Ho Chi Minh City can completely become a "Silicon Valley"

(Dan Tri) - Mr. Dang Hong Anh - Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association - expects that Ho Chi Minh City will strongly reform procedures and institutions, stimulate business resilience and realize the aspiration of creating a super city.

Right after the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress successfully ended on October 15, Dan Tri reporter had an interview with Mr. Dang Hong Anh - Chairman of Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, Vice Chairman of Thanh Thanh Cong Group.

Mr. Hong Anh shared about the expectations of business people for the city's future, the "orders" sent to the government and the desire to accompany the city in the upcoming development journey.

The 1st Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress has just ended successfully. What do you think about the contents of the Resolution related to the business community? And in your opinion, what are the solutions that the city needs to implement to soon bring the contents of the Resolution into life?

- I believe that the success of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress will be the moment to shape a new vision, determined to build Ho Chi Minh City into a multi-centered city of economics , finance, services, culture, education, science and technology, and innovation.

For the young entrepreneur community, we expect the Congress to focus on creating a truly open, transparent and innovation-encouraging policy environment - where young entrepreneurs are trusted and thrive.

Mr. Dang Hong Anh, Chairman of Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (Photo: VPSF).

What we want most is for Ho Chi Minh City to strongly reform its institutions and administrative procedures, because this is still the biggest barrier holding back the growth of businesses.

In fact, overlapping regulations between laws, lengthy licensing processes and concerns about policy stability are making many investors hesitant. If Ho Chi Minh City takes the lead in building a digital government and simplifying processes, business confidence will be strengthened and businesses will have a foundation for sustainable development.

Of the more than 3,000 opinions collected at the Vietnam Private Sector Forum (VPSF) 2025 organized by the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, the group of issues on institutions, policies and administrative procedures received the greatest attention, accounting for more than 1/3 of the total number of opinions (about 1,400 opinions). This is the "knot of all knots" that the business community believes needs to be prioritized for immediate resolution.

In addition, I hope that Ho Chi Minh City will approach the business community not only in the role of “management”, but also in the position of companionship and creation. When the government, businesses and society share the same development aspirations, Ho Chi Minh City can completely become a “Silicon Valley”.

From the perspective of the head of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, what do you think are the most fertile lands, which breakthrough fields (such as green technology, AI, digital economy...) that the young generation of entrepreneurs need to pioneer in not only starting their own businesses but also contributing to shaping a modern, dynamic and livable Ho Chi Minh City in the future?

- The merger of Ho Chi Minh City opens up opportunities to become a dynamic and innovative megacity. I believe that the young generation of entrepreneurs not only chooses their path but also has the obligation to choose a development direction that has far-reaching impact. From a personal perspective, I see that there are very potential industries.

First of all, green technology and renewable energy. This is one of the key areas. Ho Chi Minh City in particular and our country in general really need startups to develop energy saving solutions, green production… If we are slow, we will lose the opportunity to master the technology.

People visit the exhibition within the framework of the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term (Photo: DT).

Second, we cannot ignore artificial intelligence, IoT, and big data. These factors are not only trends, but also the foundational infrastructure to turn Ho Chi Minh City into a truly smart city. When data is connected, when AI can forecast traffic, energy, health , environmental needs, etc., we can operate the city in an optimal, flexible way, reducing waste.

Third, green finance is a new direction with great potential. Businesses need to “green” their financial indicators and mobilize sustainable capital, so that not only large investors but also all green ideas and projects, no matter how small, have the opportunity to be supported and developed. I also see great potential in digital health, especially after my experience with the pandemic. People need access to high-quality, fast, and affordable health services that AI and smart devices can provide.

Besides, in an expanding urban area like the new Ho Chi Minh City, developing smart infrastructure, transportation, and digital urban areas is a fundamental task to ensure seamless connection between old and new urban areas.

Electric traffic projects, smart traffic light management, urban coordination solutions are areas that young entrepreneurs can absolutely step into. And finally, technology education and digital human resource training are the foundation for every breakthrough.

What strategic action programs will the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association have to connect, gather and maximize the strength of the young generation of entrepreneurs, helping them grasp this historic opportunity and together create works and projects bearing the mark of youth for the city?

- I always believe that the strength of the young generation of Vietnamese entrepreneurs lies in three factors: Aspiration, spirit of learning and dedication. Not only do entrepreneurs want to do good business, but they also want to leave meaningful values ​​for society and the country. Therefore, with a network of 20,000 members operating in 34 provinces and cities, the role of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association is to connect, lead and inspire that spirit of creation.

The Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association is pioneering strategic initiatives that have great influence. We will launch the program “Each young entrepreneur mentors two new entrepreneurs” - demonstrating the spirit of inheritance and giving of young Vietnamese entrepreneurs.

Thus, it will promote the conversion of 5 million business households into enterprises, aiming to have 2 million enterprises operating in the economy by 2030, 20 enterprises operating/1,000 people, helping Vietnamese enterprises not only grow in quantity but also be strong in capacity, forming a generation of talented and knowledgeable next-generation entrepreneurs, contributing to the sustainable development of the country.

In parallel, the "Training Program for 10,000 Executives for the 2026-2030 period" was announced. The program was built to directly meet the requirements of developing high-quality leadership human resources, realizing the goals set forth in Resolution 68 by the Politburo.

In addition, to create fairer opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises, the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association has proposed an ecosystem of comprehensive support solutions.

Possible solutions include establishing a Public-Private Co-Investment Fund, in which the State contributes capital with the private sector to invest in high-tech fields, reduce risks and attract capital for start-ups; piloting the "IPO green lane" mechanism for technology enterprises, loosening listing conditions so that they have the opportunity to raise capital from the stock market; building an "expanded finance" mechanism, in which the State guarantees part of the risks for medium- and long-term loans of enterprises to expand capacity; soon establishing a National Data Alliance and common patent repositories so that small and medium-sized enterprises can access and apply new technologies at reasonable costs.

What color and mission do the two words “nation building” have for today’s young generation of entrepreneurs compared to previous generations? Is it true that the current spirit of nation building is not only about building large factories and projects, but also about creating technological “unicorns”, solving social problems with creativity and building Vietnamese brands of global stature?

- The two words “nation building” today have a new meaning. If previous generations of entrepreneurs built the nation by building factories, projects, economic foundations… then today’s young generation of entrepreneurs is building the nation with knowledge, technology and creativity with intelligence, courage and aspiration to rise up.

The spirit of nation building is not only about contributing to GDP or creating jobs for workers, but also about creating values ​​for society. A small business that creates technology to save energy - that is also a very specific and modern way to build a nation.

We believe that with a supportive Government, innovative ministries and branches, smooth infrastructure, creative institutions, and a team of businesses, we will pioneer in realizing the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

As an inspiration, what message do you want to send to millions of young people who are standing on the threshold of starting a business, who may be confused and afraid of the challenges?

- I understand the feelings of young people starting a business because I myself have gone through that stage. But every great journey starts with a small step and the most important thing is to dare to start.

I want to tell you that starting a business is not just about success, but also about growth. Failure is not scary, what is scary is not daring to try. Every time you stumble, you learn and that experience will help you become stronger. When you do your job well and create real value for society, you have contributed a brick to the nation's construction.

The Party and the Government are opening up unprecedented opportunities for the private economic sector to develop strongly. Seizing this opportunity, young people are constantly creating and building international brands, contributing to raising the country's position and promoting sustainable growth.

I believe that today's young Vietnamese generation has enough courage, intelligence and aspiration to continue that spirit, writing a new proud and brilliant chapter for the nation.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/tphcm-hoan-toan-co-the-tro-thanh-mot-thung-lung-silicon-20251016094757627.htm