In addition to many Vietnamese social enterprises, the number of foreign social enterprises in Vietnam is growing rapidly. When Australian Andrew Souto first visited Vietnam in 2005, he witnessed the plight of children coming from rural areas to cities and towns to earn money for their families. Souto, a motor mechanic, proposed establishing a social enterprise to provide the kids with on-the-job training. With support from the Volunteer International Development Australian Program and the Australian Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, he set up the VIP Bikes Social Enterprise in 2008 to service, repair and rent motorbikes. VIP Bikes currently offers free training in motorbike mechanics for 12 young people in difficult circumstances in the hope that they will be able to earn a living and support their families.

Many social enterprises are short of capital and need financial support from international NGOs and professionals such as the Center for Social Initiatives Promotion (CSIP), the British Council & Social Enterprise London, and the One Foundation, just to name a few. These organizations are very experienced in developing self-sustaining methods and business expertise.

Under the patronage of these organizations, a number of social projects have got off the ground and paid off well.

Most notable is a project called Bloom Microventures, a micro-finance travel and tour enterprise launched by Spaniard Lain Heringman and German Malte Hoefner to train disadvantaged rural women in tourism services.  

This is a new model aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas and helping international visitors learn more about challenges facing a developing country like Vietnam.

According to Pham Kieu Oanh CEO of CSIP, 20 percent of social entrepreneurs that have received support from her organization so far this are foreigners. This shows the willingness of foreigners and international organizations to help develop social enterprises in Vietnam and create a positive, sustainable impact on society. 

                                                                                                                                                          Khoa Le