Women-owned businesses account for nearly 24% of total Vietnamese businesses.

VTV.vn - According to VCCI, the rate of women participating in the labor force is 63%, in all fields, especially in education, health, services...

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2025, Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of the Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that for the Vietnamese business community, especially women-owned businesses, this is a golden time to make a breakthrough, take the lead in science and technology trends, innovate, digital transformation, improve competitiveness and affirm their position in the global value chain.

According to Mr. Pham Tan Cong, in that context, Vietnamese female entrepreneurs are facing an important crossroads: either stopping at the traditional role, or breaking through to reach new heights, becoming a pioneering force in the era of science, technology, innovation associated with sustainable development.

Mr. Pham Tan Cong, Chairman of Vietnam Federation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI)

Sharing the same view, speaking at the forum, Nguyen Hoa Cuong, Deputy Director of the Institute for Policy and Strategy Studies, Central Policy and Strategy Committee, emphasized that science and technology is the "key" for women businesses to make a breakthrough.

According to Mr. Cuong, in that context, science and technology are the core factors for business development, especially small and medium enterprises. Innovation is no longer a slogan but has become a vital need for businesses."

Mr. Cuong also pointed out that digital transformation is only truly meaningful when it is actually implemented - turning data into operational power, turning technology into a productivity tool.

According to VCCI data, women are a large workforce, an important driving force for national growth and development. With a female labor force participation rate of 63%, in all fields, especially in education , health care, and services. Notably, the rate of women-owned businesses has increased significantly in recent years and 51% of Vietnamese businesses have women in the ownership structure, much higher than other countries in the region.

Currently, women-owned businesses account for nearly 24% of all Vietnamese businesses – an impressive proportion in the ASEAN region.

"Unlocking" potential and opportunities for female entrepreneurs

At the forum, Ms. Zoe Dayan - Senior Policy Reform Attaché, UK Mission to ASEAN said that in the ASEAN region, 14 million female entrepreneurs are generating trillions of USD from their experience activities.

However, there are about 5,000 billion USD in financial resources that female entrepreneurs have not accessed due to gender gap. This is a big challenge that needs to change to create conditions for female entrepreneurs to develop and increase their contribution to global economic growth.

Citing World Bank research, Ms. Zoe Dayan informed that the gender gap also causes resources of more than 120 billion USD to not reach businesses in need of support and it has taken us more than 130 years to narrow this gender gap. This reality requires us to promote more strongly effective solutions to support female entrepreneurs.

Vietnam Women Entrepreneurs Forum 2025

To develop women-owned businesses, Ms. Zoe Dayan emphasized three core solutions. These are institutional and policy reforms; promoting access to finance and digital innovation associated with a network to support female entrepreneurs.

The second core solution is to increase access to finance, including venture capital, programs, and support resources such as STEM scholarships for female entrepreneurs. Finally, digital innovation is linked to a network of connections to support female entrepreneurs.

Also at the event, VCCI held the "Outstanding Vietnamese Businesswoman - Golden Rose" Award Ceremony in 2025. Here, 98 businesswomen were honored to be awarded the title "Outstanding Vietnamese Businesswoman - Golden Rose in 2025", who are businesswomen with outstanding achievements in production and business, and at the same time have positive contributions to the community and society.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh and VCCI Chairman Pham Tan Cong presented the Golden Rose title to businesswoman Ngo Thu Ha - General Director of Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank.

Ms. Ngo Thu Ha, General Director of SHB Bank - one of the honored female entrepreneurs, said the award is not only a personal recognition but also a testament to the ability and important role of women in business and economic development.

This year, in addition to the requirements on business achievements, the 2025 title assessment has added criteria on ethics and business culture, linked to the 6 standards of the Vietnamese Business Ethics Code announced by VCCI.

Source: https://vtv.vn/doanh-nghiep-do-phu-nu-lam-chu-chiem-gan-24-tong-so-doanh-nghiep-viet-nam-100251022140348194.htm