This is not only a historic event for the country but also a proud milestone for the Vietnamese automobile industry, with a Vietnamese car brand replacing foreign cars for the first time.

Pride on the big day

On the occasion of April 30, the shiny VF 9 convertibles, carrying high-ranking officers of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security, majestically led the parade. The applause resounded in the joy of thousands of people.

"The appearance of VF 9 on the April 30 holiday is not only a simple event but also a testament to the country's strong rise after 50 years of unification" - Ms. Pham Chi Lan opened the story with Tuoi Tre Online.

"After the war, Vietnam recovered its economy and gradually developed. To have an automobile industry with a Vietnamese brand and to master the value chain is something that few people dared to think of a few decades ago.

VinFast is doing that. The fact that VF 9 leads the parade is a symbol of the nation's aspirations," Ms. Lan emphasized. Previously, important events of the country often used foreign cars or cars assembled in Vietnam but with foreign brands.

She said that more than 20 years ago, when Vietnam opened up for integration, preferential policies attracted many foreign enterprises. After decades, the localization rate has not really developed.

We used to be proud when big car manufacturers set up factories in Vietnam, but in reality, it was just processing and assembling. The brand, technology, and core components all belonged to them. The low localization rate, usually below 30%, made the auto industry dependent on imported components from Thailand, China, etc.

Foreign car manufacturers receive big incentives on land and taxes, but their localization commitments are almost never implemented. They bring components from abroad and assemble them in Vietnam. That is not our real auto industry.

"I once proposed to the Ministry of Planning and Investment that the incentive mechanism needs to be changed. Incentives cannot be granted from the beginning without binding localization responsibilities. If they do not implement, they must be revoked.

But at that time, we were not strong enough to do that. Foreign car companies even threatened to withdraw from Vietnam if they were not protected. That made me feel worried about a real Vietnamese auto industry," said Ms. Lan.

Observing the birth of VinFast in 2017 until now, according to Ms. Lan, has changed everything. "When VinFast started construction of the factory in Hai Phong, I was very surprised and skeptical. Making cars is not easy, especially when we do not have a foundation.

Just 21 months later, the company launched two models at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. It was a miracle, a turning point that made me believe that Vietnamese people can do bigger things," said the expert.

She said she visited the VinFast factory a few months ago with some economic experts. The large-scale production line and VinFast's localization rate are much higher than before. This shows that they are not only assembling but are gradually mastering the value chain.

She emphasized that when the battery factory in Ha Tinh comes into operation, VinFast’s localization rate will increase even more. The decision to switch to 100% electric vehicle production by 2021 is another bold move by VinFast.

"When VinFast announced it would stop producing gasoline cars, I thought it was a bold decision. Electric cars are a high-tech field, requiring huge investment and fierce competition. They saw the future trend. Electric cars are not only a means of transport but also a solution for the environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Ms. Lan.

Big ambition, work hard to be self-reliant

Just after nearly 8 years since the groundbreaking ceremony of the VinFast automobile manufacturing complex in Hai Phong in 2017, the Vietnamese car company has created miracles.

From just a dream, VinFast has quickly brought the Vietnamese brand to the global arena, standing shoulder to shoulder with "giants" like Tesla, BYD...

In October 2018, just one year after the groundbreaking ceremony, VinFast made a splash when it launched two models, Lux A2.0 and Lux ​​SA2.0, at the Paris Motor Show. By 2021, VinFast announced that it would completely switch to producing electric vehicles, becoming one of the pioneers in this field. Internationally, VinFast has "planted its flag" in the US, Canada, Europe, India and many Asian countries.

In the domestic market, VinFast has surpassed "giants" such as Toyota and Hyundai to become the best-selling car company, accounting for more than 30% of the market share in the first quarter of 2025 with more than 35,000 cars sold.

According to experts, VinFast's journey is a story of great ambition and the spirit of "doing it for real". VinFast's success is a valuable lesson in self-reliance.

"I am very pleased that the Government has recently proactively 'ordered' private corporations to participate in national projects. Previously, such as the North-South high-speed railway project 10 years ago, Vietnamese enterprises had almost no opportunity. We see that only by encouraging internal resources and assigning tasks to the private sector can Vietnam truly industrialize," said economist Pham Chi Lan.