National Entrepreneurs & the Coastal Voyage of Vietnam
Dr. Phạm Hà – Chairman & CEO of LuxGroup: Heir to Bạch Thái Bưởi’s Spirit, Serving to Deliver Happiness
The Sea – Vietnam’s Cradle of Aspiration
With 3,260 km of coastline and more than 3,000 islands, Vietnam possesses one of Southeast Asia’s most extraordinary cultural and economic corridors. The sea not only gifts natural wonders like Hạ Long, Nha Trang, and Phú Quốc but also anchors legends of state-building and maritime exchange.
On his coastal journey from Hạ Long to Sài Gòn, Dr. Phạm Hà reflected: “The sea is not just a resource; it is the shoulder on which Vietnam must lean to embrace the world.”
Inheriting Bạch Thái Bưởi’s Spirit
A century ago, Bạch Thái Bưởi, the “King of Ships,” declared: “Vietnamese people travel on Vietnamese ships.” He built a shipping empire on integrity, service, and national pride.
Dr. Hà is his spiritual heir. Where Bạch pioneered shipping, Hà pioneers luxury cruises and cultural tourism. Both see business as a vehicle of national dignity and social service.
Defining the National Entrepreneur
For Dr. Hà, a national entrepreneur is one who:
• Is rooted in Vietnamese identity,
• Is driven by national aspirations,
• Places community happiness at the center.
His 20+ year journey shows this spirit: once dismissed as “swimming against the tide” with luxury tourism, LuxGroup (www.luxgroup.vn) is now a pioneering ecosystem of cruises, hotels, and cultural experiences.
Steadfast Through Storms
LuxGroup endured crises that could have sunk it:
• SARS in 2003,
• The 2008 financial crash,
• COVID-19 with zero revenue but 300 staff retained.
Instead of retreating, Hà invested in digital transformation, ESG, and cultural storytelling. This resilience is what he calls “cương đạo” – a straight, ethical, and steadfast path.
Resolution 68 – A Historic Mandate
In September 2025, Resolution 68 recognized the private sector as a pillar of the economy. For Dr. Hà, this is more than reform; it is a national call.
It provides legitimacy, institutional reform, and access to resources – empowering entrepreneurs to realize Vietnam’s long-term aspirations.
Serving to Deliver Happiness
Dr. Hà believes: “Enterprises must not only create profit, but deliver happiness to society.”
LuxGroup practices this through:
• Cultural luxury – refined, authentic, not superficial.
• ESG & 5P+3P as its compass.
• Community initiatives: solar lights in Hà Giang, clean water, and reforestation.
Seas as Green Highways
From his voyage, Dr. Hà envisions Vietnam’s seas as:
• Drivers of the green economy,
• Custodians of culture,
• Green highways to the world.
Entrepreneurs as Messengers of Happiness
From Bạch Thái Bưởi to Phạm Hà, the legacy is clear: national entrepreneurs are not just wealth creators but carriers of culture, pride, and happiness.
As Dr. Hà concludes: “Let Vietnam’s seas, culture, and people be our national assets. Entrepreneurs must write this story with pride – and with happiness.”
