Dear GBA members, partners, and friends,
2025 marked an extraordinary milestone for our community: The 30th anniversary of the German Business Association in Vietnam, which we celebrated along the year with many events, highlighted by our fantastic German Ball in November. It was a great opportunity to thank you, the individuals who have brought this community to life every single day since 1995. Your dedication and passion have transformed the GBA from a small circle of pioneering German business leaders into the largest European business association in Vietnam.
The commitment of each of you, let the GBA expand its reach, impact, and relevance across Vietnam. In line with the strategy for increased national coverage, we invested particularly into additional activities in Northern and Central Vietnam. We hired a dedicated office team member for these regions and already achieved first results, ranging from a membership expansion in Hanoi, Danang and Haiphong to an extended event offering, such as our new GBA Golf tournament and the “Haiphong meets Europe” networking evening.
These types of ongoing improvements define our journey! We also added new concepts, such as Meet the GBA Board and offering even better rates for members at our Monthly Business Meetings – giving back to our community and putting our members in the center of our strategy.
Looking back at our 30th anniversary, I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together. We have elevated the value of membership, strengthened our network, and made meaningful contributions to the German–Vietnamese business landscape.
2025 was a truly remarkable year for the GBA, with many significant highlights:
A community of over 430 members
We proudly crossed the milestone of over 430 members, marking another year of significant growth for our community. This achievement reflects the attractiveness of the GBA as a platform for members to engage with German-Vietnamese businesses.
A record year of impactful events
2025 stands out as one of the most dynamic years in our 30-year journey. With more than 85 business, networking, cultural, social, and sports events, we welcomed over 16,000 participants. This milestone showcases the strength of our community and the growing relevance of the GBA in Vietnam. From high-level business dialogues to community-building experiences, our programs offered the highest level of engagement and content:
- GBA Oktoberfest returned with extraordinary success, spanning across the three major cities – Hanoi, Danang, and Ho Chi Minh City, and welcoming nearly 11,000 participants. This outstanding result underlines the role of our GBA Oktoberfest as one of the most cultural bridges between Vietnam and Germany.
- The German Ball 2025 welcomed around 330 guests and was a proud testament to GBA’s 30-year journey, closing with a memorable celebration and great confidence for what lies ahead. It was an evening that truly highlighted the passion and unity of our member-driven community.
- German Business Awards, now in its second year, continued to allow our members to shine with their achievements, offering them a pathway to the EuroCham Business Awards. The strong participation reflected the growing impact of our members in Vietnam.
- Monthly Business Meetings remain in our flagship series to bring expert insights to our members. In 2025, we successfully organized 8 events on a wide range of business topics. Consistent attendance throughout the year underscored the value this format brings to our members.
- Members for Members Workshops continued to grow in popularity, with more members sharing their expertise and practical experience. With 12 workshops, we empowered members to learn directly from one another.
- Professional and Social Networking Events continued to grow strongly, with the number of Deutschentreff Events in Hanoi tripling (x3) compared to last year, reaching a total of 09 events. In Ho Chi Minh City, we continued to organize Monthly Deutschentreff gatherings, consistently welcoming more than 100 participants each event. We deepened our collaborations with international chambers through co-hosted events with AmCham, SingCham, ICham, DBAV, CEEC, CTCVN, and JCCH.
- Sports Events such as the GBA Football Cup and GBA Badminton Tournament brought together hundreds of passionate athletes and fans. Based on consistent member request, we also organized our first golf tournament in Danang this November.
- GBA Excursion Trips expanded significantly this year, especially in Northern and Central Vietnam (Excursion to Kärcher Plant, Ziehl-Abegg Vietnam & KTG Industrial, Cicor Vietnam, Da Nang Hi-Tech Park, DRÄXLMAIER Tam Ky factory, Lach Huyen Port Hai Phong). From Haiphong to Danang and other emerging industrial hubs, we offered exclusive behind-the-scenes access to leading companies and innovative projects across the country.
- We elevated member engagement to a new level in 2025 with the launch of Meet the GBA Board Members, an industry-focused, insight-driven series designed to foster open dialogue in a casual and interactive setting. With 6 successful sessions held throughout the year, we offered our members a focused platform for exchange.
These activities reflect the continued vibrancy and engagement of our members across Vietnam.
Strong engagement in member communication
- “GBAKonnects” Platform– Now entering its second year, GBA Konnects has become a dynamic platform on Zalo for members to promote their services, achievements, and business insights. With more than 540 users, the platform is rising, and we will keep building it up.
- GBA Business Feedback Portal– We kicked off this portal recently to provide a more structured and direct channel for members to raise concerns related to regulations, permits, and operating conditions in Vietnam. The gathered insights help us to advocate your interests in our government relations.
Connecting businesses in government relations
In 2025, the GBA Board of Directors continued to strengthen its role as a strategic bridge between the German business community and Vietnamese authorities. Through high-level dialogues, policy consultations, and sector-focused engagements, we actively represented the needs, expectations, and long-term interests of our members:
- Business Roundtable with the Consul General of Germany – An open dialogue on regulatory updates and member needs, reinforcing close collaboration between the German Consulate General and the GBA. >>>News
- GBA Strengthens Strategic Investment Dialogue with Hai Phong Leadership – The working session focused on investment facilitation, industrial infrastructure development, and emerging opportunities for German enterprises, supporting Hai Phong’s ambition to become a leading industrial and logistics hub. With this visit we created a direct platform for member companies to share challenges, voice their perspectives, and present practical recommendations to local authorities. >>>News
- Meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Nguyen Dac Thanh – The Business Roundtable underscored efforts to deepen Vietnam–Germany economic cooperation, particularly in supporting SMEs through technology transfer, innovation, and sustainable development. Discussions focused on strengthening partnerships in key sectors such as renewable energy, smart manufacturing, digital technology, and vocational training, while business representatives highlighted the need for more flexible training and exchange mechanisms. >>>News
- Dialogue with the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee – This meeting focused on exploring economic potential and investment opportunities in Quang Nam, while addressing GBA members’ concerns and supporting efforts to improve the local investment environment. >>>News
- Participation in the National Conference on the International Financial Center and other high-level forums – The GBA contributed business insights at these conferences chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders, supporting Vietnam’s roadmap towards economic growth and prosperity. >>>News
Our engagement with the media
This year, the GBA continued to be publicly present as the meaningful voice for Vietnam–Germany cooperation, by sharing our insights and success stories across media channels. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our in-house communications team, our media coverage has been remarkably reaching:
- 15 newspaper articles
- 10 TV interviews
- Over 400 press releases
Partnership with the European and international community
- The FEIERABEND RENDEZ-VOUS 2025 events in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were a great success for an evening of networking and cultural exchange. Co-organized by GBA, AHK Vietnam, and CCIFV, the gathering marked the fourth annual celebration of Franco-German Day, underscoring the strong ties between the two largest European business communities in Vietnam.
- The Business Matching & Joint Networking Event co-hosted by GBA, CTCVN, and JCCH brought together companies from the German, Chinese, and Japanese business communities to explore collaboration opportunities. Through focused networking and business exchange activities, participants deepened connections, identified potential partnerships, and strengthened cross-market cooperation in Vietnam.
- GBA co-hosted with international chambers (EuroCham Vietnam, Amcham, Beluxcham Vietnam, Australian Chamber of Commerce Vietnam, CEEC Vietnam, CCIFV, DBAV, NordCham Vietnam, SBA, and Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam) to organize 02 Danang Meets Europe events, aimed at strengthening business connections, fostering dialogue, and promoting new partnership opportunities between European enterprises and local stakeholders in Central Vietnam.
- The DeutschenTreff Events co-hosted with international chambers which offers a unique opportunity to expand your professional network, forge valuable business partnerships, and exchange ideas between the German and American business communities.
- European Networking events such as Business Thursdays in Hanoi and European Night in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with other business associations.
2025 has proven to be a remarkable year for GBA and sets a strong base for the future
The outlined activities and achievements are a testament of the important role the GBA nowadays plays in Vietnam. It was a true honor for the entire board and office team to celebrate the 30 years anniversary of our community and 50 years of Diplomatic Relations between Vietnam and Germany.
German know-how is an integral part of Vietnam’s recent economic development and will play an important role for the future of the nation we call our home.
I personally would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to our 430 members and 20 corporate partners for trust and continuous support throughout 2025. Your contributions remain the foundation of our success. Our corporate partners include:
Deutsche Bank, Rödl & Partner, Deutsches Haus Ho Chi Minh City, Dürr, Forvia Hella, GvW Graf von Westphalen, JP Contagi, Kobler, Luther Vietnam Law, Mercedes-Benz, Messer, Savabeco, Schaeffler, tesa, Ziehl-Abegg, Stada, Vias, Core5 Vietnam, Bayer, Gradion.
As GBA, we are also sincerely grateful for the close cooperation with the German Embassy in Hanoi, the German Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, and AHK Vietnam. It is this strong collaboration that helps German and Vietnamese companies connect and achieve shared success.
My deep appreciation goes to our volunteering Board of Directors, whose dedication and passion allows the GBA to master our anniversary year with outstanding results. And a warm thank-you to our hardworking GBA Office team for their commitment to drive our community with excellent service.
As we look ahead, I am pleased to announce the GBA Annual General Meeting 2026, taking place on Monday, January 26, at Deutsches Haus Ho Chi Minh City and at Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre. At the AGM, the GBA Board of Directors will present the report of their term, and we will elect the new Board for 2026. Should you wish to stand as a candidate, please send your application to exec-director@gba-vietnam.org by COB January 5, 2026.
Your participation at the AGM will make a true difference, and I look forward to welcoming you all on January 26, 2026.
As we celebrate this remarkable 30-year journey, our board and team look forward to shaping the next chapter of the GBA together with all of you. I believe the GBA community will keep thriving in 2026, thanks to a strong focus on quality, partnerships, and member engagement.
I wish you and your families a joyful festive season, a Merry Christmas, and a prosperous and inspiring New Year!
Sincerely Yours,
Alexander Ziehe
Chairman of the Board
German Business Association in Vietnam (GBA)
How to renew your membership in 2026
- Receive a Membership Renewal package by post (incl. a Chairman Year-end letter from GBA and the invoice of 2026 membership fee) in Mid of November 2025
- Process Payment (following the information provided on the invoice) by 15 January 2026
- Update your Company Profile: by downloading Company Profile 2026 and returning the completed file to mai@gba-vietnam.org
Membership fee 2025: (same as 2024)
- Annual membership fee for a Large Enterprise (LE): 31,200,000 VND
- Annual membership fee for a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME): 15,400,000 VND
- Individual membership fee: 8,250,000 VND
- Mini membership fee: 8,250,000 VND
For further information regarding Membership Renewal please contact our Membership Manager as following details:
- Mai Hoang (Ms.) | T: 028 3823 9772 – Ext 113 | M: (+84) 903 906 181| E: mai@gba-vietnam.org
Important notice: Payment settlement also affects your voting rights during the ensuing EuroCham Annual General Meeting in March.
