When a Beauty Queen Becomes Vice Chair of the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City

At the recent first-term Congress (2026 - 2030), where the Tam Nong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City was officially renamed the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Miss Tourism Ambassador of the World 2018 Phan Thi Mo, after being elected as Vice Chair, emphasized that the Club is not merely a networking platform but also a foundation for the business community to join forces in promoting sustainable and prosperous regional development.

According to Phan Thi Mo, sustainable social development is closely tied to the growth of the business community, particularly as the Mekong Delta is facing both significant opportunities and challenges.

Overview of the Congress

Her participation in the Executive Committee of the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City reflects an increasingly clear trend in which business organizations actively seek individuals capable of supporting communications, strengthening connections, and enhancing the effective dissemination of information.

Miss Tourism Ambassador of the World 2018 Phan Thi Mo, newly elected Vice Chair of the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City delivered a speech at the Congress.

Born in 1990 in Tien Giang, now part of Dong Thap province, Phan Thi Mo rose to prominence after winning the Miss Tourism Ambassador of the World 2018 title. In addition to her modeling career, she has participated in several television and film projects, including Ho so lua, Vo oi… em o dau?, and Sac dep doi tra. The 9X beauty queen has also appeared in various television programs and has been actively involved in charitable activities. In recent years, she has expanded her work into community and social initiatives.

Held in Ho Chi Minh City on March 28, 2026, the Congress elected the Executive Committee of the Mekong Business Club for the 2026 - 2030 term, comprising 38 members, along with a three-member Inspection Board. Ms. Lam Thuy Ai, Chairwoman of the Members’ Council of Mebigroup and CEO of Mebifarm JSC, was elected as Chairwoman of the Club.

Newly elected Chairwoman of the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City for the first term, Ms. Lam Thuy Ai delivered her speech at the Congress.

Bringing together more than 200 member enterprises and invited guests, the Congress marked a significant shift in the Club’s development orientation, from a traditional networking model to a regional linkage approach aimed at value chain collaboration. Guided by the spirit of “Collaborative Development, Creating Prosperity,” the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City aims to affirm its role in building and developing a business ecosystem connecting Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta.

Debut of the Executive Committee of the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City for the 2026 - 2030 term

The Congress approved the renaming from “Tam Nong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City” to “Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City” to better align with current development trends, particularly as the need for regional connectivity between Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta becomes increasingly urgent. This move reflects the Club’s strategic direction to expand its scope, strengthen value chain linkages, promote investment cooperation, and pursue sustainable development in the context of global integration and dual transformation.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoai Thu, former Member of the Party Central Committee, former Member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs, and former Head of the Tien Giang Fellow-Countrymen Association in Ho Chi Minh City (front row, 10th from the left), together with leaders and distinguished guests, congratulates the Executive Committee of the Mekong Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City for its first term.

In her inaugural speech, Chairwoman Lam Thuy Ai stated that in the new term, the Club will focus on building a deeper connectivity platform to create substantive cooperation opportunities among enterprises, gradually forming value chains. The Club also aims to expand its membership to at least 300 enterprises, organize trade connection and regional investment promotion programs, and establish specialized industry groups to support sustainable business development.

Congratulating the Congress, Mr. Dinh Hong Ky, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA), praised the Club’s transition to a regional linkage model, noting that it aligns with Ho Chi Minh City’s expansion and the growing need for stronger connections with the Mekong Delta. He highlighted the significant potential of the Mekong region and suggested that the Club should focus on an integrated value chain approach, selecting key sectors to implement concrete cooperation programs.

Mr. Dinh Hong Ky, Vice Chairman of the HCMC Union of Business Association, delivered a congratulatory speech at the Congress.

He also recommended accelerating green transformation, circular economy development, and innovation, particularly in agriculture and processing industries. According to Mr. Ky, HUBA will accompany and support the Club in its connectivity and development efforts. From a long-term perspective, he proposed that the Club should aim to connect Mekong Delta business organizations in Ho Chi Minh City and gradually evolve into a larger-scale organization within the term.

Presenting the paper titled “Economic Outlook for the Delta: What Opportunities for Ho Chi Minh City Enterprises in the Mekong Region?” at the Congress, Mr. Nguyen Phuong Lam, Director of VCCI Mekong Delta Branch, stated that the region is not only a major agricultural hub of Vietnam but also offers a market of over 30 million people when connected with Cambodia, along with substantial room for enterprise development. The Mekong Delta plays a crucial role in Vietnam’s exports and trade surplus, while also maintaining strong domestic consumption, creating numerous opportunities for businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Phuong Lam, Director of VCCI Mekong Delta Branch presented his keynote paper at the Congress.

However, the Mekong Delta continues to face multiple challenges, including climate change, inadequate infrastructure, limited investment, and labor migration. In the context of increased public investment and infrastructure development for the 2026 - 2030 period, Mr. Lam affirmed that major opportunities for Ho Chi Minh City enterprises lie in logistics, energy, and the application of technology in agriculture. He also called on the business community, particularly entrepreneurs from the Mekong Delta, to step up investment and return to contribute to the region’s sustainable development.

Within the framework of the Congress, the first alliance of enterprises in the mechanical and construction sector was established through the signing of a cooperation agreement among DECOFI Construction and Design Joint Stock Company, Vinh Thinh Electric Cable Company Limited, Vietcotek Engineering Construction Joint Stock Company, Dai Phong Industrial Trading and Manufacturing Company Limited, Dai Phat Automation Engineering Company Limited, and Sang Tao Moi Mechanical Construction Company Limited. The parties agreed to collaborate under a consortium model for project implementation, combining technical capabilities and resources.

In addition, a second alliance in the same sector, comprising Tien Giang Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company (TICCO), Sawatech Saigon Water Technology Joint Stock Company, Tan Hoa Technical Services and Trading Company Limited, An Duong Automation Engineering Company Limited, Mekocons Construction Joint Stock Company, and Vinh Thinh Electric Cable Company Limited, signed a framework cooperation agreement to promote trade connectivity and mutual support for development.

The total projected cooperation value of each of these alliances is estimated to exceed VND 20 billion in 2026, reflecting a clear shift from networking to substantive collaboration within the business community.

At the same time, Mebifarm Joint Stock Company signed a framework agreement with Tai Loc Culinary Joint Stock Company at the Congress, opening up opportunities for cooperation in production, business operations, and market development.