On November 13, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Research (ISSH) and Chairwoman of the Vietnam–ASEAN Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, attended as the Chief Guest at the Vietnam–India International Business Conclave 2025, held at The Equatorial Saigon Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.
The event was organized by Smartkey International Marketing Co. W.L.L., a Bahrain-based company with branches in India and the United Kingdom, and was media-sponsored by Kannada Prabha Daily and Asianet Suvarna News, two major media networks in Karnataka, Southern India. The program included a discussion on business and investment opportunities in Vietnam, as well as an awards ceremony honoring 30 outstanding entrepreneurs from Karnataka for their achievements in business.
In her speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan emphasized the strong and growing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India, which is rooted not only at the state diplomatic level but also deeply embedded in community life, economic activity, and socio-cultural exchanges in Ho Chi Minh City. From an urban anthropology perspective, she shared research findings on Vietnamese–Indian multicultural families living and working in Vietnam, highlighting Mr. Ramesh Mohan Anand, former Chairman of Incharm Vietnam, who played a key role in ensuring the success of the program connecting Indian and Vietnamese entrepreneurs.
Earlier, at the Vietnam–India International Business and Cultural Workshop organized by the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, together with Mr. Le Vinh Thao - Founder of Anchay.TV and IVU representative in Asia – presented a report on the Indian vegetarian food business model in Ho Chi Minh City and across the ASEAN urban space. This model demonstrates sustainable development by combining culinary culture, green living philosophy, and responsible business practices. From Indian vegetarian restaurants to charity initiatives offering meals, the Indian business community and diaspora were portrayed as a “soft bridge,” strengthening people-to-people relations between the two countries.
During discussions with entrepreneurs from Karnataka, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan highlighted the role of the Sri Mariamman Temple in central Ho Chi Minh City as a “cultural anchor and community memory” for the Indian community in Vietnam, as well as a unique cultural tourism destination for international visitors and local residents. Around this religious and architectural symbol, numerous cultural, spiritual, culinary, and business exchange activities have emerged, creating new cooperation opportunities among businesses, communities, universities, and urban authorities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan emphasized that Ho Chi Minh City is one of the most dynamic areas for Indian businesses to expand in sectors such as trade, services, creative industries, higher education, high-quality workforce training, and tourism. As both a scholar and a practitioner of people-to-people diplomacy, she affirmed that the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Research is always ready to support Indian businesses in research, training, student–business connections, organizing academic and business forums, and promoting Vietnam–ASEAN–India cultural exchanges, including yoga, recognized as a distinctive soft power of Indian culture.
The Vietnam–India International Business Conclave 2025 was not only an occasion to honor 30 outstanding entrepreneurs from Karnataka but also a platform for open dialogue between Indian businesses and Vietnam’s business, education, and cultural ecosystems. Through this forum, the Vietnam–India relationship continues to be strengthened from the foundations of community, business, and research collaboration, laying the groundwork for future cooperative initiatives.
