The Vinh Hoan Story
04 August 2026
For generations, no one thought twice about pangasius. It was simply part of everyday life along the Mekong, a familiar fish raised in floating cages using traditional methods that were passed down. Much of the harvest was consumed or sold within nearby communities.
Most saw a way of life. Few realized they were witnessing the beginnings of an industry. Even fewer could have imagined the fish would one day reach restaurants and retailers around the world.
Rooted in the Mekong
Growing up in Long Bình, An Giang province, Mdm. Truong Thi Le Khanh, founder and chairwoman of Vinh Hoan, knew the Mekong long before she knew the seafood business. She remembers boats weaving through floating cages, the annual flood season, and basa prepared by her mother at home.
By the time she entered seafood processing in the 1980s, the industry was beginning to change. Artificial breeding made large-scale farming possible. Commercial feed improved consistency. Export markets were opening, and pangasius was becoming more than a local fish.
Where others saw change, Mdm. Khanh saw opportunity.
Building Vinh Hoan
In 1996, she founded Vinh Hoan in Dong Thap, convinced the province would become the center of Vietnam’s pangasius industry.
The road wasn’t straightforward. Her first proposal for a factory site was rejected, but she kept asking. Eventually, Vinh Hoan secured its first processing facility. With only around 70 employees, and the capacity to process around 10 metric tons of fish each day, it was a modest start by all measures.
Growth didn’t happen because the company expanded quickly. It happened because people believed in what it was trying to build. Farmers supplied fish before payment. Early Japanese customers helped a young Vietnamese processor earn its first opportunities abroad. International aid organizations also played an important role by sharing technical knowledge, strengthening capabilities, and supporting trade promotion efforts that connected the company with new buyers and global markets.
Years later, Vinh Hoan took another leap, rebuilding a dilapidated factory in Cao Lanh instead of settling for what already existed. It was a gamble, one that reflected the company’s willingness to invest beyond the next season, the next shipment, or the next opportunity. This decision laid the foundation for decades of growth to come.
Growing Through Trust and Standards
As Vinh Hoan expanded, so did the expectations of global buyers. Food safety, consistency, and traceability were quickly becoming the price of entry into international markets.
Rather than waiting to catch up, Vinh Hoan invested early. The company adopted HACCP, earned approval to export to the EU market, and continued strengthening its production systems with insights gained from international partners.
Those investments became the foundation for what Vinh Hoan is today: a vertically integrated pangasius company spanning sustainable aquaculture leadership in farming, processing, value-added manufacturing, collagen and gelatin production, and comprehensive quality management.
Business grew because trust grew first.
Looking Ahead
29 years after its founding, Vinh Hoan has grown from a small processing facility into one of the world’s leading pangasius producers, processing up to 1,200 MT of raw material every day.
The pangasius industry will continue to evolve, bringing new technologies, changing customer expectations, and new opportunities. As it does, Vinh Hoan continues to invest in farming, processing, innovation, and the long-term partnerships that have shaped its journey from the very beginning.
Much has changed since 1997, but the values that built Vinh Hoan continue to guide the company today. Built on decades of partnership, innovation, and commitment to quality and responsible growth, these values continue to define how Vinh Hoan creates value for the future.
Enough about us, now it’s your turn. We’d love to hear your story and explore how we can write its next chapter together:
https://www.vinhhoan.com/contact-us/
