Dear Members,

I am honoured to write to you having been re-elected as the Chairman of BritCham Vietnam (BritCham) for the 2025/2026 term.

In the past twelve months BritCham has seen new members increase by nearly 69 percent, we have established a sector focused approach, deepened our partnerships both in Vietnam and the UK and maintained a nominal financial surplus whilst seeking to maximise the offer to members.

In 2025/2026 we plan to build on this strong footing through a strategy which is grounded by a member first approach, supported by the introduction of strategic themes and with the launch of the first UK-Vietnam Business Summit.

Firstly, through our working groups, events and business services we will prioritise member engagement and business to business opportunity. As part of a new member first approach all members will be advised of new business opportunities where the chamber is approached to recommend service providers in Vietnam or to deliver new mandates and projects.

Secondly, the chamber will adopt four multiyear strategic themes to serve as a focus of the chamber and working groups. These include (i) ease of doing business, (ii) ESG and clean air, (iii) the International Finance Centre (IFC), and (iv) Trade. In addition to informing the basis for advocacy and events, these will form part of the agenda and outcomes of the working groups.

BritCham now has 6 working groups, including for (i) education, (ii), energy, (iii) ESG, (iv) professional services, (v) tech and (vi) trade. Establishment of these working groups has been well received by members. However, we recognise it is essential that they remain both active and relevant. As such the board will be working with both working group heads and the British Consulate in HCMC to support their activity in 2025/2026.

Thirdly, we will continue to strengthen our partnerships in both Vietnam and the UK.

The British Embassy in Hanoi and the British Consulate in HCMC are key strategic partners and I am honoured to announce that His Majesty’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Mr. Iain Frew, has accepted an invitation to be the Patron of BritCham Vietnam. I would like to thank both the Ambassador and the British Consul General, Ms. Alexandra Smith, for their continued and steadfast support for the chamber. We look forward to further and enhanced engagement with both the embassy and the consulate.

In 2024 we established quarterly calls with both the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in the UK and the Vietnam-UK Network. These regular engagements allow BritCham and the British Corporate Advocacy Council (BCAC) to stay up to date with Vietnam related business activity in the UK and to contribute to bilateral trade missions. I am pleased to advise these calls will continue in 2025.

As we look forward to delivering on this strategy a key moment will be the first UK-Vietnam Business Summit to be hosted by BritCham in Q4 2025. As the bilateral relationship deepens and bilateral trade increases, we recognise the significant value in promoting the very best of British business in Vietnam, Vietnamese investment in the UK and the people to people ties between the two countries. We look forward to all members joining the UK-Vietnam Business Summit and welcome participation in preparing for this important event.

Finally, I would like to sincerely thank the sponsors, outgoing board members, and staff who have supported BritCham in the last year.

The chamber is very grateful for the continued support of our national sponsors, AstraZeneca, British International School HCMC (BIS), the British University Vietnam (BUV), CMC Global, HSBC, Prudential and Unilever, and our national product sponsors, Be, BUV, California Fitness, Decision Lab, Indochine Counsel, Redfern Digital and Turkish Airlines. We also thank the British Corporate Advocacy Council for their continued support and leadership.

In May 2025 Chris Jeffery, Richard McCellan and Trang Dang stood down from the BritCham board. Each has made a significant and valuable contribution to BritCham. In particular I thank Chris Jeffrey who has been a board member for over 15 years and who served as Chairman of BritCham between 2019 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024. Chris has been an instrumental figure in both BritCham and Vietnam’s education sector and the chamber is very grateful for the contribution he has made.

A new board was in turn elected in May 2025 and I would like to welcome three new board members, (i) Josh Williams, Chief Representative, John Swire & Sons Vietnam, (ii) Raymond Haveron, Chairman and CEO of IMPAC Group and (iii) To Quoc Hung, Country Manager Vietnam, ACCA.

I look forward to working with each of you in 2025/26. Please email me at chair@britchamvn.com if you have any questions or if you would like to meet to discuss the chamber and how we can support your business in Vietnam.

Yours sincerely

Denzel Eades