Connecting The Right Way
In Vietnam, one of the region’s fastest-growing economies, the word “growth” is often tied to speed, opportunity, and investment. But behind those steep growth curves lies something more foundational: community.
From multinational corporations to fledgling startups, more businesses are realizing that no one can grow alone. Community is not just a place to find partners but an ecosystem where values, experiences, and mindsets are shared not for promotion but for synergy.
According to a McKinsey study, organizations that effectively connect internal departments and external partners can increase innovation performance by up to 25% compared to others. Achieving this requires more than fleeting events; it necessitates a genuine space to nurture long-term relationships.
Shared Values Across Borders
Wherever there is a Nordic business community, a clear set of values is evident: sustainable development is not just a destination but a way of journeying. Companies from Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland operating in Vietnam often begin not with profit promises but with a profound question: How can we create long-term impact?
From A Factory To A Development Manifesto
A few years ago, a globally renowned toy manufacturer announced plans to build its first factory in Asia and chose Vietnam. The noteworthy aspect wasn't the capacity but the commitment: 100% renewable energy, carbon-neutral design, and aiming for the region's highest "green" industrial standards.
Few noticed, but this was LEGO Manufacturing Vietnam - a decision not merely to expand the market but to select Vietnam as a long-term destination for its global sustainable development strategy.
Smart Cities Begin With Small Details
If LEGO represents a vision of sustainable industry, then in terms of urbanization, other companies are quietly transforming cities towards greener futures.
In major cities, the challenge of movement is becoming increasingly complex. Quietly, a Finnish engineering company chose Vietnam to develop AI-integrated elevator solutions, helping manage pedestrian flow, reduce energy consumption, and enhance safety in high-rise buildings.
They didn't launch loud promotional campaigns, but each new elevator system quietly contributes to making the city more livable. For those interested in smart infrastructure, the name KONE Vietnam is likely familiar.
When Packaging Becomes A Green Choice
Sustainability doesn’t just show up in big infrastructure; it’s in the everyday things, like a carton of milk.
Tetra Pak (Sweden), with its factory in Binh Duong, has seriously invested in recyclable materials, resource-efficient designs, and food safety. As a result, every milk carton you see on supermarket shelves today could be a link in a green living ecosystem created from the packaging stage.
Engineering For The Unspoken
Wastewater treatment is among the fields rarely making headlines. Yet in Vietnam, international companies like Eagle Technology (Norway) persistently invest in this challenge.
They work with industrial zones to design water treatment systems that focus on reuse instead of discharge. These efforts go beyond meeting environmental regulations, aiming to help shape a cleaner foundation for industrial growth.
These initiatives often happen behind the scenes. But step by step, they create meaningful change: steady, thoughtful, and long-term.
Nordcham Vietnam: Bridge That Connects
It's no coincidence that the aforementioned names find support in Nordcham Vietnam (Nordic Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam).
For over a decade in Vietnam, Nordcham has not only gathered Nordic businesses but also helped connect, inspire, and build communities. Whether it is through their online or offline programs, by supporting members in bridging gaps and creating value for both international and local stakeholders.
"The strength of NordCham and Vietnam Innovators Digest lies in the health and vitality of our respective communities. Through this collaboration, we will bring these two strong business communities together to connect, share, and collaborate. Partnering with our Happy Hour community events is just the first step in what we believe will be a series of content- and community-driven initiatives and events over the coming year. I am personally delighted to be working closely with David, whose Danish heritage makes him a natural partner in such an alliance." - Dale Nottingham, Executive Director, Nordcham Vietnam.
Nordcham maintains a clear philosophy: connection begins with understanding, and sometimes, all it takes is a timely handshake.
Communities Aren't Born - They're Built
Innovation doesn’t start with technology or products. It starts with people who believe in doing things that haven’t been done before.
Through its work with Nordcham, Vietnam Innovators Digest (VNID) sees more than a partnership; we see a community forming: Vietnamese and Nordic businesses that value transparency, empathy, and long-term thinking.
VNID is proud to play a role in that journey: sharing quality insights, opening doors to meaningful connections, and, most importantly, holding space for honest conversations.
Because if community is the foundation, connection is the cement. Without it, nothing lasts—not even the best technology.
“Innovative Partnerships comes first and foremost from connecting. By joining hands with Nordcham Vietnam, we share a vision to keep connecting, innovating, and growing together. Strong values from the Nordics that echo in our Vietnam Innovators Digest organization, on spotlighting the Vietnamese economy in a global context.” - David Nguyen, General Manager, Vietnam Innovators Digest.
Shaping The Future, One Connection At A Time
Connecting businesses is an important starting point. But to create real value, transformation is needed, from meetings to dialogues, from dialogues to actions, and from actions to sustainable innovation.
Nordcham Vietnam and Vietnam Innovators Digest have been—and are—playing roles in that process. Not through promises, but through specific, profound actions.
Nordcham will launch a partnership with VNID to organize a Happy Hour business networking event, welcoming Nordic companies, business partners, alumni, and friends in Vietnam for an evening of connection and collaboration.
Time: Wednesday, 04.06.2025 – 18:00 to 20:00
Venue: Mam Mam Eatery & Lounge, Ho Chi Minh City
Registration: Click here to register
More info: nordchamvietnam.com