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
I am deeply honored to address you as the President of the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce. Your trust in me to lead this esteemed organization is a responsibility I do not take lightly.
Our chamber has a remarkable history of promoting and supporting Vietnamese American businesses. Our shared commitment to excellence and entrepreneurship has been the driving force behind our successes.
In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, our chamber faces both challenges and opportunities. We understand the importance of creative exposure and innovative strategies for promoting Vietnamese American businesses. This will be at the forefront of our agenda during my tenure. We will work diligently to provide our members with the resources and advocacy they need to thrive.
In the coming year, we have plans to forge strategic partnerships and collaborations that will enhance the visibility and growth of Vietnamese American businesses. We recognize that our community’s diversity is a source of inspiration and innovation.
I encourage all of you to actively engage with the chamber, share your ideas, and contribute your expertise to our mission. Your involvement is pivotal to our collective success. Together, we can make a significant impact on promoting Vietnamese American businesses.
In closing, I want to express my gratitude to our dedicated board of directors, volunteers, and staff for their unwavering commitment to our mission. Thank you for your trust and support. I am excited about the journey ahead and look forward to working collaboratively with all of you to promote and elevate Vietnamese American businesses.
Sincerely,
Thanh Pham,
President
Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce
Meet our board members
Thanh Pham
VACOC Chairman
California International Bank
Tim Nguyen
VACOC Vice Chair
Wells Fargo Bank
Emilie Dang
Board Member
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Alexander C. Kim, MBA
Board Member
Three Kings Public Affairs
Dan X Nguyen, Esq.
Board Member
CANEI Law Services
Janet Burt
Board Member
Lewis Brisbois
Karen Vuong
Board Member
ABC Notary, LLC.
Lynda T. Bui
Board Member
Shulman Bastian Friedman & Bui LLP
John Tran
Board Member
CommerceWest Bank
Catherine Nguyen
Board Member – Past VACOC Chair
Venturezen Inc.
Gia Ly, MBA
President’s Committee
ArrowGTP Marketing & PR
Dr. Tam Nguyen, MBA
President’s Committee
Advanced Beauty College
Mai Nguyen
Committee Member
Newmark
Vanna Tran
Committee Member
Nielsen
Jennie Phuong, MSIT
Committee Member
County of Orange
An Pham, Jr., CFA
Committee Member
Cathay Bank
Tommy Nguyen
Committee Member
Banh Mi Saigon
Ted Nguyen
Advisory Board
OCTA
Annie Yea
Advisory Board
CSU Fullerton
Dr. Sridhar Sundaram
Advisory Board
CSU Fullerton
Dr. Ian Williamson
Advisory Board
UC Irvine
Past Presidents
Dr. Pham Dang Long Co
1985 – 2008
Dr. Tam Nguyen
2009 – 2013
Gia Ly, MBA
2014 – 2017
Catherine Nguyen
2018 – 2021