US-ASEAN Business Council Leads Largest-Ever U.S. Business Delegation to Vietnam

(Hanoi) – From March 18 to 20, 2025, the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) spearheaded a delegation of senior executives from 58 leading U.S. companies to Hanoi for its 2025 Business Mission to Vietnam, followed by the Health & Life Sciences Industry Mission from March 20 to 21. With a total of 64 U.S. companies participating, this marked the largest U.S. business delegation to Vietnam to date.

The Mission was headed by Ambassador Ted Osius (ret.), President & CEO of USABC and co-led by Ambassador Brian McFeeters (ret.), Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director of USABC; Mr. Michael Nguyen, Country Director of Boeing Vietnam and Chair of the Council’s Vietnam Committee; and Mr. Vu Tu Thanh, the Council’s Deputy Regional Managing Director & Vietnam Chief Country Representative.

This year’s mission held particular significance as it coincided with key political transitions in both the United States and Vietnam, as well as major milestones in U.S.-Vietnam relations—50 years since the end of the Vietnam War and 30 years since the normalization of diplomatic ties. As 2025 marks a year of change and commemoration, the mission provided an early opportunity for member companies to reaffirm their commitment and contribute to strengthening economic and strategic ties between Vietnam and the United States.

The mission brought together a diverse group of industry leaders eager to support Vietnam’s transition to a new phase of economic growth, including companies from sectors where the U.S. plays a global leadership role, such as information technology, financial services, logistics, manufacturing, energy, aerospace and defense, healthcare, consumer products, and food and agriculture.

Throughout the three-day mission, the USABC delegation was warmly welcomed by top leadership from both the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Government. Key bilateral meetings included engagements with General Secretary To Lam of the CPV, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Vice Chairman Vu Hong Thanh of the National Assembly, Permanent Vice Chairman Thai Thanh Quy of the Central Party Committee’s Commission for Policy and Strategy, as well as meetings with ministers and deputy ministers from several newly restructured ministries. These included Minister Nguyen Hong Dien of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Minister Nguyen Van Thang of the Ministry of Finance, Minister Do Duc Duy of the new Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Minister Dao Hong Lan of Ministry of Health, Deputy Minister Pham The Tung of the Ministry of Public Security, Deputy Governor Nguyen Ngoc Canh of the State Bank of Vietnam, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Minister Le Anh Tuan of the Ministry of Construction, Deputy Minister Vu Chien Thang of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc of the Ministry of Education and Training, Major General Le Quang Tuyen, Deputy Director of the General Department of Defense Industry of the Ministry of National Defense, Chairman Dang Hoang An of the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) and Vice President Le Xuan Huyen of PetroVietnam (PVN).

During the mission, the delegation also took part in exclusive events hosted by USABC, including the Vietnam Manufacturing Landscape Working Lunch, the Economist Luncheon, and notably, the Gala Dinner on March 18 commemorating the 30th anniversary of the normalization of U.S.-Vietnam relations. The event featured Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper as keynote speakers. Over 200 guests attended, including senior officials from the Vietnamese government, representatives from the U.S. Embassy, provincial leaders, mission delegates, and local business leaders.

“As Vietnam embarks on a new chapter with a fundamentally reformed and streamlined political system, the U.S. business community looks forward to the positive impact of these changes and to exploring the opportunities ahead,” said Ambassador Ted Osius, the Council’s President and CEO. “I am honored to lead the largest-ever delegation of American executives on this mission. Their contributions have been instrumental in strengthening and expanding the U.S.-Vietnam economic relationship. The mission provided an opportunity for industry to demonstrate long-term commitment, emphasize the breadth of U.S. business interests in Vietnam, and reinforce the importance of close cooperation between the Vietnamese government and U.S. businesses.”

“The 2025 US-ASEAN Business Council’s mission to Vietnam created valuable opportunities for Boeing and members of the U.S. business community to engage with senior Vietnamese government officials and reinforce economic cooperation between the two countries. As Boeing marks 30 years in Vietnam, we look forward to strengthening our partnership and advancing the country’s aerospace capabilities," said Michael Nguyen, Country Director of Boeing Vietnam and Chair of the Council’s Vietnam Committee.

Companies participating in the mission include AACSB International, Amazon, Bay Global Strategies, Bayer, Bell Textron, Boeing Vietnam, BowerGroupAsia, Brunswick Group, Calif, Chubb Life Vietnam, Citibank, Coca-Cola, Diageo, DOW, Excelerate Energy, Expedia Group, FedEx, Ford Motor Company, GE Vernova, IBM, IMSG, Intel Corporation, JPMorgan, Marriott International, Mastercard, Medtronic Vietnam, Meta, Mondelez, NIKE Viet Nam, Obagi, Organon, Pacifico Group, PepsiCo, Philip Morris International, Qualcomm Inc., Real-time Robotics, RGA, S&P Global, Salesforce, SAP, The Asia Group, The Lubrizol Corporation, Tilleke & Gibbins, UL Solutions, Ultrapass Identity Corp, Visa Inc., Vriens & Partners, Warburg Pincus, and Zuellig Pharma.