Vietnamese Entrepreneur Turns Local Rice into Global Whisky Brand

(Vietnam Insider) – While many young professionals pursue careers in global corporations, one Vietnamese woman has taken a different path: bringing the soul of her homeland to the world through a bottle of whisky distilled from local rice.

Born in Vinh Phuc in 1985, Hoa My built her career working for leading multinational companies, including IBM, Oracle, Facebook, and Google. After years of success in the United States and beyond, she decided to “return to the village” — not just in a physical sense, but in spirit — to transform the humble Vietnamese rice grain into a world-class product.

Her brand, Rượu Làng (Village Whisky), is a unique creation that fuses Vietnamese heritage with international whisky-making techniques. Instead of barley or corn, she uses rice — the very staple that has nurtured generations in Vietnam. The result is a whisky that carries the fragrance, warmth, and authenticity of Vietnamese culture, but presented in a modern, premium form for global consumers.

This bold vision has already received international recognition. At the SIP Awards 2025 in the United States, Rượu Làng’s signature product won Double Gold, placing it alongside some of the world’s finest spirits. Competing against renowned Japanese and Scotch whiskies, a bottle born from Vietnamese rice earned its place on the global stage.

“Like French champagne or Scotch whisky, Vietnam also deserves a signature spirit rooted in our own culture. I want the world to know the taste of our rice not just as food, but as an experience,” Hoa My shared.

Her entrepreneurial journey is more than just about building a brand — it’s about telling a story. Every sip of Rượu Làng carries the tale of rural Vietnam: rice fields, village traditions, and the resilience of local farmers. For international audiences, it represents discovery and authenticity; for Vietnamese people, it symbolizes pride and cultural identity.

In building Rượu Làng, Hoa My also contributes to the local economy by sourcing rice directly from farmers and creating sustainable value chains. Her model demonstrates how cultural heritage, when innovatively reimagined, can generate both economic growth and global recognition.

The success of Rượu Làng highlights a broader trend: Vietnamese entrepreneurs are increasingly looking to globalize traditional products, from coffee and tea to fashion and technology. By infusing creativity and modern branding into local culture, they are writing a new chapter for Vietnam’s position in the global marketplace.

For Hoa My, this is just the beginning. “Vietnamese rice whisky deserves to sit on the same shelves as Scotch and Japanese brands,” she said. With global awards now in hand, her vision is quickly becoming reality — proving that even the simplest grain of rice can carry a nation’s story to the world.

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Source: Vietnam Insider