Vietnam debates family business succession and housing rental versus buying

Expert Do Hoà, former Shell Asia‑Pacific strategy and marketing director, says that in Vietnam and other East Asian cultures family businesses often prioritize keeping control within the family over merit. He notes that young heirs are frequently promoted without sufficient experience, and that succession practices can create closed circles that protect trade secrets but also risk repeating past shortcomings. Hoà points to European models where heirs receive early training and progress through modest roles before taking senior positions.

A separate analysis of Vietnam's housing market argues that renting can be a smarter financial choice than buying in several situations. Renting preserves cash flow, avoids large transaction costs, loan interest, maintenance, and opportunity‑cost losses. It is especially advantageous when a person's job location is uncertain, when a mortgage would require borrowing a large share of savings, or when the housing market is volatile. The article outlines five scenarios where continued renting is more prudent than rushing into home ownership.