The portrait of the founder of the dishwashing liquid brand My Hao was resonant.
- 133
- Brand
- 00:27 07/09/2023
DNHN - My Hao dishwashing liquid was introduced to the market in the early 1990s and quickly attracted consumers. Unilever was unsuccessful in its repeated attempts to acquire My Hao for tens of millions of dollars.
The narrative begins

Mr. Luong Van Vinh, the founder of the renowned My Hao brand of dishwashing liquid, was born and raised in a family of Chinese descent in Cho Lon and endured a troubled youth. Mr. Vinh began learning how to make incense at the age of 10 to carry on a family tradition. Mr. Vinh made money at the age of 16 by selling bicycle parts on Thuan Kieu Street. The following year, at the age of 17, he decided to change careers and began a grocery business outside the Binh Tay market area in District 6.
In the early 1980s, Mr. Vinh embarked on a serious endeavour to produce handmade soaps for market sale. Initially, Mr. Vinh only sold a few dozen kilogrammes, but he gradually increased sales to 500 kilogrammes, opened more production facilities, and hired more employees to assist him.
In 1989, Mr. Vinh owned several hundred tonnes of raw materials but was unable to use them all for soap production, so he came up with the innovative concept of researching and producing more dishwashing liquid.
In the early 1990s, almost all households washed their dishes with soap, while only a few wealthy families used specialised dishwashing liquid due to its high price. My Hao dishwashing liquid was introduced to the market for just over 2,000 VND for a 600ml bottle, a price that was readily accepted by consumers given the economic climate at the time.
This brand of dishwashing liquid gradually becomes an integral part of every family's daily life, becoming a kitchen essential. The 7x - 8x generation associates the image of a round, yellow dishwashing liquid with a blue cap and a simple design with the brand My Hao.
My Hao has deftly penetrated every segment of the market with its superior product quality and competitive pricing. During that time, there was not a single consumer unaware of the brand My Hao, which commanded more than 80 per cent of the dishwashing liquid market.
One soul to preserve the Vietnamese brand

Multinational corporations began to enter the Vietnamese market between 1997 and 1998. Unilever, a British multinational corporation, has repeatedly offered to purchase My Hao from Mr. Vinh. Mr. Vinh is adamant about retaining his brand, even though the proposed price of this group is 10 million USD, to be increased to 30 million USD over time.
After the failed acquisition of My Hao, Unilever introduced Sunlight products to directly compete with My Hao. This group has aggressively promoted the product, attracted the attention of customers, and risen to the top of the "village" of dishwashing liquid.
To persuade dealers to rebuild the distribution system, Mr. Vinh was required to personally visit every province, from the North to the South, and present them with enticing discount policies.
Instead of investing in aggressive media campaigns, My Hao has prioritised sales and production line improvements. They now offer soap bars, shower gels, perfumes, shampoos, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, and floor cleaners, among other products.
In addition to expanding on the domestic market, My Hao expanded its export operations to numerous Asian nations, including Korea, Mongolia, Iraq, Laos, and Cambodia... In addition, market exploitation is a factor. My Hao promotes the United States with the same vigour as he does Australia.
In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is remarkable that My Hao's gel and hand sanitizer products have been certified by the US Food and Drug Administration and are imported by this country.
Mr. Luong Van Vinh stated, "Until now, I still believe I will never regret refusing 30 million USD. Because I want to build the My Hao brand for and by Vietnamese people.
H.C (t/h)
Related news
- Deputy Prime Minister Lê Thành Long meets with Osaka Governor Yoshimura Hirofumi to promote Vietnam–Japan cooperation.
- The master sales secrets of luxury king Bernard Arnault that make the world spend
- White House: When politics and technology join forces to rewrite the global AI order
- Da Nang proposes semiconductor cooperation with Oregon (USA)
- Quang Tri calls for investment in wind power plant project worth over VND 1,100 billion
- Hanoi receives two million visitors during the four-day National Day holidays
- Multiple MoUs signed in Da Nang to boost semiconductor development
- UNDP Resident Representative hails Vietnam as an emerging economic powerhouse
- How the UAE Transformed from Oil Wealth to AI Leadership?
- Success in business is always a human story
- Mr. Le Viet Thang, CEO of 1Office: "Don’t use old solutions for new ai challenges"
- VinFast: a strategic pivot amid the green industry storm?
- 127 high-value projects post-merger: Ho Chi Minh City rolls out the red carpet for strategic investors
- Pakistani Ambassador to Vietnam: “Peace and unity are the strength to build the future.”
- Vietnam's Semiconductor Leap: Five Strategic Policies to Reach 2027 Goal
- What’s Vietnam’s game plan as President Trump pressures the Fed?
- SK Innovation and HD Hyundai (South Korea) step up cooperation with Khánh Hòa Province (Vietnam)
- Quang Tri attracts $96.5 mln in new projects in July
- A trade fair organizer surprises by joining the ranks of top-earning listed companies
- HDBank secures USD 215 million syndicated loan from JICA, SMBC, and FinDev Canada
Đọc thêm Brand
Hoàng Hải Anh and his young peers launch MR. Burgers – a Halal dining destination in Hanoi
At the age of 18, Hoàng Hải Anh (Haris) and his friends have introduced MR. Burgers, bringing the clean Halal food experience to visitors in Hanoi.
SK Innovation and HD Hyundai (South Korea) step up cooperation with Khánh Hòa Province (Vietnam)
The new cooperation and investment expansion plans of South Korea’s leading conglomerates reaffirm Khánh Hòa’s growing appeal in the eyes of international investors.
A trade fair organizer surprises by joining the ranks of top-earning listed companies
Financial results for Q2 and the first half of 2025 have been announced by numerous companies listed on the Vietnamese stock market.
HDBank secures USD 215 million syndicated loan from JICA, SMBC, and FinDev Canada
HDBank has signed a syndicated loan agreement worth USD 215 million with three international financial institutions: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), FinDev Canada, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Sao Mai Group’s pangasius export segment embraces new opportunities
IDI – a member of Sao Mai Group – is building its third factory, aiming to significantly enhance export capacity to capitalize on new opportunities in the U.S. market.
The foundational mark of pioneers in renewable energy amidst an evolving legal framework
Vietnam’s renewable energy journey was marked by bold early investment at a time when the legal framework was still taking shape.
LAMORI – The Spirit of Lam Kinh in Every Breath
LAMORI is more than a luxury retreat—it is a harmonious convergence of boundless nature and sacred historical roots.
The Đại Dũng Group: A 30-Year journey of developing a sustainable value chain
In the context of globalization and sustainable development trends, Đại Dũng Group stands out with its 30-year journey in the fields of mechanical manufacturing, construction, and steel structure.
Rediscovering connection – a journey of discovery at LAMORI
LAMORI Resort & Spa is more than just a retreat; it is a destination for souls seeking reconnection, where every moment brings a meaningful experience.
Southern Vietnamese woman takes Ngoc Linh netted rice paper to all corners of the world
The Cai Be craft village has long been famous for many specialties of the Southern region of Vietnam. However, if it weren't for an unexpected event over 20 years ago, people would not know how Ngoc Linh netted rice paper has spread globally.