Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao returns as Vietnam's second richest person

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Chairwoman of VietJet Air and Standing Vice Chairwoman of HDBank, has returned to the position of the second richest person in Vietnam. According to Forbes data updated on October 8, 2026, her net worth has increased to approximately $4.2 billion, driven by growth in the aviation and finance sectors.

Vietnam currently has eight billionaires recognized by Forbes. Pham Nhat Vuong, Chairman of Vingroup, remains the wealthiest individual in the country with a net worth of $27.7 billion, ranking 93rd globally. Other notable figures on the list include Pham Thu Huong ($3 billion), Pham Thuy Hang ($2.1 billion), Tran Dinh Long ($2.9 billion), Ho Hung Anh ($2.5 billion), and Ngo Chi Dung ($1.2 billion). Additionally, Nguyen Dang Quang of Masan Group has rejoined the list with $1.2 billion.

The increase in the number of billionaires is viewed as evidence of capital accumulation and the expanding scale of Vietnam's private sector enterprises.