"CONNECT WITH VIETNAM" MISSION, JUl. 06 TO 12, 2026

 Washington DC, May 4, 2026, Mr. Joe Trinh, Executive Director of UVBC, and Mr. Kyle Freeman, Member of the UVBC Advisory Board, participated in the “Connect with Vietnam” conference organized by  SelectUSA , a US Dept. of Commerce program in Washington, D.C.

The conference welcomed distinguished guests, including H.E. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Ambassador of Vietnam to the United States and Ms. Melissa Brown, Consul General of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. 

The event also brought together more than 20 Vietnamese companies interested in exploring investment opportunities in the United States.

Featured speakers included representatives from leading organizations such as Mr.  Martin Polivka of Ernst & Young, LLP,  Ms. Mai Phan Zymaris of IceMiller, an internaonal consulting company and Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Chief Representative of Vietcombank in New York. 

Their presentations provided valuable insights into key aspects of entering and expanding in the U.S. market.

The conference covered a wide range of practical topics, including site selection, business establishment procedures, and capital and investment transfer strategies. 

These discussions offered actionable guidance for Vietnamese companies seeking to develop their presence in the United States.

The event concluded with a networking session, creating meaningful opportunities for participants to build connections and explore potential partnerships for future collaboration.

 HoChiMinh City, May 9, 2025 -  

HCM CITY — Amid unpredictable fluctuations in US tariff policies, Vietnamese businesses must take a proactive and strategic approach to sustain their exports to this key market, experts emphasised at a workshop held in HCM City on May 9.

The workshop, titled “US Reciprocal Tariff: Preparation of Vietnamese Enterprises,” was hosted by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC) in collaboration with the US-Vietnam Business Council, drawing strong participation from the local business community.

In her opening remarks, Cao Thị Phi Vân, ITPC’s deputy director, reaffirmed the US position as Việt Nam’s largest export market.

“Over the past five years, Việt Nam has consistently maintained a substantial trade surplus with the US, rising from approximately US$63.4 billion in 2020 to nearly $106 billion in 2024. Currently, Việt Nam—like many other nations—is subject to the US’s reciprocal tariff measures.”

In response to this challenge, the Vietnamese government is intensifying negotiations with the US to foster a balanced and sustainable bilateral trade relationship.

At the seminar, Dr. Trần Sơn, Assistant Professor of Business at SUNY Cobleskill, New York, and business development advisor at the US-Vietnam Business Council, highlighted the shift in US trade policy from “free trade” to “strategic trade” to focus on industrial policy and national security. 

US tariffs are here to stay, requiring Việt Nam to adopt a proactive and strategic approach. Agility, trust, and innovation are key factors for success in this environment, he affirmed.

He outlined three key strategic options for Vietnamese firms: ensuring full compliance with regulations by strengthening supply chain documentation, maintaining transparent origin labeling, and early adoption of US and EU standards; moving up the value chain by shifting from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to Original Brand Manufacturer (OBM), investment in branding, innovation, and customer development; and actively working with trade associations and policymakers to position Việt Nam as a reliable trade partner.

From a practical logistics perspective, Mohammed Selia, CEO of US-based FulfillPlus, provided an in-depth analysis of US import regulations across industry categories.

A fundamental principle exporters must understand, he said, is that US import duties are paid upon clearance at the port of entry, determined by the HTS code, declared value, and country of origin. Each industry requires thorough research and preparation.

To achieve long-term success in the US market, Selia emphasised the importance of maintaining local inventory to support faster delivery and improve customer satisfaction.

He also stressed the need for continuous investment in product quality, branding, attractive packaging, and partnering with reputable US logistics providers as a key strategic advantage. — VNS

Source: for a full article: https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/1717419/vietnamese-enterprises-urged-to-adopt-strategic-measures-amid-us-tariff-threat.html

 HoChiMinh City, Jan. 8, 2025 - China used to have many policies to attract foreign investors to build factories, but now there are many changes and Vietnam is the ideal alternative, says Kyle Freeman, a partner at Dezan Shira & Associates and also a memberof the US-Vietnam Business Council.

Freeman shared the information at the workshop "New U.S. policy: Impacts on trade and investment," organized by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC) in collaboration with the U.S.-Vietnam Business Council and the Vietnam Innovation Institute in HCMC on Wednesday.

On the export front, China’s exports to the U.S. are declining, with products from Vietnam and Mexico filling the gap. Vietnamese goods now compete with those from China and Mexico in the U.S. market. Freeman emphasized that Vietnamese businesses must adjust pricing strategies to remain competitive and enhance their market access in the U.S.

Vietnam also benefits from certain tax exemptions on products imported into the U.S., which businesses should leverage. However, Freeman cautioned against the risk of Chinese goods being re-exported through Vietnam to the U.S., which could complicate trade relations. He also highlighted the impact of monetary and exchange rate policies on exports, urging businesses to stay informed.

Freeman offered two key pieces of advice for Vietnamese businesses. First, Vietnamese firms update new policies, especially when Donald Trump takes office for the second time. Second, Vietnamese businesses should build a clear and tight export system when bringing goods to China.

Meanwhile, Kevin Morgan, chairman of the U.S.-Vietnam Business Council, highlighted the remarkable growth in Vietnam-U.S. trade relations in recent years, which has positioned Vietnam among the top countries with a trade surplus with the U.S. The U.S. trade deficit with Vietnam reached $102 billion in 2024, posing a challenge to the "fair and balanced trade" goal advocated by Donald Trump.

To address this, Morgan advised Vietnamese enterprises to prepare a range of strategies to adapt to potential changes in U.S. trade policies and import tariffs. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing two-way trade cooperation to narrow the trade gap and align with the long-term interests of both Vietnam and the U.S.

Source: for a full article: www.theinvestor.vn

Hanoi, Vietnam - On Jan 6, 2025, Mr. Kevin Morgan, UVBC Chairman and Dr. Pham Tiet Khanh, President of the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges signed a MOU to confirm their  commitment to cooperate between two organizations. 

Both organizations have discussed various projects to implement in 2025 including a Cultural Exchange Project, an English tutoring Project and a webinar on semiconductor training program.

 San Jose, Nov. 15, 2024 - A networking session was organized at the Action Spot Center, 453 W. San Carlos St., San Jose on Nov. 15, 2024 to provide participants with opportunities to:

• Welcome a business delegation from Vietnam led by Ms. Hop Huy Bui, Vice Director of the Center of Vietnam Science & Technology Int’l Promotion (VISTIP) and
• Provide a networking opportunities for the participants.

Participants included:

• Mr. Huy Nguyen, CEO of AheadTek;
• Mr. Mike Vanch, CMO of isenseCloud;
• Mr. George Saxton, Executive Director of the San Francisco - HCM City Sister City Committee;
• Mr. Raymond Garcia, Filipino American Chamber of Commerce in San Francisco;
• Dr. Thuy Le, Professor & Department Chair of College of Engineering, San Jose University
• Mr. Joe Trinh, President and Hoang Nguyen, VP/West Coast of the US-Vietnam Business Council;
• Mrs. Tuyet Mai Nguyen and My Nu Nguyen of Thanh Huong Real Estate Company from Quang Binh Province, Vietnam.

In addition, the delegation also visited the Alliance Mobile Home Showroom, the Vietnamese National Association of Real Estate Professionals (VNARP), the Advantest and AheadTek companies  to learn of their operations, products and to discuss possibilities of cooperating on potential business projects in Vietnam and in the US.

UVBC will continue cooperating with VISTIP to follow up on projects that were discussed during their visit.

New York City, Oct. 29, 2024 -  Mr. Joe Trinh, UVBC President and Ms. Vasudha Paul, UVBC Advisor participated in the Business Forums organized by the Embassy of Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Government in San Francisco on Oct. 26 and in New York on Oct. 29, 2024.

Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the HCM City People Committee led a delegation of over  30 leading Vietnamese companies
representing industries such as trade, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, real
estate, and manufacturing to participate in a series of forums in San Francisco, New York and Boston. 

Their objective is to promote investment and trade opportunities between HCM City and the US.

Mr. Joe Trinh, UVBC President also  had a chance to share with the forum  participants our council's mission and to look for opportunities to cooperate with organizations/companies in Vietnam.

In particular, UVBC is interested in cooperating with the Investment and Trade Promotion Center of HCM City, the Saigon Hi-Tech Park, the HCMC Overseas Vietnamese Committee to identify and develop mutually beneficial projects in the near future.

 Hanoi, Oct. 28, 2023 -  "Hội đồng Kinh  doanh Mỹ - Việt (UVBC) sẽ hỗ trợ các doanh nghiệp nhỏ và vừa tại Mỹ cũng  như tại Việt Nam trong việc tìm kiếm và triển khai các cơ hội hợp tác  kinh doanh giữa Mỹ và Việt Nam". Ông Trịnh Trung - Giám đốc điều hành  Hội đồng Kinh doanh Mỹ - Việt đã phát biểu như vậy tại buổi chia sẻ  thông tin với Câu lạc bộ doanh nghiệp Việt - Mỹ (Hội Việt - Mỹ) vào ngày  28/10.    

Sự  kiện thu hút nhiều doanh nghiệp là thành viên Câu lạc bộ doanh nghiệp  Việt - Mỹ và đối tác của Hội đồng Kinh doanh Mỹ - Việt tại Việt Nam tham  dự.

Phát biểu đề dẫn, ông Nguyễn  Hải Giang - Phó Chủ tịch Hội Việt - Mỹ, Chủ nhiệm Câu lạc bộ Doanh  nghiệp Việt - Mỹ cho biết, buổi chia sẻ thông tin này là cơ hội để các  doanh nghiệp Việt Nam tìm hiểu, nắm bắt thông tin về Hội đồng Kinh doanh  Mỹ - Việt, qua đó có cơ hội kết nối, tìm kiếm cơ hội làm ăn với các  doanh nghiệp nhỏ và vừa ở Mỹ.

"Chúng  tôi muốn giúp các doanh nghiệp nhỏ và vừa tại Mỹ và Việt Nam hiểu về  văn hóa của nhau, nắm bắt kinh nghiệm kinh doanh, đầu tư vào thị trường  Mỹ và ngược lại", ông Trịnh Trung nói. Hiện có hai lĩnh vực Hội đồng  Kinh doanh Mỹ - Việt đang đặt trọng tâm là nông nghiệp công nghệ cao và  công nghệ công tin.

 Cũng trong ngày 28/10, lãnh đạo Hội Việt - Mỹ đã có buổi tiếp đại diện Hội đồng Kinh doanh Mỹ - Việt đang ở thăm Việt Nam.

Tại  buổi tiếp, Đại sứ Phạm Quang Vinh - Chủ tịch Hội Việt - Mỹ đã giới  thiệu về vai trò, hoạt động Hội và cho biết, bên cạnh các hoạt động đối  ngoại nhân dân, Hội mong muốn thúc đẩy hợp tác giữa doanh nghiệp hai  nước và sẵn sàng hỗ trợ Hội đồng Kinh doanh Mỹ - Việt kết nối với các  doanh nghiệp, các địa phương của Việt Nam, qua đó góp phần tăng cường  quan hệ giữa Việt Nam và Mỹ.

 Hanoi, October 21 , 2023 – The First International Forum/Mission on AgTech and Food Industry  in Vietnam was successfully concluded on Oct. 21, 2023. 

The Forum was organized on Oct. 16, 2023 by the Center of Vietnam Science & Technology Promotion of the Ministry of Science and Technology in Ha Noi, Vietnam in cooperation with the US-Vietnam Business Council (UVBC) in San Jose, California and the Australia Vietnam Business Council (AVBC).

In addition to the forum, International AgTech executives were also introduced to government officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Planning and Investment.  The  topics discussed  included  opportunities to assist Agri-related SMEs in Vietnam to apply AgTech in their operations in order to increase their production and also their competitiveness in the Global Food markets.

To identify and develop business opportunities, international participants were also involved in a number of one-to-one meetings with private companies which included : the TTC Agris Group, Vinashrimp Company, Mai Chau Hydroelectric Company, Mimosa Tek, NextFarm, and Rynan Technologies. 

In brief, the Int’l Forum and Mission on AgTech and Agri Development in Vietnam has created a solid platform in which the Int’l executives and Vietnamese companies/organizations can rely on to further their cooperation to implement mutually beneficial projects in the near future.

San Jose, Feb. 20, 2023 – Mr. Trung Trinh, President of the US-Vietnam Business Council (UVBC) will lead the first UVBC sourcing mission to Vietnam  from March 10 to April 5, 2023. 

The mission participants include UVBC business members who are sourcing artcraft/handicraft and metal products made in Vietnam to be distributed in the US market. 

They are Bryson Distributing located in Eugene, OR, Digital Marketing Service, Grand Rapids, MI and Consolidated Bearings Company headquartered in Cedar Knolls, NJ. 

In addition to meeting with various manufacturers in and around Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, the mission will also meet with various international cooperation organizations in Vietnam to identify and develop specific projects in Vietnam and in the United States .

Washington DC, July 15, 2022 – Mr. Trung Trinh, President of the US-Vietnam Business Council (UVBC)  led a group of  UVBC members to meet with the Hon. Nguyen Quoc Dzung, Ambassador of Vietnam to the US on July 15, 2022.

The meeting objective is to introduce the Council and its services to the Ambassador. It is also to ask for the support from the Ambassador and the Embassy staff on the council future activities .

In addition to the Ambassador, participants from the Embassy staff included Mr. Bui Huy Son, Mr. Do Hung, Counselors of the Vietnam Trade Office, and Mr. To Tuan, Counselor of the Chief Economic Officer. 

Besides Mr. Trinh, the Council President, members of the Council participated in the meeting included: Mr. Kevin Morgan, CEO of Academic Language Solutions, Guilford, CT, Mr. Sean Lam, VP of International Programs of IM Systems Group, Rockville, MD, Mr. Ken Cooper, Chairman of the Access American Education, Philadelphia, PA and Dr. Uyen Nguyen, CEO of Agriculture & Automation Services based in Quang Trung Software Park, HCM City, Vietnam.

The meeting was concluded with the Ambassador's remarks that the Embassy of Vietnam in the US will be willing to support  UVBC in carrying out any project that promote and strengthen  the Vietnam-US relationship in business cooperation as well as in cultural, educational exchange programs.