Dong Nai’s women entrepreneurs gain momentum

In the dynamic development flow of Dong Nai, a key economic hub in southern Vietnam, the business community plays a vital role. Beyond impressive economic growth figures, a powerful “soft resource” is quietly contributing to sustainable development: women entrepreneurs who sow value into society through dedication, compassion, and unwavering persistence.

An organization built on connection, sharing, and responsibility

The Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club (DWEC), under the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneurs Association, operates on the principle of “Voluntary – Autonomous – Connected.” Initially a networking platform for businesswomen, the club has gradually become a space for emotional connection, where members find companionship, empathy, and mutual support.

Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club on a community outreach trip. Photo: Hien Vuong

Duong Thi Chieu Anh, Chairwoman of the Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club, shared: “Each woman entrepreneur is a flame. When we connect, we create a stronger source of energy, not only to grow our businesses, but also to spread positive values throughout the community.”

As a result, the club’s company visits are no longer just annual activities, but have become practical forums where members deepen mutual understanding and support one another in navigating the pressures of their three roles: leader, mother, and family cornerstone.

They come from diverse fields such as education, technology, healthcare, and insurance, yet share a common trait: leading with heart and creating sustainable value for the community. These are Dong Nai’s women entrepreneurs, quietly building a “human-centered ecosystem,” where each business model is not only driven by profit but also sows seeds of compassion and spreads trust.

At ACM Montessori Bilingual Preschool in Long Binh Ward, the daily smiles of children are the motivation for CEO Dinh Thi Phuong. To her, leadership is not about ordering, but listening; not about investing in infrastructure, but investing in people.

She said: “Children don’t need a grand school; they need to be respected and allowed to develop at their own pace.” It is this philosophy that has shaped ACM Montessori into a humane and nurturing learning environment. Teachers are not pressured to chase achievements but are encouraged to learn and share. Students not only learn letters but are introduced to festivals, experience nature, and explore the world with eager eyes.

Carrying the same spirit, another educational model is quietly nurturing confidence among Dong Nai’s younger generation: Astra – Foreign Language & IT Center, founded by entrepreneur Tran Duyen Duyen. At 28, Duyen chose education, a field with fewer spotlights but greater challenges and the potential for lasting impact, over more lucrative opportunities in e-commerce or technology. She said, “Being modern doesn’t mean using expensive technology. It means helping young people learn to think critically and respect differences.” Guided by her vision, Astra has evolved into a creative learning space where languages intersect with robotics, and personal development advances in tandem with skills and knowledge.

Tran Duyen Duyen donates support to communities affected by Typhoon No. 10. Photo: Hien Vuong

In the field of maternal and baby care, absolute trust is the highest standard. Vuong Hong Hue, founder of Nho Mom Mother & Baby Care System in Trang Dai Ward, has built that trust through personal experience, dedication, and a guiding principle: “Put mothers and babies at the center.” Hue shared a seemingly simple statement that reflects the operating philosophy of the entire system: “What keeps customers is not advertising, but trust.”

Since 2021, Nho Mom has expanded from a single facility to four branches, establishing itself as a leading postnatal care model in Dong Nai, grounded in medical standards. Every service, from blocked milk duct treatment and postnatal therapy to prenatal care, is personally trained and supervised by Hue to ensure the safety of both mother and baby.

Vuong Hong Hue, Director of the Nho Mom Mother & Baby Care System in Trang Dai Ward, Dong Nai Province (pink dress, second from the right), introduces the center to the Women Entrepreneurs Club. Photo: Hien Vuong

In the demanding world of insurance, Nguyen Thi Kim Suong, CEO of Dai-ichi Life Bien Hoa 3, has chosen persistence as the key to success. Her more than 10-year journey in life insurance is one of overcoming stereotypes, bridging early gaps in experience, and balancing work, family, and community responsibilities.

Suong shared: “If you don’t believe in the value of insurance, you can’t convince anyone else to believe in it.”

It is this conviction that has enabled her to build a strong team of advisors and accompany thousands of families in making some of the most humane financial decisions: securing their future.

Nguyen Thi Kim Suong at a scholarship award ceremony for underprivileged students at Tam Phuoc 1 Primary School. Photo: Hien Vuong

When women entrepreneurs choose to walk side by side

What stands out most is that none of these women walks alone. Each is a vital link in the network of the Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club, where members share lessons, support one another through challenges, and spread the values of kindness and integrity.

The club’s business visits go far beyond simple meet-and-greets. They have evolved into an effective model of connection. At each destination, members gain first-hand insight into one another’s operations—learning about business models, management processes, and real-world challenges. These visits also open doors for collaboration, communication support, and peer learning on issues such as human resources and market dynamics. Most meaningfully, they create space for emotional connection around a deeply gendered challenge: the ongoing effort to balance work and family.

Above all, these encounters help cultivate a strong sense of social responsibility within the local business community. Duong Thi Chieu Anh, Head of the Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club, emphasized: “Women entrepreneurs do more than business. We are coming together to do good things, to build a more humane and sustainable community.”

The Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club currently has 46 members, each with their own story and journey, yet united by a shared aspiration: to grow businesses rooted in social responsibility.

Members of the Club visit children at Thien Binh Orphanage. Photo: Hien Vuong

In Dong Nai’s journey of development, these women entrepreneurs are quietly laying the “humanitarian bricks” for the future—whether through a happy school, a modern knowledge center, a dedicated mother-and-baby care model, or socially responsible community initiatives. Each act, big or small, is a good seed sown in fertile ground, now sprouting into trust, peace of mind, and happiness for many families.

If success is measured by the value one leaves for the community, then the women entrepreneurs of Dong Nai are writing the most meaningful definition of what it means to succeed.

“What I value most in the women of this club is their spirit of dedication and compassion. Every business visit, every community activity clearly shows one thing: when women walk together, values endure. We connect to lift each other, we share to overcome pressure, and we spread kindness to build a more humane community. The success of each member's business is also the collective success of the entire club.” said Duong Thi Chieu Anh, Chairwoman of Dong Nai Women Entrepreneurs Club.

By Hien Vuong – Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho