapter 18, the content of Strategic Risk Management focuses on building a flexible operating system that can adapt and maintain a competitive advantage in a rapidly changing environment.

Another highlight is chapter 12, which talks about Starting a Business with Artificial Intelligence (AI). According to the author, applying technology, especially AI, is no longer a trend but has become a mandatory requirement. Integrating technology into operational processes, data analysis and strategic decision making helps businesses shorten time, save costs and increase accuracy in management.

Not only discussing techniques and processes, “Starting and Operating in the Right Direction” also emphasizes the core element of humanistic business philosophy. According to Le Dinh Hien, businesses can only develop sustainably when they “sell what customers need, not what they have”. He believes that profit is not the final destination but the result of creating real value for the community and maintaining corporate culture.

This approach makes the book relevant and practical for young entrepreneurs – those who are looking for a balance between economic goals and social responsibility.

Recommendations from experts

The book “Starting a business and operating in the right direction” received positive reviews from many experts and administrators. Professor Phan Van Truong, International Trade Advisor/ French Government , commented: "Starting a business is not simply choosing a career to earn income, but is a self-challenge, followed by a long-term, elaborate and meticulous process of building value."

“Starting a business is not simply choosing a career to earn income, but a self-challenge, followed by a long-term, elaborate and meticulous process of building value."

Professor Phan Van Truong

He highly appreciated the practical experience of author Le Dinh Hien and advised readers to "consider this a bedside book on their career journey".

According to Mr. Nguyen Canh Binh, Chairman of Alpha Books - the book's publisher, emphasized that the work "is not to tell about glorious dreams, but to help you deeply realize what really needs to be done and the real difficulties to face".

According to author Le Dinh Hien, starting a business is a process of continuous learning and adjustment. Failure is not the end but an inevitable part of the process of growing up. He believes that true and sustainable success always starts from a sincere heart and the desire to bring good things to those around.

The book is therefore not only for those starting their entrepreneurial journey, but also useful for managers and small business owners looking to optimize processes and strengthen their operating foundation.

In easy-to-understand language, the knowledge system is presented in stages, "Start-up and Operation in the Right Direction" provides clear orientation, helping readers visualize and build long-term strategies suitable for actual conditions in Vietnam.

In the context of the Government promoting policies to support innovation, the entrepreneurial spirit is still an important driving force for economic growth. However, to prevent the "startup flames" from dying out too soon, more practical and guiding documents are needed. Le Dinh Hien's book, with its combination of practical experience, management knowledge and sustainable thinking, can be considered a practical contribution to the Vietnamese business community today.

“Starting a Business and Operating in the Right Direction” does not promise a formula for success, but helps readers understand that: success does not come from luck, but from careful preparation, correct thinking and effective operation.

Hai Lam

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khoi-nghiep-va-van-hanh-dung-huong-loi-di-ben-vung-cho-startup-viet-post917439.html