Pham Thu Huong, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and wife of Pham Nhat Vuong, has reached a net worth of 4 billion USD, climbing to Vietnam’s second-richest person according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire rankings on August 27. This milestone shifts her ahead of Vietjet Air Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao and cements her position as the country’s wealthiest female billionaire.
A Rapid Climb Up the Forbes Billionaire Rankings
The latest surge in wealth unfolded during a robust trading session on the Vietnamese stock market, propelled by a strong rally in large-cap equities. Pham Thu Huong’s net worth jumped by 162,2 million USD, or 4,2%, in the single latest trading session, pushing her total fortune to 4 billion USD and placing her at 1.072 globally.
Her ascent has been remarkably swift. Huong first entered the Forbes USD billionaire list in February of this year with an estimated fortune of 2,2 billion USD, tied directly to over 341 million VIC shares representing approximately 4,4% of Vingroup’s charter capital. Having co-founded the conglomerate alongside her husband, she also holds a significant stake in LPBank, owning 148.3 million shares or 4,965% of the bank’s charter capital. In roughly seven months, her net worth has expanded by about 1,8 billion USD, marking an increase of over 80%.
Market Momentum and the Vingroup Rally
The broader financial landscape provided fertile ground for this wealth expansion. On August 26, the VN-Index surged nearly 30 points to clear the 1.820-point threshold, driven by a powerful resurgence of blue-chip stocks. Vingroup’s stock, trading under the ticker VIC, extended its winning streak to five consecutive sessions following inclusion in the FTSE Global Equity Index Series (FTSE GEIS) Large Cap index, climbing roughly 17% and nearing its historical peak.
This market enthusiasm aligns with solid fundamental performance at Vingroup. The conglomerate reported consolidated net revenue of VND 222.300 billion for the first half of the year, a 73% jump compared to the same period. After-tax profit reached VND 20.375 billion, multiplying 4.5 times year-over-year and fulfilling roughly 58% of the company’s full-year profit target of VND 35.000 billion.
The Changing Guard Among Vietnam’s Wealthiest
With Huong claiming the second spot at 4 billion USD, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao—Chairwoman of Vietjet Air—holds an identical 4 billion USD valuation, positioned immediately behind at 1.075 globally. Vietnam’s billionaire roster now features eight individuals, dominated at the top by Pham Nhat Vuong, whose net worth stands at 35,6 billion USD following a 1,3 billion USD single-session gain.
The upper echelon of Vietnamese business leadership also includes Pham Thuy Hang, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and sister to Huong, who ranks fourth nationally with a net worth of 2,8 billion USD. Other prominent business leaders rounding out the Forbes list include Tran Dinh Long of Hoa Phát, Ho Hung Anh of Techcombank, Ngo Chi Dung of VPBank, and Nguyen Dang Quang of Masan Group, illustrating a concentration of wealth anchored firmly in foundational banking, steel, retail, and real estate conglomerates.
Looking Ahead at Market Valuations
Observers are watching to see if VIC can sustain its momentum past historical resistance levels as Vingroup pushes to meet its ambitious full-year revenue goal of VND 485.000 billion. What are your thoughts on the expanding influence of family-led leadership in Vietnam’s top enterprises? Let us know in the comments below.
