You Don't Know Vietnam

Hosted by Ian Paynton - We Create Content

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Forget what you thought you knew about Vietnam. It's no longer that, as you're about to find out. Hit subscribe for conversations about trends, culture and business from one of the world's fastest growing markets: Vietnam. Hosted by Ian Paynton, co-founder of We Create Content, a content agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam.

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60 recent

September 8, 2026Episode 7327 min

E73: Remembering a Hanoi we once knew — with journalist David Stout

Before Ian Paynton co-founded WCC, and before journalist David Stout went on to report from Myanmar, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Balkans and Saudi Arabia, the pair spent their days making a print magazine about Hanoi. Fifteen years later, they reunite to remember what David calls “the best days of analogue Vietnam”. They revisit some of their favourite editorial assignments, from the 103-year-old woman living with four generations of her family to Ha Giang before mass tourism and the overlooked importance of Vietnamese tea. They also reflect on the extraordinary pace of Vietnam’s transformation, what Hanoi may have lost along the way and why, beneath its changing appearance, the spirit of the city remains unmistakably intact. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

August 25, 2026Episode 7226 min

E72: What Singapore’s Ambassador learned from his first 10 months in Vietnam

What does Vietnam look like through the eyes of someone arriving at one of the most ambitious moments in its recent history? Ten months into his posting, Singapore’s Ambassador to Vietnam, Rajpal Singh, joins Ian Paynton to reflect on what he has learned so far — from the country’s infectious energy and optimism to its pace of change, its openness to outsiders and the ever-growing relationship between Vietnam and Singapore. In this episode: Why Vietnam’s energy can only truly be understood from the ground What makes this such an ambitious moment in the country’s development The opportunities and learning curves facing newcomers to Vietnam What the Ambassador has discovered about Vietnamese food, family life and hospitality Why Singapore and Vietnam are natural economic partners What the two countries have in common How Vietnam and Singapore's relationship is expanding into technology, AI, sustainability and food security Chapters 00:00 — Introduction 01:00 — Ten months as Singapore’s Ambassador to Vietnam 02:10 — Feeling Vietnam’s energy from the ground 03:40 — Optimism, ambition and Vietnam’s next leap 05:50 — Learning Vietnamese and understanding the country 07:40 — Why Vietnam cannot be understood overnight 08:30 — Life as an ambassador 09:50 — Bun cha, bun bo Hue and bia hoi 12:00 — Discovering Vietnam as a family 14:20 — Vietnamese openness and hospitality 16:30 — Highlights from the first ten months 18:10 — The Vietnam–Singapore Industrial Parks 20:00 — What Singapore sees in Vietnam 21:50 — Why Singapore and Vietnam are natural partners 22:40 — Two countries that have overcome the odds 23:45 — Supporting Vietnam’s next stage of growth 24:35 — What comes next for Ambassador Rajpal Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

June 9, 2026Episode 7124 min

E71: Vietnam's young people have never had it better. Or is there something we're missing?

Vietnam's young people have more opportunity than any generation before them. They are globally connected, ambitious, educated, and growing up in one of the world's fastest-changing countries. But beneath the optimism lies something else: pressure to constantly improve, build impressive careers, gain new qualifications, make their families proud, have a side-hustle, and somehow still figure out who they are along the way. In this episode, Ian speaks with youth development advocate Ha Pham about the hidden pressures facing Vietnam's younger generation — from self-improvement culture and social media to family expectations, identity, ambition, and the fear of being ordinary in a country that's moving fast. Listen now to learn: 🇻🇳 Why opportunity and pressure are rising together 🇻🇳 The fear of being ordinary in modern Vietnam 🇻🇳 How social media is changing ambition and self-worth 🇻🇳 The tension between traditional values and personal identity 🇻🇳 Why many young people feel they're living between two worlds 🇻🇳 What gives Ha hope for Vietnam's next generation Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

May 4, 2026Episode 7041 min

E70: I was the US ambassador to Vietnam. Here’s why I’m betting on its future

In this 70th episode, former US ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius shares a rare, first-hand view of Vietnam’s transformation; from post-war recovery to one of the most dynamic economies in the world today. We get into the long arc of Vietnam’s growth, the mindset driving its progress, and the optimism that continues to define it. And why, despite any challenges, Ted is still betting on Vietnam as a place to live, raise his family, and do business. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

April 13, 2026Episode 6938 min

E69: Go live or get left behind: inside Vietnam’s e-commerce boom

E-commerce in Vietnam is big, but it's about to get A LOT bigger. Right now, it’s sitting at around 12–15% of total retail. But it’s growing at 2–3x the speed of offline, and the way people buy in Vietnam is changing fast. In this episode, Ian Paynton sits down with Ryan Molloy , CEO of Redfern Digital , to break down what’s actually happening on the ground. We get into: Why TikTok Shop has overtaken Shopee in just a couple of years The shift from search-based shopping to discovery-led buying Why live streaming has gone from “nice to have” to non-negotiable What it really takes to launch and scale an e-commerce business here We also workshop a real example — what Ryan would do if he had $100K to launch a new brand in Vietnam today. If you’re thinking about entering Vietnam, or trying to understand where commerce is heading more broadly, this is a useful one. Because Vietnam isn’t just growing fast. In many ways, it’s skipping steps — and rewriting the playbook as it goes. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

March 31, 2026Episode 6835 min

E68: The 9 cultural truths your brand MUST master to get started in Vietnam

You know the score! Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world right now. But most global audiences and brands still don’t understand how it actually works. Sure, they see the headlines, but it's a difficult place to immediately understand from the outside. How to actually understand life on the ground? In this episode, Ian Paynton is joined by Huy Nguyen , CEO of Pencil Group , a network of cultural marketing agencies that looks at Vietnam through a different lens: not as a market, but as a set of communities, values, and behaviours that shape everything from decision-making to brand building. Together, we break down the cultural truths your brand must master before entering Vietnam — from why culture should be treated as infrastructure, not decoration, to the role of family, regional nuance, national pride, and the hidden signals in everyday communication. If you’re a brand or marketing director thinking about entering Vietnam — or already operating here and wondering why things don’t always land — this is essential listening. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

March 3, 2026Episode 6730 min

E67: Growing IRONMAN Vietnam: lessons in community, planning and reading the room

Triathlon participation in Vietnam has grown nearly 30x in a decade. And Danang is about to host its first full-distance Ironman. In this episode, Ian Paynton speaks to Rob Zamacona , the General Manager of Sunrise Events Vietnam , about what it really takes to build an event of that scale here. We unpack what Ironman's growth reveals about modern Vietnam: the power of community, how nothing important happens overnight, and why “reading the room” might be the most valuable business skill you can develop for getting things done in Vietnam. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

February 10, 2026Episode 6635 min

E66: Building a life in Vietnam: identity, business, and the search for home

In this episode of You Don’t Know Vietnam , Ian Paynton is joined by Gauthier D'haenens , a Vietnamese-born Belgian adoptee who returned to Vietnam as an adult searching for his biological parents — and instead found a very different sense of belonging. Gauthier shares his deeply personal journey of growing up feeling like an outsider in Europe, returning to Vietnam to reconnect with his roots, and ultimately choosing to build a life here despite never fully fitting into one box or another. Together, Ian and Gauthier explore what it means to live between cultures, how Vietnam can strip away old identities and force new ones to emerge, and why grief, distance, and belonging are some of the least talked-about realities of long-term life abroad. The conversation also dives into Vietnam’s evolution beyond the usual Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City narrative, why Danang is emerging as a serious tech and lifestyle hub, and what global leaders consistently misunderstand about building businesses and teams in Vietnam. This is a reflective, honest episode about adoption, ambition, wonder, and the quiet sacrifices that come with choosing Vietnam — and why, for many, the country has a way of confronting you… and changing you. In this episode, we cover: Growing up Vietnamese in Europe and returning to Vietnam as an adult Searching for biological parents — and making peace with not finding them Identity, belonging, and the emotional cost of living far from home Why Hanoi can break you — and why that matters Danang’s rise beyond tourism into tech and innovation What Vietnam’s future could look like, and what it risks losing along the way Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

January 27, 2026Episode 6533 min

E65: What GDP headlines don’t tell you about Vietnam’s 'era of rising'

Vietnam is no longer just a fast-growing economy or a low-cost manufacturing hub. It is entering what many local leaders now call an era of rising — defined not only by economic momentum, but by diplomatic agility, cultural confidence, and a new generation reshaping the country’s future. In this episode of You Don’t Know Vietnam , Ian Paynton speaks with Hang Vu , Managing Partner at RSI Consulting , about what Vietnam’s rise really looks like on the ground — beyond GDP headlines and investor hype. Drawing on her experience as a corporate leader turned market-entry advisor, we unpack What Vietnam’s rapid growth looks like on the ground — from mindset shifts to changing consumer behaviour The move from resilience to reinvention in Vietnamese business culture The rise of cultural confidence and creative industries The role of Vietnamese women as both guardians of tradition and pioneers of change Common mistakes international companies make when entering Vietnam Bamboo diplomacy and how it shapes Vietnam’s global positioning What success could look like for Vietnam’s era of rising over the next decade This episode is essential listening for global business leaders, investors, and anyone seeking a deeper, more human understanding of where Vietnam is heading — and what it takes to succeed here in the years ahead. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.

January 12, 2026Episode 6430 min

E64: Let’s talk about Tết, baby — has Vietnam’s biggest holiday changed forever?

Tết has always been Vietnam’s most important moment of the year — culturally, emotionally, and commercially. For some categories, it can account for up to 40–45% of annual sales. But something feels different now. In this episode of You Don’t Know Vietnam , Ian Paynton sits down with Cimigo 's Richard Burrage , a long-time Vietnam resident and one of the country’s most experienced consumer insight leaders, to unpack how Tết is changing — and why many brands and marketers haven’t caught up. Drawing on nationwide consumer research and focus groups, Richard explains why Vietnam is spending differently, gifting less, celebrating more quietly, and approaching Tết with a very different mindset. For senior leaders looking beyond the hype, this episode offers a grounded, on-the-ground view of cultural change — and why understanding the “new Tết” may be critical to getting Vietnam right. Send us Fan Mail If you enjoy this conversation or think someone in your network could find value in it, please share it and hit follow to get notified when the next episode drops. This podcast is brought to you by We Create Content , the content marketing agency that builds audiences for global brands in Vietnam. You can follow our host, Ian Paynton, on LinkedIn , and follow the podcast on Instagram , TikTok and X . A special thanks to DJ Jase at The Beats Saigon for the soundtrack, and to YOU for listening.