Valerie Vu: Vietnam’s Tech Reforms, Energy Battles & Surviving Trump’s Tariff Shock – E629

Jeremy Au and Valerie Vu sit down in Singapore to examine how Southeast Asia’s private capital markets, Vietnam’s reforms, and regional politics are shaping investor sentiment and startup opportunities. They explore slower fundraising cycles, Vietnam’s push toward technology-driven growth, and how energy shortages and tariff shocks impact manufacturing. Their discussion also covers foreign investor trust, nuclear energy debates, and the rise of cybersecurity and AI as national priorities. 03:52 Vietnam steadies after political consolidation: New leadership pursues double-digit GDP growth, economic reforms, and technology-driven policies. 06:42 Electricity price hikes trigger crisis: EVN’s subsidy rollbacks risk $13 billion in renewable projects and damage foreign investor trust. 12:53 Nuclear energy returns to the agenda: Vietnam revives talks with Russia and Japan to build its first reactor by 2030. 20:47 Tariffs negotiated down to 20 percent: Vietnam avoided harsher 46 percent rates, keeping FDI inflows stable and competitive against India and China. 25:49 Supply chain transparency becomes critical: Firms must prove independence from China to avoid 40 percent penalties, creating opportunities for verification startups. 28:36 Startups align with government priorities: AI, cybersecurity, and data infrastructure ventures gain support through partnerships and favorable policy. Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://www.bravesea.com/blog/valerie-vu-powering-vietnam Get transcripts, startup resources & community discussions at www.bravesea.com WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VakR55X6BIElUEvkN02e TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeremyau Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeremyauz Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeremyau LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bravesea English: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Bahasa Indonesia: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Chinese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts Vietnamese: Spotify | YouTube | Apple Podcasts