On the morning of May 13 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Association for Women Entrepreneurs (VAWE) collaborated with Vidogroup to host a meeting with the Cherie Blair Foundation, an international organization supporting women entrepreneurs globally.

The event marked a significant step forward in international cooperation, with the participation of Le Thi Bich Tran, spouse of the Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, government leaders, over 50 women entrepreneurs from 18 northern provinces, Cherie Blair, and senior representatives of the foundation.

Starting with local values, expanding through technology

One of the most inspiring stories was that of Nguyen Ngoc Bich (also known as Kat Nguyen), co-founder of the brand Co Cay Hoa La.

Drawing inspiration from traditional agricultural products like her mother's ginger wine, the brand has leveraged technology to transform native ingredients into modern health care products.

After eight years of development, the business has served over 5 million customers and expanded into international markets, including Amazon, one of the world's leading e-commerce platforms.

What sets Co Cay Hoa La apart is its successful creation of a community of over 43,000 women who are not only consumers but also entrepreneurs in their own right. Currently, more than 6,000 women are earning monthly incomes ranging from $315 to several thousand dollars through this collaborative business model.

Sharing her development vision, Ngoc Bich stated, “Instead of spending on ads for international platforms like Facebook or Google, we choose to share profits with Vietnamese people to circulate the domestic economy and create development opportunities for women.”

However, she acknowledged that earning consumer trust for startup products on e-commerce platforms remains a challenge. “Quality is always our top priority, but we need time to build market trust through credibility and perseverance,” she emphasized.

Beyond business, many entrepreneurial initiatives also deliver social value. One example is a fabric recycling project led by Pham Thi Hien, Chairwoman of the Hoan Kiem District Association for People with Disabilities.

From seemingly worthless fabric scraps, unique handcrafted fabric flowers are created, providing both income for women with disabilities and promoting environmental protection.

“We run monthly vocational classes, helping women learn, practice, and bring their products to market through fairs and exhibitions,” Hien shared.

Digital transformation: The key to scaling up sustainably

According to Ha Thi Phuong Thanh, Vice President of VAWE, digital tools and AI are indispensable for accelerating and sustaining startup growth in the digital era.

“Today, having just an idea is not enough. Businesses must have digital tools to model, operate, and access markets effectively. We’ve partnered with FPT, CNC, and tech firms to design courses tailored for women entrepreneurs, delivered in Vietnamese, helping them move quickly using available resources,” Thanh noted.

VAWE has also shifted from merely teaching business thinking to integrating technology from the outset in its startup support programs. Instead of purely theoretical lessons, women entrepreneurs are now learning how to apply AI in resource management, e-commerce, and brand positioning.

One standout platform supporting women entrepreneurs is Her Venture, introduced by Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister and founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation.

Launched in Vietnam in 2018, the app is designed for busy women entrepreneurs, offering business skills training in just 10 minutes a day, even offline. The content is fully localized in Vietnamese.

“We want technology to be a tool of equality. Her Venture helps women learn to set up businesses, understand marketing and finance, stay resilient, and use the internet to reach customers more easily,” Blair emphasized.

Currently, about 80% of Her Venture users in Vietnam are women, with a goal of reaching one million users in the near future. Initial results show that many women significantly improved their business performance after engaging with the app.

In the digital transformation wave, women are no longer passive recipients but are actively shaping technological trends, launching startups with intelligence, determination, and strong community ties.

From traditional ginger wine to AI-enabled e-commerce platforms, the entrepreneurial journey of Vietnamese women is reaching new heights, spreading influence, and reshaping the future with the power of technology in their hands.

Ha Thuong