The global landscape of technology is shifting, and at the heart of this transformation lies the Hedera ecosystem. In the inaugural episode of the “Build to Impact” podcast, produced by Varmeta, Mr. Frank Le (Head of Growth at Varmeta) sat down with Mr. Jeff Tchui (VP and Head of APAC Ecosystem at the Hedera Foundation) to discuss why Vietnam is positioned to become a powerhouse for blockchain adoption and Web3 innovation. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between bold ideas and real-world value, leveraging Hedera’s enterprise-grade Layer 1 protocol and Varmeta’s local expertise in blockchain and AI consultancy.
Vietnam as the Strategic Priority in Hedera’s Global Roadmap
For the Hedera Foundation, Vietnam is not just another market; it is an “imperative” part of the global economic cycle. Geographically, Vietnam is situated ideally with an extensive coastline that has traditionally facilitated maritime trade. As markets become borderless and digital, Mr. Jeff emphasizes that physical and virtual assets must begin to mix, and Vietnam’s significant exposure to physical assets provides a fertile ground for this transition.
Beyond geography, the country boasts a young, highly talented population with a “very strong work ethic” and the ability to speak multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean. This talent pool is a critical component for the project-based nature of the Web3 industry. Furthermore, the government’s structure, which includes clear five-year plans, provides a level of clarity and stability that allows for long-term planning regarding new technologies like AI and blockchain. The convergence of international interest, digital nomads, and government focus on becoming a hub for virtual assets creates a unique recipe for success in the region.
The Hedera Foundation’s Mission: Commerce, Community, and Capital
The Hedera Foundation operates with a clear mandate to support a decentralized network by bringing three essential pillars to builders and partners: Commerce, Community, and Capital. In terms of commerce, the foundation provides access to markets and on-chain financial infrastructure, including DeFi and ESG marketplaces. Community support involves marketing, promotion, and access to a vast network of integrations ranging from exchanges to custodial providers.
Finally, capital is provided through grants to ambitious projects. Mr.Jeff Tchui notes that funding in Vietnam often goes “much further” due to lower cost structures and a highly efficient development environment compared to other jurisdictions. This allows the foundation to support more projects locally, fostering a robust ecosystem of innovators.
Varmeta and the Importance of Local Execution Partners
A significant theme of the discussion is the role of local partners like Varmeta in achieving “last mile completion”. Hedera is a large ecosystem with various entities focusing on engineering, research, and ventures. For a protocol to succeed in a new market like Vietnam, flexibility and diversity in its partners are paramount. Varmeta has demonstrated this flexibility since 2021, evolving from working on technical projects to managing strategic market development mandates.
Local partners are essential for translating global technology into regional success. This involves localizing tools into the Vietnamese language, ensuring compliance with regional regulatory requirements, and tailoring the user experience to meet local tastes and preferences. By acting as a bridge, Varmeta helps the Hedera Foundation navigate the “noisy” landscape of new markets and turn that noise into “music”.
Empowering the Next Generation through Open-Source Innovation
To truly be “community-first,” the Hedera ecosystem prioritizes “talent-first” and “builder-first” initiatives. This is achieved through a deep commitment to open-source efforts, which builds trust and allows developers to contribute directly to the ecosystem. Varmeta and Hedera have collaborated on several open-source toolkits, including a blockchain-based Learning Management System (LMS) designed to certify local talent.
The ecosystem offers specialized “Studios” to help builders jumpstart their projects without having to reinvent the wheel. These include the RWA (Real-World Asset) Studio, Stablecoin Studio, AI Studio, NFT Studio, and the ESG & Guardian toolkit. These tools provide the foundational building blocks for engineers to create sophisticated products and modules that contribute back to the global community.
Strategic Advice for Vietnamese Enterprises and Banks
For large corporations and financial institutions in Vietnam, this era represents a “golden” opportunity for blockchain adoption. However, the advice from the Hedera Foundation is clear: “Partner first and not build first”. Traditional Web2 business models often focus on owning all intellectual property and maintaining total control, but these primitives are not the same in the Web3 world.
Enterprises are encouraged to establish a dedicated “Center of Excellence” where they can ring-fence specific parts of their business to experiment with Web3 infrastructure alongside international and domestic partners. This approach allows them to learn from the “learning pains” and mistakes of other jurisdictions that have already navigated these waters.
By 2026, Mr. Jeff predicts that leading institutions will adopt a “digital-first treasury strategy”. This will involve using stablecoins for cash flow optimization, procurement, and risk-related insurance. Once this digital infrastructure is tested through internal operations, companies can move into advanced RWA tokenization, covering everything from intellectual property and goodwill to hard assets and bonds.
Focusing on Local Impact: Advice for Local Builders
For individual developers and startups in Vietnam, the key to success lies in leveraging their “special advantage”: local knowledge. While it is tempting to build for an international audience immediately, projects that solve specific Vietnamese problem statements are more likely to gain traction. These areas include sustainability, air pollution, electrification, education, and digital identity.
In the current landscape, being a “full-stack developer” is no longer the most critical factor for success due to the rise of AI-assisted development tools. Instead, the foundation looks for builders who are well-rounded in both technology and business applications. The most important aspects now are product-market fit, a sustainable growth strategy, and a clear understanding of token generation event (TGE) strategies.
The Role of International Financial Centers and Sandboxes
Vietnam’s ambitions to build International Financial Centers (IFCs) in Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City provide vital venues for innovation and disruption. In a market where established players are often difficult to move, IFCs and regulatory sandboxes offer a safe environment to piece together “win-win scenarios”.
The Hedera Foundation aims to provide its open-source components as the building blocks for these IFC sandboxes. By bringing in institutional frameworks, governance best practices, and tokenization workflows, the foundation helps Vietnamese companies adopt a decentralized approach to their businesses while remaining within a secure and supported environment.
The 2026 Vision: Vietnam as a Regional Launchpad
Looking toward the next three years, the goal for the Hedera Foundation is to see widespread recognition of on-chain activities on its network within Vietnam. This includes optimizing public and private infrastructure to support digital identity, KYC, notarization, and financial services.
From a broader APAC perspective, Vietnam is viewed as a “launchpad” for growth. The strategic corridors connecting Vietnam to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, India, and even Central Asian nations like Kazakhstan are central to Hedera’s growth story. The foundation aims to be part of this expansion from an on-chain perspective, utilizing Vietnam’s strong engineering base and strategic position.
Conclusion
The core philosophy of the Hedera ecosystem in Vietnam is to “build the pie before you carve it up”. By creating incentives that keep everyone: banks, technology platforms, and builders, engaged, the community can achieve far more together than they could individually.
Whether you are a corporation performing a “hygiene test” on your data or a builder seeking to solve a local problem, the resources are available. The Hedera Foundation and Varmeta remain committed to supporting the journey of turning bold ideas into real-world projects that bring lasting value to the world.
To stay updated on these developments, you can subscribe to the Hedera Vietnam’s Builders Hub on X, and LinkedIn. For those looking for collaboration opportunities, the teams at Varmeta and the Hedera Foundation are ready to help you build to impact.
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