In the heart of Southeast Asia, Vietnam is undergoing a profound transformation. Once defined by its war-torn past, the country is now emerging as a dynamic hub for technology and innovation. At the forefront of this evolution stands Dr. Truong Gia Binh, the chairman and co-founder of FPT Corporation, Vietnam’s most valuable publicly traded tech company. His journey from a young graduate in post-war Vietnam to a tech tycoon betting big on artificial intelligence (AI) mirrors the country’s own trajectory—from resilience to reinvention. Bloomberg’s Haslinda Amin chronicles his journey of founding and growing FPT into Vietnam’s leading tech powerhouse—and one of the world’s most prominent technology companies—in a May edition of Bloomberg Latitude.
Watch FPT and Chairman Dr. Truong Gia Binh’s story on
Bloomberg Latitude with Haslinda Amin (May 2025)
Vietnam: A Nation on the Move
Vietnam’s ambition is clear. With a government growth target of 8% and a strategic emphasis on technology, the country is positioning itself as a global player in the digital economy. The youthful population—nearly 100 million strong—is increasingly well-educated and tech-savvy. This demographic dividend, combined with a stable political environment and a growing middle class, makes Vietnam fertile ground for technological advancement.
Yet, this transformation is not without its challenges. The legacy of war, economic embargoes, and limited infrastructure once stifled progress. But Vietnam has shown remarkable adaptability. Today, it is the United States’ largest export market in Southeast Asia and a rising star in global supply chains. The country’s pivot to technology is not just a policy choice—it is a necessity for sustainable growth.
FPT: From Food Processing to Future Technologies
Founded in 1988, FPT originally stood for “Food Processing Technology.” However, the company quickly pivoted to computing and software development, recognizing the potential of high-tech industries. Under Dr. Binh’s leadership, FPT evolved into a powerhouse, offering services ranging from broadband and mobile to cloud computing, automation, and AI.
FPT was founded by 13 young scientists in 1988 with a mission to bring Vietnamese intelligence to the global stage
More than half of FPT’s revenue now comes from helping global companies integrate new technologies. Its client portfolio features over 1,100 global companies, more than 130 in the Fortune Global 500 list; including automotive giants like Ford, Volvo, Honda and Hyundai. One of its standout innovations is an AI-powered quality control system that detects faults in car parts with unmatched speed and precision.
This is just one example of how FPT is applying AI and technology to real-world problems, enhancing productivity and reducing costs. FPT leverages deep expertise and industry knowledge to provide comprehensive IT solutions in higher-value stages of the technology value chain, including digital transformation, legacy modernization & global managed services. For example, FPT partnered with Schaeffler to build a Digital Factory, leveraging IoT and Digital Twin technologies to enable real-time data collection and next-gen manufacturing. For Covestro, FPT migrated hundreds of applications and thousands of on-premise servers to AWS Cloud, saving millions of euros.
Working with E.ON, FPT also implemented SAP S/4HANA to streamline invoicing and reporting, cutting processing time and labor by 50% and significantly reducing operational costs. The company is also one of Airbus's five partners for the Skywise ecosystem, supporting over 100 airlines to improve operational efficiency, reduce operating costs, and ensure continuous data updates.
Truong Gia Binh: The Visionary Behind the Machine
Truong Gia Binh’s story is one of grit, vision, and relentless pursuit of progress. Born in Da Nang and raised in Hanoi, Dr. Binh’s early life was marked by scarcity. He wore hand-me-down clothes and lived through the hardships of post-war Vietnam. Yet, his family’s commitment to freedom and education laid the foundation for his future.
Dr. Truong Gia Binh, FPT Founder and Chairman
After studying in the Soviet Union, Dr. Binh returned to Vietnam in the 1980s, a time of triple-digit inflation and economic uncertainty. With no clear product in mind, he approached the Ministry of Technology to start a company focused on high-tech. The ministry suggested food processing, but Dr. Binh and his team quickly shifted to computing, teaching themselves from books imported from Hong Kong.
Their first project—an airline ticket booking system—was a success. From there, FPT expanded into banking software and other digital services. Today, FPT is a symbol of Vietnam’s technological aspirations, and Dr. Binh is its most prominent evangelist. The Corporation was also the first Vietnam-headquartered tech firm to exceed 1 billion USD revenue in the global IT services segment, and was recognized among Asia's 40 IT Services Companies 2024 by Gartner.
Betting Big on AI
To accompany Vietnam’s fast ascent as a global hub for technology and talents, Dr. Binh and FPT are fully committed to five key pillars - AI, Semiconductors, Automotive Technology, Digital Transformation and Green Transformation.
His latest and most ambitious move is his “all-in” strategy on Artificial Intelligence. He believes AI is not just a tool but a transformative force that can reshape society. “If in the past, machines helped our hands and legs, now they help our brains,” he says. FPT began investing in AI over a decade ago, and the company has now built Vietnam’s first AI factory in partnership with NVIDIA, the world’s leading AI chipmaker, and another in Japan.
FPT recently launched two AI factories in Vietnam and Japan, powered by a global partner ecosystem of leading technology organizations, including NVIDIA, SCSK, ASUS, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, VAST Data, and DDN Storage.
This partnership is crucial. As data volumes double annually, the demand for AI computing power is skyrocketing. FPT’s data centers, powered by NVIDIA chips, are designed to meet this demand. According to Dr. Binh, these facilities are not just technical assets—they are enablers of innovation, allowing young Vietnamese engineers to test ideas and build solutions in days rather than months.
Dr. Binh sees AI as a democratizing force. He envisions a future where AI is accessible to everyone—from factory workers to CEOs. Under his guidance, FPT has taken on an “agentic culture” where mandatory AI training is provided to all employees, and every department is an AI Lab, developing AI agents. Maya, its HR assistant, is used by 35,000 FPT Software employees, CodeVista - an AI coding assistant, used by over 10,000 developers to help improve productivity by 50%.
On the other hand, he also acknowledges the risks of AI, from job displacement to deepfakes and AI-driven crime. His solution? Education and regulation. FPT is committed to training half a million people in AI, and Dr. Binh is urging governments to collaborate with the AI community to ensure the technology serves humanity.
Education: The Foundation of the Future
Education is central to Dr. Binh’s vision. FPT operates five private university campuses with over 150,000 students, and a network of private schools with nearly 20,000 pupils. These institutions emphasize STEM, coding, and AI from an early age. Children as young as six are learning to program robots and interact with AI systems. By fifth grade, they are developing their own AI applications.
This educational push was also inspired by an early business trip to Japan, where Dr. Binh realized that language and technical skills were barriers to market entry. In response, FPT began teaching Japanese and English alongside technology. The goal is to produce globally competitive talent who can thrive in any market. FPT University now offers language training in English, Japanese, Korean and Chinese.
To cultivate a future-ready workforce, FPT is proactively promoting STEM while embedding AI into its education system's curriculum and teaching methodologies
His dream is to bring this level of education to every corner of Vietnam, including rural areas. He believes that by leapfrogging traditional development stages and embracing cutting-edge technology, Vietnam can become a global leader in the digital age.
Legacy and Reflection
Despite his wealth and influence, Dr. Binh remains grounded. He also draws inspiration from Vietnam’s revolutionary leaders, as well as sacrifices made for the country’s independence. These experiences have shaped his values and leadership style.
Vietnam boasts immense potential to become an AI nation and a key player in the global supply chain, and FPT is steadfastly committed to propelling that vision
Dr. Binh’s journey is a testament to the power of vision, resilience, and innovation. From a struggling graduate to a tech magnate, he has not only transformed FPT but also helped redefine Vietnam’s place in the world. His story is a powerful reminder that with the right mix of ambition, education, and technology, even the most unlikely nations can lead the future.
