For our second day in Ho Chi Minh City, we started out the day at UEF with an intriguing lesson on the economy and challenges of the Mekong Delta, followed by a Vietnamese class where we got our new Vietnamese names. My name is Thuý An! Afterwards, we went for lunch, and the food was amazing as always.
Then, we visited GreenViet, a national green building consulting agency that captured 50% of the mark share in Vietnam. To have accomplished this with a company of only 30 employees is very impressive to me. Throughout the presentation given to us by the company’s cofounder, Mr. Quang, we learned about the necessity for sustainable practices and green buildings, as well as the future outlook for Vietnam’s industrial economy and GreenViet’s business strategies. Specifically, I learned about the many factors in Vietnam that have contributed to the company’s success. For instance, GreenViet’s focus on establishing a solid foundation in the national market allows it to create a reliable name for itself. Instead of quickly branching into the international market where competitors from developed countries (such as the United States, Japan, and Germany) have already secured the advanced technology and benefit from economies of scale with their large client bases, GreenViet knows its disadvantages of being from a developing country, and instead decides to climb up slow and steady. It ensures that all of its projects are satisfactory for its clients, placing an emphasis on quality in Vietnam over quantity globally. Mr. Quang also noted that GreenViet outperforms its consumer expectations, saying that the completed projects offer more services and features than what was asked. With these efforts put in, there is no doubt that GreenViet has been so popular and successful with its local people. Another aspect that Mr. Quang discussed in the lesson was the current business environment. While there are many uncertainties in the market right now, particularly with tariffs, I believe GreenViet is not overly affected by international business affairs. This is because environmental concerns are rising no matter how the economies fluctuate. By implementing green buildings, companies are going to save energy, cut costs, and therefore increase revenue no matter what. This seems to be even more important during times of recession, when companies receive less consumers and experience decreased revenue. GreenViet, while helping companies become more sustainable, also does not take away from their profits.
Finally, to end the day off, we went for some authentic phở. I also got a fresh coconut that was so juicy and delicious. 10/10 meals today as always!
