Entrepreneur Vu Thi Tha: Delivering Vietnam Expertise to Global Stage

After over 35 years of development, Thang Long Investment Export-Import Joint Stock Company (DragonGroup), founded from a humble jute mat production facility, has strongly grown into one of Vietnam’s leading conglomerates under the leadership of entrepreneur Vu Thi Tha. Guided by the philosophy “Prestige is property - Discipline is strength,” DragonGroup has always flexibly adapted, continuously innovated and gradually asserted its position both in domestic and international markets, especially in the United States - one of the most demanding markets in the world.

Local authorities award the MOUs on investment policy to DragonGroup

A milestone from a historic trip

In June 2005, amid the early days of the Vietnam-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai made a historic official visit to the U.S., laying the foundation for deep and sustainable integration between the two economies. Entrepreneur Vu Thi Tha was honored to be among a few Vietnamese business representatives escorting the delegation, carrying with her the aspiration to bring Vietnamese products to the world.

“At that time, we didn’t just carry the ambition of bringing Vietnamese goods to other markets, but we also learned professionalism and standard business thinking from our U.S. partners, which later became foundational development principles for DragonGroup: Leveraging internal strength as the core and pursuing sustainable development as a goal,” she shared.

Starting in the traditional textile and garment sector, DragonGroup gradually built a solid foundation with its first export products shipped to the former Soviet Union. Over more than three decades of development, the company has grown from a small workshop with just a few dozen workers into an enterprise owning three modern export garment factories, providing stable employment for thousands of workers.

Besides, DragonGroup continued to enhance its manufacturing capacity by investing in DragonTextiles 2 - one of the most advanced high-tech spinning mills in the region, powered by state-of-the-art technologies from Germany and Japan to meet strict international standards. Its textiles and yarns successfully penetrated demanding markets such as the U.S., Canada, and the UK, reinforcing the firm’s reputation in the export manufacturing industry.

From an industrial - manufacturing base, DragonGroup has expanded into trade, services, investment and construction, establishing a robust multi-sector ecosystem. In the construction sector, the company is a trusted contractor for key transport infrastructure projects and large urban areas, leaving a strong imprint across various provinces and cities in Vietnam.

Well-prepared strategy - Adaptive thinking

Sharing about her business development strategy, Vu Thi Tha, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of DragonGroup, said that DragonGroup, as a multi-sector firm, always actively updates and analyzes global policies and trends to align its strategies accordingly. Especially, maintaining credibility in the U.S. market is the result of years of building a production - service ecosystem that meets international standards, built on modern governance and a strong commitment to quality.

From high-quality yarn and textile products and professional trade services to methodically executed construction projects, DragonGroup places a strong focus on adopting advanced technologies and strict quality control processes to meet stricter market demands.

Facing high technical requirements, tariff barriers and consumer trends in the U.S., DragonGroup has proactively developed a comprehensive development strategy - from legal compliance and organizational restructuring to production operations. The company also established specialized departments for international law, market research and quality control while pioneering digital transformation, ensuring transparent processes and traceable product origins.

“We have continuously invested in R&D, standardized processes and modernized technology to flexibly respond to global market fluctuations. In the U.S., only businesses that are truly committed to quality, transparency and sustainable development can go long,” she affirmed.

Industrial real estate – Strategic mainstay on sustainability path

Speaking on DragonGroup’s upcoming development direction, Chairwoman Tha said: In this new phase, DragonGroup will continue to leverage its core strengths that have earned market trust while effectively integrating its existing sectors to build a complete, robust and sustainable ecosystem. Its long-term vision includes expansion into highly potential industries, with industrial real estate defined as a strategic pillar.

Alongside major infrastructure, urban development and social housing projects such as Thai Binh Diamond City, DragonHomes Metropolis Thai Binh, DragonHomes Metropolis Lao Cai or Song An - Trung An residential zone Vu Thu district (Thai Binh province, now incorporated into Hung Yen province), DragonGroup is accelerating the development of the DragonIZ brand, aiming to create a network of modern, eco-friendly and synchronized industrial parks and clusters across the country.

A standout among these is the Expanded Gia Lach Industrial Park (DragonIZ Ha Tinh) Project - a model of green industrial park with comprehensive support services. Other key projects include Quynh Trang, Thinh Minh 1 and Thanh Son industrial clusters. All projects are planned according to ESG standards, from using renewable energy, treating emissions and recycling water to creating green spaces and ensuring workplace safety, to bring a friendly and efficient production and business environment.

Since its inception, DragonGroup clearly defined that sustainable development is not an option but the only way forward. Environmental protection and social responsibility are not seen as obligations but as core values that shape DragonGroup’s unique identity.

DragonGroup consistently takes the lead in investing in clean technology, energy efficiency and environmentally friendly production processes. At the same time, community and charitable activities have become the beauty of DragonGroup’s corporate culture. All activities have been carried out with a strong sense of responsibility and compassion, ranging from Covid-19 prevention and medical equipment donations, scholarships, housing support and disaster relief to employee care during Tet holidays.

In 2021-2024, DragonGroup spent over VND13 billion on social welfare activities, a vivid testament to its philosophy of development alongside the community, for a better future for the nation and the Vietnamese people.

Remarking on the U.S. market, Chairwoman Vu Thi Tha said: “Three decades is a long enough journey to witness the profound and comprehensive transformation in Vietnam-U.S. relations. Built on mutual respect, equal partnership and joint growth, I believe the business communities of the two nations will continue to serve as a vital bridge and bring the bilateral relationship to new highs.”

With strong internal capacity, strategic thinking and profound practical experience, DragonGroup is committed to remaining at the forefront of sustainable development, contributing to Vietnam’s common prosperity and spreading Vietnamese resilience and brainpower on the international arena.

Source: Vietnam Business Forum