Pham Thu Huong: The "female general" of billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong, from classmate to partner

Throughout the development of the empire under Pham Nhat Vuong, the name Pham Thu Huong has always gone hand in hand as a silent but powerful symbol. Few people know that this "female general" has been accompanying her husband for 3 decades.

Although she almost does not appear in the media, the wife of Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong still holds the position of Standing Vice Chairman and is one of the richest women in the Vietnamese stock market. Her story, as well as her journey with her husband from studying in the Soviet Union to building the Vingroup empire, has always been something that makes many people curious and admiring.

Relationship from classmate to partner

In the 1980s, in the context of the friendship between Vietnam and Eastern European countries developing well, many excellent Vietnamese students had the opportunity to study in the Soviet Union. At that time, studying abroad in the Soviet Union was not only a pride but also a life-changing opportunity for many young Vietnamese.

Among them are two elite faces, Pham Nhat Vuong and Pham Thu Huong. Ms. Pham Thu Huong was born in 1969 in a family rich in studious traditions. She studied International Law in the Soviet Union, while Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong studied economics and geology at the Moscow Geological Academy. They met through a group of Vietnamese international students, starting a beautiful love that lasted throughout their youth in the land of birch.

In 1993, after graduating, Mr. Vuong and Ms. Huong decided to get married. Young family life began in the city of Kharkov (Ukraine). Here, they opened a restaurant called "Vietnam Thang Long." According to Ukraine's Fast Salt Times, the restaurant is located at No. 5 Aminevskoe highway, quickly becoming a familiar destination for Vietnamese and locals because of its tasteful food and reasonable prices.

In the context of Ukraine falling into an economic crisis in the 1990s, many supermarkets were empty of goods, and people had to buy food with stamps. Sensitive to the times, Mr. Vuong returned to Vietnam, bought a rudimentary instant noodle production line and brought it to Ukraine. Since then, the Miniva instant noodle brand was born, marking an important transformation in the business career of his and his wife.

On August 8, 1993, Technocom Company was established. Initially, Technocom had only 30 workers, but thanks to good quality and reasonable prices, the products quickly dominated the market. Mivina noodles officially appeared in 1995 and within a year reached sales of 1 million packages. By 2004, Mivina consumption in Ukraine reached 97% of the population - a record number that made the brand almost a generic name for ready-to-eat products in this country.

Just when Technocom was flourishing in Ukraine, Mr. Vuong and Ms. Huong began to orient themselves to invest in their hometown. In 2000, Vinpearl was born; in 2002, Vingroup was officially established. This was a period when Mr. Vuong constantly moved between Vietnam and Ukraine to run business activities.

Although Nestlé has repeatedly offered to buy Technocom, Mr. Vuong has refused. But in 2009, he suddenly decided to sell the company to focus all his efforts on Vietnam. Speaking to Forbes Vietnam, he shared: "I think, I fly all the time, if the plane crashes and I can't find it, my wife and children will suffer. There are also many things in the country, I want to do everything from head to chopsticks."

That decision became a major turning point, bringing all the enthusiasm of his and his wife back to their domestic careers. In 2011, Vinpearl and Vincom merged; in 2012, Vingroup shares were officially listed on the stock exchange. From the first few projects, the group grew rapidly, expanding into real estate, retail, healthcare, education and especially electric car production.

Pham Thu Huong: The woman behind the billion-dollar empire

Unlike many wives of Vietnamese businessmen who are only behind the backing, Ms. Pham Thu Huong is the one who directly participates in the management and holds the position of Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vingroup for many years. Her name regularly appears on the list of the richest people in the stock market, proving the role and great imprint in the development of the group.

Ms. Huong is a private person, rarely appearing in public. So far, she has only appeared in front of the media at award ceremonies in 2022 and 2023. However, every time she appears, she attracts attention with her calm, delicate demeanor and the confidence of a successful businesswoman.

In 2020, Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong and Ms. Pham Thu Huong established the Foundation and Prize under the name of their empire. This is one of the world's most valuable science and technology awards. The award is considered a strategic project, demonstrating Vingroup's aspiration to honor knowledge and promote scientific works that create positive value for humanity.

This annual prize has attracted many of the world's leading scientists, including many Nobel laureates. The VinFuture event is also one of the rare occasions when Lady Pham Thu Huong appears, showing her attachment to activities of common value for the community.

Looking back at the journey of Ms. Pham Thu Huong, it can be seen that this "female general" is not only behind the success of billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong but also an important part of the formation and development of the trillion corporation that many people admire. From the early days of starting a business in a foreign land, risky loans, to the stage of business expansion and building an empire in Vietnam, she always appears as the most reliable companion.

Currently, Ms. Pham Thu Huong is not only one of Pham Nhat Vuong's most trusted associates, but also a mother and teacher who trains two successive sons, Pham Nhat Quan Anh and Pham Nhat Minh Hoang. Although she always chooses to be discreet, Ms. Pham Thu Huong's influence on Vingroup and with Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong is undeniable.

Phuong Nhi and Bui Lan Anh dueled, the Gen Z runner-up was snatched by her sister-in-law in the spotlight Linh Trần13:35:58 06/12/2025In an event with the participation of billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong's family recently, Phuong Nhi and her sister-in-law Bui Lan Anh rarely competed in the same frame. Many people praise the beauty of her sister-in-law no less than the Gen Z queen.