After Doi Moi in 1986, Who Built Vietnam From Nothing? | Sam Korsmoe & Sam Van | EP 386

Vietnam's transformation from a war-torn nation to an emerging economic powerhouse wasn't driven by high-tech startups alone—but by relentless, everyday innovation across farmers, factory workers, and immigrant entrepreneurs. In their new book, 40 Years of Innovators, co-authors Sam Korsmo and Sam Van reveal how Vietnam’s true engine of progress has been its people: individuals who, despite decades of scarcity and uncertainty, kept reinventing themselves and their country. From Korean investors building roads through swamps to Vietnamese expats returning to launch social enterprises, the stories spotlight a culture where failure isn’t fatal—just a step in the process. The book reframes innovation not as a Silicon Valley buzzword, but as a survival instinct, a daily act of courage. As Vietnam races toward 2045 as a high-income nation, the central question remains: will the hunger to grow remain, even when comfort arrives? The most striking insight? Innovation in Vietnam isn’t about technology—it’s about mindset. The country’s 40-year journey under Doi Moi has been a continuous act of improvisation, where every person, from a grab driver to a government official, operates with the same restless curiosity. The authors argue that the next phase isn’t about attracting foreign investors—it’s about nurturing homegrown leaders who can build not just companies, but entire ecosystems. And the key to that? A deep, unshakable belief in the future—even when no one else does.