E59: Navigating the grey area that can decide life or death for business in Vietnam

"That grey area or that almost darkness within a conversation can be life and death. And if you don’t have the trust to be able to have an honest conversation, you can meet an impasse and never move forward," says CBRE's Lawrence Lennon, in this episode of You Don't Know Vietnam. Lawrence, who is Director of Capital Markets Services at CBRE, tells Ian Paynton about the forces driving Vietnam’s next economic leap. From record-breaking FDI and infrastructure spend to the surge in tourism and manufacturing, He explains why Vietnam’s growth story is one of the most compelling in Asia right now. But beyond the numbers, he reveals the unseen dynamics that matter most: why trust is the real insurance policy in Vietnam’s business culture, how relationships unlock opportunities that data alone can’t, and what global investors often miss when they view Vietnam only through spreadsheets. Whether you’re an investor, entrepreneur, or just curious about the future of Vietnam, this episode offers a rare look at both the hard data and the hidden human factors shaping the country’s momentum.Send us Fan MailIf you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content, the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn, and follow the podcast on Instagram, TikTok and X. A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.