Valerie Vu: Vietnam’s Tech Reforms, Energy Battles & Surviving Trump’s Tariff Shock – E629
"Right now, the biggest agenda is economic reform and growing the country's economy with double-digit GDP growth. Everyone is getting back to the grind and back to the economy. Big projects are still taking time to get approval, but progress is expected after the general meeting in January 2026. It is more stable compared to neighboring countries with fewer headlines or dramas. Over the last two to three quarters, the focus has been on new economic reforms and becoming a technology-driven country." - Valerie Vu, General Partner at Ansible Ventures
"Everyone is focusing on new economic reform. We have to be a technology-driven country. There will be a new law on AI this year. A new sandbox on P2P lending is in place. A sandbox on digital assets and cryptocurrency exchanges recognizes crypto as a legal asset with a framework for at least five years. A national data center has been launched, with two more coming by the end of this year and early next year. We have been busy executing the new government’s agenda to transform and adjust our economic model to be more technology-driven with an internal, domestic focus." - Valerie Vu, General Partner at Ansible Ventures
"The most important thing is how to avoid being labeled as a transshipment. You need to hire local and show your supply chain through and through to prove that you are not a Chinese company. Some components might be from China, but this is not a Chinese transshipment or reassembling hub. If they find out that you are a transshipment hub, you are added 40%." - Valerie Vu, General Partner at Ansible Ventures
Jeremy Au and Valerie Vu sit down in Singapore to examine how Southeast Asia’s private capital markets, Vietnam’s reforms, and regional politics are shaping investor sentiment and startup opportunities. They explore slower fundraising cycles, Vietnam’s push toward technology-driven growth, and how energy shortages and tariff shocks impact manufacturing. Their discussion also covers foreign investor trust, nuclear energy debates, and the rise of cybersecurity and AI as national priorities.