About VACOC

The Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce was established in 1985 in Little Saigon, California by Dr. Pham Dang Long Co, founder of Bolsa Medical Group, and the longest standing president of the chamber. It is a 501(c)6 non-profit organization composed of business owners and corporate representatives throughout Southern California, United States and Southeast Asia.

Thus far, it is the oldest and largest non-profit organization of its kind helping new businesses scale and established corporations thrive. The chamber continues to grow within the Vietnamese community while branching into other organizations.

Facts About the Chamber

  •    VACOC hosted the first Tet Parade and Tet Festival in California
  •    VACOC established the first Vietnamese business directory for the community with nearly 10,000 business listings
  •    2010 – VACOC hosted US Secretary of Commerce Honorable Gary Locke in Little Saigon and Vietnamese-American owned businesses
  •    2011 – VACOC hosted the 1st annual fireworks booth
  •    2015 – VACOC celebrated its 30th anniversary

Mission

The VACOC’s mission is to promote the development of business and trade for its members by creating a platform for businesses of all sizes to meet, discuss and share ideas on topics to help stimulate growth locally and globally, while considering the interests of our community.

Vision

The VACOC’s vision is to deliver Value to its members through Advocacy, Commerce and Outreach in Collaboration with community organizations and businesses to advance education, philanthropy and economic growth.

Values

  • Promote business transactions, trade and investment between Vietnamese Americans and other communities worldwide.
  • Deliver quality services to our members through events, education, workshops, business networking and collaborations.
  • Promote the interests of our members through collaborations with external organizations by highlighting “best practices” and shared resources.
  • Encourage interactions among our members to enhance exchange in the community through business services, philanthropic work, and public affairs.
  • Develop competency and understanding of the Vietnamese American culture.


President’s Message

Dear Members, Partners, and Community Leaders,

It is with great honor and enthusiasm that I serve as the President of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce (VACOC). Our mission has always been to empower, connect, and advocate for Vietnamese American businesses, fostering economic growth and strengthening our community’s presence in the marketplace.

As we navigate an evolving business landscape, VACOC remains committed to providing valuable resources, strategic partnerships, and opportunities for our members to thrive. Whether you are a small business owner, corporate executive, or aspiring entrepreneur, we are here to support your success through networking, advocacy, and business development.

Our community’s strength lies in collaboration and innovation. I encourage you to actively engage with the chamber, leverage our collective knowledge, and contribute to the economic prosperity of Vietnamese American businesses. Together, we will go far by driving meaningful impact and create a legacy of excellence for future generations.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication. I look forward to working with you all in building a stronger, more vibrant business community.

Best regards,

Tim Nguyen
President
Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce

Meet our Board Members

Tim Nguyen

VACOC Chairman

Wells Fargo Bank

Thanh Pham

Board Member – Past VACOC Chairman

California International Bank

Kevin Bui

Board Member

Kevin Bui Real Estate

Lynda T. Bui

Board Member

Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP

Janet Burt

Board Member

Lewis Brisbois

Alexander C. Kim, MBA

Board Member

Three Kings Public Affairs

Gia Ly, MBA

President’s Committee – Past VACOC Chairwoman

ArrowGTP Marketing & PR

Catherine Nguyen

Board Member – Past VACOC Chairwoman

Venturezen Inc.

Mai Nguyen

Committee Member

Newmark

Nylinne Nguyen, MBA

Board Member

Orange County Transportation Authority

Dr. Tam Nguyen, MBA

President’s Committee – Past VACOC Chairman

Advanced Beauty College

Tommy Nguyen

Secretary

Banh Mi Saigon

Vy Nguyen

Committee Member

Nghia Nipper – US

An Pham, Jr., CFA

Committee Member

Cathay Bank

Jennie Phuong, MSIT

Chief Technology Officer

County of Orange

John Tran

Board Member

CommerceWest Bank

Vanna Tran

Committee Member

Nielsen

Karen Vuong

Board Member

ABC Notary, LLC.

Advisory Board

Ted Nguyen

Advisory Board

OCTA

Dr. Sridhar Sundaram

Advisory Board

CSU Fullerton

Dr. Ian Williamson

Advisory Board

UC Irvine

Annie Yea

Advisory Board

CSU Fullerton

Past Presidents

Dr. Pham Dang Long Co

1985 – 2008

Dr. Tam Nguyen, MBA

2009 – 2013

Gia Ly, MBA

2014 – 2017

Catherine Nguyen

2018 – 2021

Thanh Pham

2022 – 2025