Dang Le Nguyen Vu

Vũ was born on 10 February 1971 in Ninh Hòa, Khánh Hoà, into a poor family. In 1979, his family moved to M'Đrăk District, central western Vietnam province of Đắk Lắk.{{cite news | url=http://m.tinmoi.vn/thong-tin-tham-khao-ve-dang-le-nguyen-vu-011105081.html|title=Reference information about Chairman Vu | accessdate=23 February 2016}} In 1990, he went to Tây Nguyên University. During that time, he began to study and research coffee, eventually consulting with his future spouse Thảo, a post office information service worker with deep knowledge of the industry. In 1996, he and Thảo co-founded the Trung Nguyên Coffee Company in the city of Buôn Ma Thuột.{{cite web |last1=Khanh |first1=Anh |title=20 năm đưa cà phê Việt ra thế giới của bà Lê Hoàng Diệp Thảo |url=https://vnexpress.net/20-nam-dua-ca-phe-viet-ra-the-gioi-cua-ba-le-hoang-diep-thao-3876698.html |website=vnexpress.net |publisher=VN Express |access-date=25 May 2021 |language=vi}}

In 1998, Trung Nguyên opened its first cafe space in Phú Nhuận, Ho Chi Minh City, expanding its business operation under a franchising model that was "revolutionary at the time".{{cite news | url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b78148b0-7111-11e0-962a-00144feabdc0.html#axzz45ZfyMO6G|title=Case study: Trung Nguyên Coffee| accessdate=10 April 2016}} Since that time, several coffee house franchises have launched nationwide.{{cite news | url=http://giaoduc.net.vn/Kinh-te/Nguoi-Viet-hang-Viet/Trung-Nguyen-dat-muc-tieu-nha-san-xuat-cafe-lon-nhat-the-gioi-post85388.gd |title=Trung Nguyen sets goal: World's largest coffee producer| accessdate=23 February 2016}}{{cite news | url=http://www.vietnambreakingnews.com/2012/07/g7-takes-lead-in-instant-coffee-market/ | title=G7 takes lead in Vietnam instant coffee market | accessdate=24 October 2014 | publisher = Hanoitimes}}{{cite news | url = http://m.soha.vn/kinh-doanh/ong-vua-ca-phe-dang-le-nguyen-vu-tuoi-tho-be-ngo-cham-lon-20130624172128297.htm |

title=Chairman Vu, a successful entrepreneur in Doi Moi (Renovation Policy) Period | accessdate=23 February 2016}} From 2003, due to the rapid development of its instant coffee brand G7, Trung Nguyên led Vietnam's coffee market for around a decade.{{cite news | url=http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/24369/G7-takes-lead-in-instant-coffee-market.html|title=G7 takes lead the major market|accessdate=11 April 2016}} In that year, Trung Nguyên's G7 coffee took the largest slice of the domestic market, with a "38 per cent share for 9 years", according to an AC Nielsen 2012 survey. G7 was pronounced the most preferred instant coffee product over Nestlé in a 2003 blind test, which is often cited as "an example of 'David' against 'Goliath'",{{cite news | title=The war between G7 and 100-year-old Nestlé | url=http://m.english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/53887/the-war-between-9-year-old-g7-and-100-year-old-nestle.html | language=English | publisher=VietNamNet Bridge | accessdate=12 April 2018}}

{{cite news | title=Trung Nguyen G7 Instant Coffee celebrates ninth birthday | url=http://gcrmag.com/marketing/view/trung-nguyens-david-and-goliath-story|language=English|accessdate=13 April 2018}}{{cite news|title=Why the marketplace winning|url=http://petrotimes.vn/vi-sao-g7-thang-the-nestle-75160.html|language=Vietnamese|accessdate=13 April 2018}}{{cite news |title= The little 'David' to mark 9th year |url= http://m.enternews.vn/g7-chang-ti-hon-david-tron-9-tuoi-34484.html |language= Vietnamese |publisher=Diễn đàn Doanh nghiệp - Enterprises Forum Newspaper |accessdate= 12 April 2018}} in which participants voted in high numbers for the G7 product as recorded by the press and observers. Nielsen data showed the product had become the 'top trending brand in the local 3-in-1 coffee market segment in 2003–2012 in terms of market-share, revenue, and sales volume'.{{cite news | title=Trung Nguyen's G7 Instant Coffee celebrates 9th birthday | url=http://gcrmag.com/regions/view/trung-nguyens-g7-instant-coffee-celebrates-ninth-birthday | accessdate=2 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=Trung Nguyen obeyed the law for the case |url=http://www.brandsvietnam.com/923-So-sanh-G7-va-Nescafe-Trung-Nguyen-khong-vi-pham-phap-luat|accessdate=3 April 2018}}{{cite web|title=Lawyers unlock the case insight legally|date=5 December 2012 |url=http://giaoduc.net.vn/Nguoi-Viet-hang-Viet/Luat-su-boc-tach-su-kien-Trung-Nguyen-thang-Nestle-post101087.gd|accessdate=3 April 2018}}

In August 2012, Forbes called Vũ as "Vietnam's Coffee King".{{cite news | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2012/07/25/vietnams-coffee-king-dang-le-nguyen-vu/ |title=Chairman Vu, Vietnam's Coffee King | work = Forbes | accessdate=7 February 2016}} From that time onward he was frequently referred to as the 'King of Coffee' by the press.{{cite web|url=http://baodautu.vn/dang-le-nguyen-vu-tu-vo-danh-toi-anh-hung-d17564.html | title=Chairman Vu, from Zero to Hero | accessdate=9 February 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://baodautu.vn/len-buon-ma-thuot-ca-phe-voi-dang-le-nguyen-vu-d17210.html | title=Depart to Buon Me Thuot, coffee with Dang Le Nguyen Vu |accessdate=9 February 2016}}{{cite news|title=Vietnam's coffee plan: the next prestige global brand|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-coffee-idUSBRE8A71BA20121108|accessdate=4 Jan 2016|language=vi}} In October 2012, he was named 'Pioneer of the Year' in a public vote by VNExpress readers.{{cite news | url = http://nguoitienphong.vnexpress.net/trang-chu.html | title = VNExpress big vote | accessdate = 9 February 2016 | publisher = vnExpress.vn | archive-date = 22 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022222428/http://nguoitienphong.vnexpress.net/trang-chu.html | url-status = dead }}[http://goviva.com.vn/en-US/News/Seven-initiatives-for-the-global-coffee-industry.htm, Seven initiatives for the global coffee industry] In March 2013, he was granted the title of 'Forever worthy of the descendants of Lạc Hồng' in 'The Divine Root 2014' program held by the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, the Club of Patriotic Businesses of Vietnam, and the Society of Historical Science of Vietnam.{{Cite web |url=http://sggp.org.vn/kinhte/tugioithieu/2014/4/345417/ |title=SGGP Online- Ông Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ được trao tặng danh hiệu "Xứng danh con cháu Lạc Hồng" |access-date=2016-02-09 |archive-date=2014-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611060912/http://sggp.org.vn/kinhte/tugioithieu/2014/4/345417/ |url-status=dead }}

Dang is widely known for his spiritual beliefs. He is the founder of his own transcendental "Doctrine of Coffee"{{cite news | url=http://www.thanhnien.com.vn/pages/20130725/ca-phe-voi-dang-le-nguyen-vu.aspx | title=Coffee with Coffee King | accessdate = 29 February 2016}} whereby he has developed a spiritual philosophy and zen practice named 'Coffeeism' (Coffee Tao or Coffee Ceremony), including 'Coffee Zen'. It is described as an 'all-comprehensive, all-dimensional, all-global', 'holofractal' approach to healing, success, fortune, well-being and enlightenment; in which "Coffee is the 'Treasure of Earth and Heaven', Heritage of Humankind and Solution to the Future".{{cite web | url=https://znews.vn/o-viet-nam-chi-can-100-nguoi-nhu-dang-le-nguyen-vu-la-duoc-post355442.html | title='Ở Việt Nam chỉ cần 100 người như Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ là được' | date=26 September 2013 }}

In late 2014, Dang and 18 fellow men went on a 49-day fasting and Zen journey.{{cite web|title=What did Chairman Vu look for in holofractal Coffee Zen during 49 days on mountain|url=http://m.motthegioi.vn/kinh-te/dau-tu-kinh-doanh/the-gioi-kinh-doanh/49-ngay-nhin-an-dang-le-nguyen-vu-tim-gi-tiep-theo-52515.html|accessdate=2 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125154035/http://m.motthegioi.vn/kinh-te/dau-tu-kinh-doanh/the-gioi-kinh-doanh/49-ngay-nhin-an-dang-le-nguyen-vu-tim-gi-tiep-theo-52515.html|archive-date=25 January 2016|url-status=dead}}

He has been called "frank but pretty unfriendly" in some remarks concerning Starbucks coffee.{{cite news|title=Vietnam's coffee plan: the next prestige global brand|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vietnam-coffee-idUSBRE8A71BA20121108|language=en|accessdate=4 Jan 2016}}

Beside his success in the coffee business, he also has a passion for cars. His car collection, the biggest in Vietnam, has now grown close to 100 cars, valued at more than 1 trillion VND (approx. 40.31 million US Dollars). He also owns the biggest collection of Ferraris in the country, with 10 cars.{{cite news|title=The Coffee Trail with Simon Reeve|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03sr67n|language=en|accessdate=27 Oct 2024}} Notable cars in his collection include: Bugatti Veyron (only one in the country), McLaren Senna, Porsche 918 Spyder, Toyota GR Supra, Ford GT, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Final Edition, Aston Martin DBX707 among many other names.{{cite web | url=https://znews.vn/ong-dang-le-nguyen-vu-da-chi-hang-tram-ty-mua-sieu-xe-trong-nam-nay-post1361280.html | title=Ông Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ đã chi hàng trăm tỷ mua siêu xe trong năm nay | date=2 October 2022 }}

Following Vũ's first 49-day meditation session in 2013, his marital relationship with Lê Hoàng Diệp Thảo unraveled and the pair separated, his wife concerned that Vu had been mentally damaged by the meditation experience.{{cite web |last1=Nguyễn |first1=Trung |title=Doanh nhân Lê Hoàng Diệp Thảo: "Đành lòng chia tay nhưng tình nghĩa sẽ ở lại" |url=https://baophapluat.vn/doanh-nhan/doanh-nhan-le-hoang-diep-thao-danh-long-chia-tay-nhung-tinh-nghia-se-o-lai-444543.html |website=Báo Pháp luật Việt Nam |publisher=Pháp luật Việt Nam |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=vi |date=2019-03-23}} As both husband and wife were heavily involved in the Trung Nguyen business, their breakup had a strongly negative impact on the company, with the firm's export business suffering from neglect in particular.{{cite web |last1=Nguyen |first1=Lan Anh |title=Estranged Wife Has Her Own Coffee King in Vietnam |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2017/10/31/estranged-wife-has-her-own-coffee-king-in-vietnam/?sh=468206c14224 |website=Forbes |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=en}} In 2014, Thảo was stripped of her management rights and barred access to the company despite still holding legal ownership rights to the firm.{{cite web |title=Bà Lê Hoàng Diệp Thảo: Tôi phải mạnh mẽ mới cứu được Trung Nguyên, cứu được anh Vũ |url=https://vietnamnet.vn/vn/kinh-doanh/doanh-nhan/ba-le-hoang-diep-thao-toi-phai-manh-me-moi-cuu-duoc-trung-nguyen-cuu-duoc-anh-vu-531642.html |website=VietNamNet |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=vi}}

The pair entered into lengthy divorce proceedings that became a notable scandal in the Vietnamese press. The divorce remained unsettled until a 2021 final court ruling granted Vu the rights to retain management of Trung Nguyên Group.{{cite web |last1=Hai |first1=Duyen |title=Final settlement in coffee royalty divorce after six years - VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/companies/final-settlement-in-coffee-royalty-divorce-after-six-years-4274392.html |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=en}}

In 2015, Thảo moved to “preserve the Trung Nguyên brand” and continue her efforts to distribute Vietnamese coffee products globally through the establishment of TNI King Coffee, which effectively competes with Trung Nguyen.{{cite web |last1=Le |first1=Lam |last2=Nguyen |first2=Nguyen |title=Divorce of Vietnam's coffee royalty gives rise to a new 'king' - VnExpress International |url=https://e.vnexpress.net/news/business/divorce-of-vietnam-s-coffee-royalty-gives-rise-to-a-new-king-3736249.html |website=VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam |access-date=2 June 2021 |language=en}} While King Coffee has expanded its distribution to more than 120 countries, Trung Nguyen's profit margins have declined under Vu's independent management.{{cite news |last1=Tong |first1=Van |title=Vietnam's TNI King Coffee makes US debut |url=https://insideretail.asia/2021/05/25/vietnams-tni-king-coffee-makes-us-debut/ |access-date=2 June 2021 |work=Inside Retail |date=2021-05-25 |language=en}}

On 27 April 2011, the brandname "Trung Nguyen Coffee" appeared in the Financial Times{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/b78148b0-7111-11e0-962a-00144feabdc0.html |title=Case study: Trung Nguyên Coffee|publisher=Financial Times|date=27 April 2011|language=en|accessdate=13 April 2016}} as a major case study on a successful enterprise model in which the company was voted as one of the most prevailing organizations.

In 2012, Dang was honored as 'Coffee King', officially, by National Geographic.{{cite news|url=http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/21/my-time-with-the-coffee-king-of-vietnam/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224003629/http://intelligenttravel.nationalgeographic.com/2012/02/21/my-time-with-the-coffee-king-of-vietnam/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 24, 2012|title=My Time with the Coffee King of Vietnam|author=Katherine Karnow|date=21 February 2012|accessdate=26 April 2016|publisher=Intelligent Travel, National Geographic|language=en}}

In August 2012, Forbes magazine portrayed him as 'Vietnam coffee king',{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2012/07/25/vietnams-coffee-king-dang-le-nguyen-vu/|title=Chairman Vu, Vietnam's Coffee King|author=Scott Duke Harris|accessdate=10 April 2016|language=en}} and described him as a figure of "Zero to Hero". Since then, local and world press and society has mentioned him as the Coffee King.{{cite news|url=http://vietnamnet.vn/vn/kinh-doanh/278430/dang-le-nguyen-vu-vua-ca-phe-zero-to-hero.html|title=Đặng Lê Nguyên Vũ - Vua Cà phê 'zero to hero'|date=11 December 2015|accessdate=26 April 2016|language=vi}}

In October 2012, he was selected as a 'Pioneer of the Year' in a public vote by VnExpress readers.{{cite news|url=http://nguoitienphong.vnexpress.net/trang-chu.html|title=Nguoi Tien Phong, Tin nhanh VnExpress|accessdate=27 April 2016|language=vi|archive-date=22 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022222428/http://nguoitienphong.vnexpress.net/trang-chu.html|url-status=dead}} The vote's introduction reads "Chairman Vũ who has been titled as 'Vietnamese Coffee King' has 'belled the cat' in developing franchising model in Vietnam".{{cite news | url=http://nguoitienphong.vnexpress.net/doanh-nhan-chi-tiet/dang-le-nguyen-vu/695.html | title=Nguoi Tien Phong, Tin nhanh VnExpress | date=October 2012 | access-date=26 April 2016 | archive-date=23 October 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023033235/http://nguoitienphong.vnexpress.net/doanh-nhan-chi-tiet/dang-le-nguyen-vu/695.html | url-status=dead }}

• The Prize of “The Gold Star of the Vietnamese Top Brands in 2003”.{{cite news | url=http://m.cafef.vn/kinh-doanh-doanh-nhan/con-duong-lam-nen-nhung-top-10-sao-vang-dat-viet-2011-20111014151347632.chn|title=Vietnam Gold Stars | date=14 October 2011| publisher=Baodautu|access-date=3 September 2016}}
• ASEAN's young Entrepreneur Award{{cite news | url=http://m.nld.com.vn/thoi-su-trong-nuoc/tgd-cong-ty-ca-phe-trung-nguyen-doat-giai-thuong-nha-doanh-nghiep-tre-xuat-sac-asean-2004-97891.htm|title=The Best of Asean | date=10 August 2004 | publisher=Người Lao Động| access-date=5 Sep 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://m.talkvietnam.com/2004/08/young-vietnamese-businessman-receives-asean-award/|title=Vietnamese Businessman receives ASEAN Award|date=12 October 2004|publisher=Vietnam News Agency| access-date=1 September 2016}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://trungnguyen.com.vn Official website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Le Nguyen, Dang Vu}}

Category:Vietnamese businesspeople

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Vietnamese company founders