Hi, I’m Vinh – a digital marketing specialist with a passion for both online strategy and exploring the world!

A Lifelong Journey in Marketing and Technology

My fascination with online marketing began in the 1990s, tinkering with early computers running MS-DOS and Windows 3.1. Little did I know that my curiosity would lead me on an incredible journey blending marketing, technology, and education.

Fast forward to 1998: armed with dual degrees in economics and office management (from Vietnam and France), I embarked on a career that has spanned industries and continents.

My first role at Ipsen, a French pharmaceutical company, introduced me to the early days of internet marketing – a time when Netscape Navigator and dial-up modems were cutting-edge tools. This experience laid the foundation for my career, which took me from Vietnam to France, and later to New Zealand.

Building Businesses and Digital Experiences Across Industries

One of my early projects involved connecting doctors worldwide to Ipsen’s clinical studies portal and I was responsible for the Vietnam part.

While I didn’t design the website myself, I coordinated content translation, publication, and organised large-scale training sessions at hospitals and medical schools. Today, we’d utilize Zoom for such tasks, but back then, it was all face-to-face interaction. This hands-on experience solidified my passion for online marketing.

My career path then led me to Mekong Capital, a leading Asian private equity firm. There, I played a key role in the brand transformation of Ngo Han, Vietnam’s top magnet wire company.

Later, I took on the challenge of restructuring a struggling in a gas company (name withheld for privacy) connected to Techcombank. As part of the restructuring, I led the creation of a new website and app to support their online marketing efforts.

And Bridging Knowledge Gaps

In late 2015, I made a life-changing decision by immigrating to New Zealand. Here, I earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing and transitioned into teaching marketing and business at Whitireia Polytechnic and Edenz Colleges.

During this time, particularly while working as a Marketing Manager, I noticed a significant gap in information available to international students, especially Vietnamese students, about life in New Zealand. Finding information about renting a house, buying a car, securing insurance, and more proved difficult.

To bridge this gap, I decided to create a website where I could share my knowledge in Vietnamese. Thus, vn2nz.co.nz was born. With no prior web design experience, I learned on the fly, akin to learning a new language – the rewards come through hands-on practice.

That blog even achieved top Google rankings!

This project allowed me to dive deeper into website creation, SEO, Google Adwords, Facebook ads, and content marketing, as I provided valuable resources for newcomers to New Zealand.

Becoming a digital marketing specialist is a journey, not a goal. I studied again.

While pursuing a Master’s thesis on digital marketing strategies for international student recruitment, I meticulously analyzed hundreds of websites and emails from universities and polytechnics in New Zealand.

This in-depth analysis provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the strengths and weaknesses in the education sector’s digital marketing landscape.

Why vinh.nz

May 2024, I launched vinh.nz to consolidate my years of experience into one platform. This isn’t just a blog about digital marketing; it’s a place where I share practical insights, case studies, and strategies that can help you grow your business online. But vinh.nz is also about my personal journey – from growing up in Vietnam to exploring 22 countries and calling New Zealand home for nearly a decade.

While digital marketing is my expertise, my future plans go beyond the screen. Once my youngest child goes to university in three years, I dream of traveling across Asia on an epic cycling adventure. I believe that just as marketing evolves, so do our personal aspirations. That’s why I’ve created vinh.nz not only as a professional resource but as a place to document future adventures and experiences.

Let’s Build Your Digital Future

Whether you’re a small business owner, an entrepreneur, or just curious about digital marketing, as a digital marketing specialist, I’m here to help. Through my decades of experience, I’ve seen firsthand how the right digital strategy can transform businesses. Let’s work together to achieve your online marketing success.

Exploring the world, one campaign – and one country – at a time. 🚴‍♂️🌍