BILLIONAIRE NGUYEN THI PHUONG THAO HAS BECOME THE FIRST VIETNAMESE WOMAN TO ACHIEVE A RARE INTERNATIONAL MILESTONE

For the first time ever, a Vietnamese woman has accomplished such a remarkable feat.

Thanks to the recent surge in the share prices of HDB and VJC, the net worth of Billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao - Chairwoman of Vietjet, First Vice Chairwoman of Ho Chi Minh City Development Joint Stock Commercial Bank (HDBank), and Chairwoman of Sovico Group - has risen significantly.

According to the latest data from Forbes (updated on October 19), Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao currently holds an estimated fortune of USD 4.2 billion, ranking 961st among the world’s billionaires. This is the highest global ranking ever achieved by a Vietnamese female billionaire. She continues to be recognized as the second-richest person in Vietnam, following Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of Vingroup.

Billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is currently ranked 961st on Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest individuals. (Photo: Forbes)

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao has been a regular figure on Forbes’ World Billionaires List and remains the first and only Vietnamese woman ever included in this global ranking.

In mid-2025, Forbes also honored her among the Top 50 Richest Women in the World, where she placed 42nd, further solidifying her position among the most influential female entrepreneurs on the global stage.

A Visionary Leader Steering Vietnam’s Leading Enterprises

Born in 1970 in Hanoi, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao holds a Ph.D. in Economic Cybernetics and two bachelor's degrees in Labor Economic Management and Finance and Credit.

Her entrepreneurial journey began in Russia, where she and her husband, Nguyen Thanh Hung, co-founded Sovico Holdings, initially trading consumer goods, electronics, and garments. Today, Sovico has grown into one of Vietnam’s leading private multi-sector corporations, operating across aviation, finance, insurance, urban development, and renewable energy.

Upon returning to Vietnam, Thao co-founded and managed two private banks - VIB and Techcombank - before investing in HDBank.

In 2007, Sovico Holdings, together with HDBank and T&C Group, established Vietjet Air, Vietnam’s first low-cost airline. Currently, Vietjet operates over 130 modern aircraft and 170 domestic and international routes, serving more than 250 million passengers since its inception. The airline has recently announced new aircraft orders, expanded its ground-handling operations, and secured contracts at the Long Thanh International Airport project.

The strong performance of VJC shares in recent days has pushed Vietjet’s market capitalization beyond VND 102 trillion, reinforcing its position as one of the largest private enterprises listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE).

Vietnam’s Richest Self-Made Woman Billionaire

Billionaire Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao is currently the 961st richest person in the world, according to Forbes. (Photo: Forbes)

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao currently holds key leadership roles across three major pillars of her business empire:

* Chairwoman of Vietjet Air
* First Vice Chairwoman of HDBank
* Chairwoman of Sovico Group

She owns approximately 582 million HDB shares, equivalent to 16.6% of the bank’s charter capital, valued at over VND 19 trillion at current prices.

At Vietjet, she directly holds more than 47.4 million VJC shares (about 8.02% of charter capital) and indirectly owns nearly 155 million shares (26.2%) through Sunny Sunshine Investment Co., Ltd.

In total, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao controls more than 202 million Vietjet shares, representing a market value of approximately VND 35 trillion based on current prices.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao’s journey embodies the rise of Vietnamese leadership on the global stage - blending vision, intellect, and resilience to redefine what’s possible for women in business.

Source: cafef.vn