The sky is the limit for Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Vietjet’s CEO and Southeast Asia’s first self-made woman billionaire. 

Vietnam’s first and only private low-cost carrier, Vietjet, is perhaps best known for its controversial, bikini-clad flight attendants who regularly feature in the company’s calendars and marketing campaigns.

However, rather than shying away from the image, the airline’s Founder and CEO, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, embraces this unconventional approach as a symbol of empowerment.

“You have the right to wear anything, whether the bikini or the ao dai (traditional Vietnamese clothing). If the bikini image makes our customers happy, then we are happy. We do this for beauty and joy, and don’t take ourselves too seriously,” says the petite and soft-spoken Thao.

Her brilliant strategy has certainly paid-off. In less than five years, Thao has taken Vietjet to extraordinary heights with passenger numbers that are predicted to surpass that of the country’s national carrier.

One of her keys to success was being able to determine the right time to make the leap into this business.

Prior to founding the airline, she had spent about 10 years researching the field of aviation and met with CEOs of other low-cost carriers in the region. The aviation industry was relatively undeveloped then, and Vietnam did not have any private low-cost carriers. The middle class population in Vietnam was also growing rapidly, and the government had just opened its doors to encourage competition in the aviation industry.

  

Thao, who is on her way to becoming Vietnam’s first woman billionaire, envisions making Vietjet the “Emirates of Asia”. Her ambitious plans for the airline this year include an initial public offering (IPO) as well as expansion into North Asia and Northeast Asia.

Having made her first million at the age of 21 by selling fax machines and latex rubber while studying finance and economics in Moscow, she is currently listed among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in the world. According to Bloomberg, the 45-year-old’s fortune is expected to hit $1.37 billion when the privately-owned airline goes public in the next three months.

Since its inaugural flight in December 2011, Vietjet has captured more than 30% of Vietnam’s market share. The airline currently offers 36 domestic and 17 international routes, including flights to Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan and China. Earlier this year, the airline also launched its maiden flight in Malaysia, from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City.

To be part of Vietjet’s fun and innovative travel experience, visit www.vietjetair.com or www.m.vietjetair.com (mobile), download the vietjetair app, join vietjetairvietnam on Facebook or call the airline’s 24/7 call centre at (+603) 2730 9887 or email vietjet@kul.reliancetravel.com.