What Built Modern Vietnam – Bui Kien Thanh
Tue Jan 27 2026
Bùi Kiến Thành is one of the most influential economic thinkers behind modern Vietnam. Over decades, he advised governments, institutions, and leaders on how Vietnam could move from scarcity to strength – not through ideology, but through pragmatic economic thinking.
In this conversation, we talk about what actually built modern Vietnam: the shift toward markets, the role of private enterprise, the importance of making people prosperous first, and why long-term national development requires discipline, patience, and clarity of thought.
This episode is essential listening for anyone trying to understand Vietnam beyond headlines – especially overseas Vietnamese, founders, investors, and leaders thinking about Vietnam’s next chapter.
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00:44 Family background, rural childhood, and early identity
03:21 Following his father and early exposure to medicine, enterprise, and poverty
05:57 Accelerated education and decision to study abroad
07:43 France, the baccalaureate, and choosing economics over engineering
09:52 Studying in the US: St. John’s → Columbia University
13:06 Meeting Ngô Đình Diệm and returning to Vietnam as a young aide
14:08 Building Vietnam’s central banking system and financial independence
16:48 Training across commercial, investment, and central banking in New York
21:20 Leaving government for the private sector and leading AIG Vietnam
25:26 Building one of Vietnam’s first high-tech joint ventures
32:30 Arrest, imprisonment, and a turning point through philosophy and Buddhism
39:48 Exile, clandestine escape, and rebuilding life in France
45:06 Real estate development in Europe and return to global finance
50:20 Advising Hanoi: the core idea behind Đổi Mới (“make the people rich”)
55:04 How Vietnam shifted from state monopoly to market economy
59:35 Resolution 68 and redefining the role of the stat
1:02:33 Vietnam’s geopolitical position and why the future is open
1:07:06 Diaspora as national strength and global Vietnamese talent
1:10:38 Returning after 1991: reconciliation, POW/MIA, and normalization
1:22:10 Sovereignty, international law, and standing up to global powers
1:36:06 Vietnam’s long arc, youth, optimism, and what comes next
1:46:18 Final advice: knowing Vietnam deeply and contributing with purpose
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Bùi Kiến Thành is one of the most influential economic thinkers behind modern Vietnam. Over decades, he advised governments, institutions, and leaders on how Vietnam could move from scarcity to strength – not through ideology, but through pragmatic economic thinking. In this conversation, we talk about what actually built modern Vietnam: the shift toward markets, the role of private enterprise, the importance of making people prosperous first, and why long-term national development requires discipline, patience, and clarity of thought. This episode is essential listening for anyone trying to understand Vietnam beyond headlines – especially overseas Vietnamese, founders, investors, and leaders thinking about Vietnam’s next chapter. - 00:44 Family background, rural childhood, and early identity 03:21 Following his father and early exposure to medicine, enterprise, and poverty 05:57 Accelerated education and decision to study abroad 07:43 France, the baccalaureate, and choosing economics over engineering 09:52 Studying in the US: St. John’s → Columbia University 13:06 Meeting Ngô Đình Diệm and returning to Vietnam as a young aide 14:08 Building Vietnam’s central banking system and financial independence 16:48 Training across commercial, investment, and central banking in New York 21:20 Leaving government for the private sector and leading AIG Vietnam 25:26 Building one of Vietnam’s first high-tech joint ventures 32:30 Arrest, imprisonment, and a turning point through philosophy and Buddhism 39:48 Exile, clandestine escape, and rebuilding life in France 45:06 Real estate development in Europe and return to global finance 50:20 Advising Hanoi: the core idea behind Đổi Mới (“make the people rich”) 55:04 How Vietnam shifted from state monopoly to market economy 59:35 Resolution 68 and redefining the role of the stat 1:02:33 Vietnam’s geopolitical position and why the future is open 1:07:06 Diaspora as national strength and global Vietnamese talent 1:10:38 Returning after 1991: reconciliation, POW/MIA, and normalization 1:22:10 Sovereignty, international law, and standing up to global powers 1:36:06 Vietnam’s long arc, youth, optimism, and what comes next 1:46:18 Final advice: knowing Vietnam deeply and contributing with purpose - Join OV: https://joinov.com