Welcome to Tech in Asia’s daily newsletter, your essential dose of Asia’s tech and startup buzz. Not on the mailing list? Register here. Got a story tip? Send it to editors@techinasia.com.
In focus
In this edition, we cover:
- How vibe coders might drive Vietnam’s much-needed tech leap
- Why it’s worth revisiting this take on Tokopedia’s missed potential
- Indian B2B giant Udaan got a US$114 million boost
Hello reader,
I just got back from Da Nang, a breezy beach city in central Vietnam angling to become the country’s next big startup hub. I was there for a government-backed event pitching the city’s tech ambitions. (For transparency, the trip was sponsored.)
Overall, the experience left me feeling a bit more optimistic about the future of Vietnam’s tech scene.
Da Nang is courting even the smallest startup teams with real perks – think tax breaks, low living costs, and unusually quick access to government officials. But it’s not after consumer apps that burn cash. Instead, the city wants to attract AI, semiconductor, and chip firms, backing teams that are building for a global audience from day one.
One founder said he couldn’t even get a meeting with officials in Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, in Da Nang, local officials were proactively asking if his team needed help relocating.
This brings us to this edition’s Big Story: how “vibe coding” might just crack open Vietnam’s tech future.
Da Nang is actually home to a number of tiny, under-the-radar, AI-native teams that do not chase flashy numbers but explosive user engagement and real customers. As its author argues, this vibe coding trend could also push VCs to rethink their usual assumptions and metrics.
For years, Vietnamese startups have looked to their counterparts in Indonesia, envious of the big funding rounds and splashy headlines. But after a string of scandals and collapses tied to overfunded firms, I’m not sure they need to be anymore.
It’s too early to tell, but I believe real builders and innovators will endure this very tough time.
Thu Huong Le, managing editor
The Big Story
Will the rise of vibe coding bring on Vietnam’s next unicorn?
From our archives
Tickets are selling fast – secure your access before they’re gone
Trending news
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
