Warren Buffett: The contrarian billionaire – What can Vietnamese entrepreneurs learn?

DNHN - Warren Buffett has never invented a piece of technology, created a product that changed the world, or relied on social media.

Yet his fortune has proven more durable than that of many tech geniuses, and his influence often surpasses that of leading politicians.

While the world rushes toward speed, Buffett chooses to move slowly but surely, winning by following principles that never go out of style. In many ways, he has built his legend by going against the tide.

A distinctive strategy anchored in real value

Buffett has never relied on risky bets. He avoids chasing fads, whether cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence, or other overnight sensations. Throughout his career, he has focused on one thing only: intrinsic value.

Raised in a household marked by a mother’s depression, he learned early to manage his emotions and turned to old newspapers to study finance. These experiences shaped his hallmark discipline: never make decisions under emotional strain.

His “circle of competence” has kept him away from temptation. He does not invest in businesses he does not fully understand. During the dot-com frenzy of the late 1990s, he was criticized for being outdated as others struck it rich. But when the bubble burst, Buffett endured while many disappeared.

His philosophy is clear: better to miss an opportunity than to break a principle. That is why holdings such as Coca-Cola and American Express, kept for decades, continue to deliver steady returns. He does not get rich fast, but neither does he lose money recklessly. As he famously said, “Rule No. 1 is never lose money. Rule No. 2 is never forget Rule No. 1.”

Trusting people, not just numbers

Berkshire Hathaway’s reputation is built not on headline-grabbing tech deals but on choosing the right people. Buffett rarely asks how fast a company is growing. Instead, he asks: Are its leaders honest? Do they think long-term?

To him, a company led by someone without integrity will eventually collapse, no matter how profitable. Once he invests, Buffett largely steps back, with no rigid KPIs, no micromanagement, and no endless meetings. He picks the right leaders and gives them trust. That trust, he believes, is what builds true sustainability.

As Harvard professor Robert noted, Buffett’s greatness lies not in technical financial skills, but in his ability to say no to temptation.

Lessons for Vietnamese entrepreneurs

“The true lesson from Buffett is not just how he selects stocks, it’s his choice of a path few dare to take: sustainable, principled, simple, and profound,” said Lại Thiên Phong, CEO of Nam Hanoi Construction & Land. “While many Vietnamese firms remain tied to quarterly goals, he teaches us about the power of steadfast vision.”

In today’s environment, rising costs, volatile cash flows, constant staff turnover, many young entrepreneurs shift from passion to defense, and eventually, to giving up. Buffett’s mindset is a wake-up call: not every decision pays off immediately, but each must create real value.

The message is not to copy Buffett’s portfolio, but to live and work by principles you are willing to keep for life. For him, wealth is not the destination but the inevitable outcome of integrity and consistency.

Silent failures, costly lessons

Unlike Buffett, the “slow but steady” investor, many young Vietnamese founders treat entrepreneurship as a sprint. They begin with passion but without principles. They desire success but fail to master emotion. Failure is the inevitable result.

One founder, celebrated in 2018, admitted: “I launched my company to meet others’ expectations. I thought I needed to move fast, to catch every trend, to raise funds early, and I lost everything in less than a year.”

Like many “bubble startups” from 2016–2019, his model was “raise first, validate later.” Praised in the media, the venture collapsed under cash burn, weak execution, and mass resignations.

Others imploded from within: startups once ranked among ASEAN’s top ten disintegrated due to internal conflict, KPI pressure, and toxic micromanagement.

The common denominator was not financial markets but the absence of core principles, the very foundation Buffett insists on: invest only in people with integrity, and only in what you deeply understand.

Some entrepreneurs chose silence after failure. Others stood up, wiser: never enter a field without deep understanding; value people over ideas; and when a decision proves wrong, stop early, accept reality, and learn thoroughly from the fall.

The portrait of a “slow mover who finishes first”

As of 2025, Warren Buffett ranks fifth on Forbes’ list, with a net worth of $154 billion. He still lives in his Omaha home, purchased in 1958 for $31,500. As co-founder of the Giving Pledge, he has pledged 99% of his wealth to philanthropy.

Under his leadership, Berkshire Hathaway has become one of the world’s largest holding companies, with stakes in Coca-Cola, Apple, and other global giants. Buffett spends 5–6 hours daily reading books, reports, and shareholder letters. He does not use a smartphone, has no bodyguards, and remains a timeless model of disciplined investing.

Buffett’s enduring presence continues to inspire investors worldwide, reminding them that in business, character and patience often outlast speed and hype.

Dr. Nguyễn Thúy Lan

Vietnamese version: https://doanhnghiephoinhap.vn/ty-phu-warren-buffett-nguoi-di-nguoc-xu-huong-doanh-nhan-viet-hoc-duoc-gi-114600.html