Vietnam 2008
University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business
& Runckel & Associates

Executive Education Program

During the last 15 years, Vietnam’s GDP has grown at 7.5% per year on average. Last year, Vietnam recorded GDP growth of 8.2%, the world’s highest rate after China.  Low Labor Cost: a young workforce - 70% of Vietnam’s 85 million people are under 30 years of age, enable Vietnam to provide a secure workforce as well as low labor costs to investors plus also offer attractive consumer sales possibilities.

Attractive Incentives:  The Vietnamese government has amended its laws extensively covering investment, enterprise, land, and business competition to make them more favorable to foreign investors.  For instance, foreign investors may invest in all sectors not specifically prohibited by law, which include telecommunications, newspapers, and retail businesses.  Foreign investors are allowed to acquire 100% shares in private firms.  Vietnam’s investment promotional privileges are very attractive as they offer a corporate tax holiday for up to 10 years for projects in promoted industries implemented between 2006 and 2020, compared to eight years granted by Thailand’s Board of Investment (BoI).  Furthermore, the Vietnamese government has promised to provide all necessary infrastructure, including roads, water systems, and electricity for factories in promoted industries.

Investing in mining in Vietnam is potentially lucrative as the country has abundant natural resources like high-grade coal, zinc, and copper.  It has the largest anthracite coal reserves in the world.

Our study tour is designed for business executives, business schools, EMBA students and investment executives with a view to providing understanding of Asian business culture, business organization and management in an Asian context.  The program offers valuable first-hand experience in Asia with a particular focus on Vietnam and neighboring countries.  The study tour will focus on the deeply-held values of Asian culture, how they influence and are reflected in the business decision-making process, needed strategic thinking and the management decision-making styles of different Asian corporations, as well as how foreign businesses can meet the challenges and the continuing need for change and innovation, which is required by emerging Asian economies.

Working with strategic partnerships around the world including global corporations, educational institutions, consulting firms and governments, Notre Dame’s International Executive Education department provides today’s executives with international, state-of-the-art programs that encompass the experiences and skills vital in the dynamic, global marketplace including: Leadership, business technology, financial management, information systems, Six-Sigma and values based, ethical decision making and more.

Our team of international business, diplomatic and cultural specialists has a long and rich background in each country in the region.  We understand the international issues impacting business today, the culture and contemporary issues businesses needs to address and will arrange for lectures, company visits and tours throughout the trip to help executives better understand the challenges and the opportunities that Asia offers. 

- Programs tailor-made for each specific group, budget and training requirement

- Balanced and diverse visits to an extensive range of companies and business organizations (privately-owned, state-owned, multinational firms), trade organizations, ports, government investment promotion offices and factories

- Meetings with influential and insightful figures in key government agencies, Embassies, trade organizations as well as established business people

- Well regarded speakers on contemporary Asia political, diplomatic, economic, business and multinational operations in Asia, with extensive question-and-answer session

- Specially arranged cultural visits and tours that include the most important tourist, sightseeing and cultural icons that better help trip participants to appreciate and understand the country’s civilization with explanations of the locations importance and context from knowledgeable experts

- Options for programs for spouses and others to help them better understand and appreciate work and life in a foreign culture

Contact Us:

For more information on the organizers, please visit:

Executive Education Website: http://globalexec.nd.edu, contact for trip reservation:  mcloonan@nd.edu
Runckel & Associates Website: http://www.business-in-asia.com

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