Book description
Kimberly and Brian Vierra have written the most useful guide I have
seen for foreigners who want to do business in Vietnam. I've spent years
in the country, but I learned a lot from this book. It's full of
practical information about unique aspects of Vietnam's business
culture; registration, legal and tax issues; working with local business
partners; living conditions in Vietnam and industry-specific
opportunities. Interviews with experienced expatriates bring the issues
to life. The Vierras are very frank about tough problems such as
corruption, but they also convey a real affection for and understanding
of this wonderful country.
Raymond Burghardt
Former US Ambassador to Vietnam
Director, Indochina Capital Corporation
Vietnam Business Guide is the book that every seasoned
Southeast Asia hand, bellied up to a Saigon bar, says he ought to
write. Be thankful the Vierras made good on this common boast.
Unstinting, pragmatic, penetrating and incredibly accessible, this
highly readable volume may not keep you from the suffering the pain of
starting up, but-if read closely, with a yellow highlighter-may very
well spare you the agony of undue blood-letting. There will be blood,
but Vietnam Business Guide will mitigate the flow.
James Sullivan
Managing Director, Mandarin Media
Author, National Geographic Vietnam and Over the Moat
Vietnam Business Guide provides practical and balanced
information about Vietnam for foreigners to plan their first steps to
enter the market. What separate this book from others are its reality
and practicality, brought about by both the authors who themselves are
entrepreneurs having walked the same journey and the experts who
contributed their experiences on different topics throughout the book.
The business landscape in Vietnam is speedily changing. Some facts, by
the time you read the book, may need updating but still it serves best
in providing newcomers essential starting points-a should-read book
for those who consider doing business in Vietnam!
Vu Minh Tri
General Director, Yahoo! Vietnam Co. Ltd.
I believe that Vietnam Business Guide has been very objective
and true to its purpose. It covers almost all relevant business and
personal challenges that one would face in Vietnam, with the authors'
firsthand experience shining through in their handling of culture
issues and the Vietnamese mindset. Despite the constraints on size, it
has sufficient details and a wealth of references to guide
entrepreneurs and business executives in the right direction. Crisply
written with interviews and real-life anecdotes, it makes for a very
interesting read. A must-read book and an invaluable tool kit for
anyone looking to Vietnam for business.
Manish Dhawan
Vice President - Coffee Division, Olam International Limited
Brian Vierra graduated from Whitman College with a B. A.
degree in Economics and went on to complete a Master's degree in
International Management at Portland State University. Prior to
founding two successful
businesses in Vietnam, he was the import
manager for the New York branch of a global logistics firm. Before
this, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Tanzania, East Africa,
working as a university economics instructor. Brian is currently the
director of Embers Asia Ltd. and the managing director of Phat Tire
Ventures. Both companies have operated successfully in Vietnam for
more than seven years.
Kimberly Vierra graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Economics
(honors) from Lewis and Clark College, and a Master's degree in
International Management from Portland State University. Kimberly has
been a Senior Consultant with ORC Worldwide's Singapore office since
March 2007, after relocating from Dalat, Vietnam where she was the
co-founder of Embers Asia. Previously, she was a consultant in ORC's
New York headquarters where she consulted with Fortune 500 companies
on their international assignments programs. Prior to ORC, Kimberly
worked in the International Assignment Solutions Technology Group of
PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City, and before this worked in the
International Human Resources department at Nike, Inc.'s world
headquarters.
