Vietnamese American Business Association Marks 15 Years of Growth and Support

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 13, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- The Vietnamese American Business Association (VABA), founded in 2011 by David Duong, has grown into a significant network of over 2,200 professionals and 720 businesses, with connections spanning 12 U.S. states and eight countries. Duong, who arrived in the Bay Area in 1979 as a refugee from Vietnam, built a recycling company, California Waste Solutions, in 1992. The company expanded into municipal recycling services in Oakland and San Jose, and Duong secured an investment license in 2005 for the Da Phuoc Integrated Solid Waste Facility near Ho Chi Minh City, which began operating in 2007. Duong was recognized by VietNamNet as a pioneer in Vietnam's waste-treatment sector.

VABA's mission is to support, advocate, and network for Vietnamese American business owners. The association's motto, "Speak with One Voice," encapsulates its vision of uniting entrepreneurs and strengthening their standing in the United States and encouraging investment and commercial ties with Vietnam. Duong established VABA to provide a platform for other entrepreneurs to benefit from the relationships and experience that established businesses have developed over many years.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Duong engaged with government representatives to discuss financial relief for Vietnamese-owned businesses and safety in commercial districts with police. In 2017, he received the Asian American Prosecutors Association's Outstanding Community Advocate Award for his efforts to connect Vietnamese businesses and local leaders. VABA also strengthens commercial ties between Vietnam and the United States by welcoming Vietnamese government and business delegations. At the U.S., Vietnam Business Investment Forum in Oakland in April 2026, representatives from Vietnam's Tay Ninh Province met with U.S. business and civic leaders to discuss investment, industrial development, and cross-border partnerships.

VABA offers practical support to local entrepreneurs through events and workshops. At a May 2024 workshop with Umpqua Bank, business owners spoke directly with commercial bankers about financing and loan preparation. The association's fourth season of the Pitch Perfect competition in Orange County in September 2025 drew more than 260 founders, investors, and business leaders. Ten startups pitched onstage, and another 20 joined the showcase, according to VABA's event recap.

Since its launch in 2024, VABA's Pitch Perfect competition has connected startup founders with investors and experienced business leaders. VABA also established VABA Venture Capital in 2024, supported by $50 million in investment capital from the Duong family office. The association connects founders with venture capital firms, other family offices, angel investors, and established business leaders. Together, these activities help build an investment community in which experienced leaders support emerging companies.

VABA's community support extends beyond commerce. The association has contributed to various charitable causes, including a $51,000 donation to a 2020 flood-relief appeal in central Vietnam. The first two VABA, South Bay Golf Alliance charity tournaments raised and donated more than $36,000 for Vietnamese-language education and cancer-related causes. In Oakland, VABA and California Waste Solutions have supported the LoveLife Foundation's college scholarship drive. The association hosted "Gratitude to America" in May 2025, a celebration commemorating 50 years of Vietnamese American history, bringing together more than 300 business leaders, elected officials, entrepreneurs, and community members.

The Duong family's journey is chronicled in The King of Trash, a documentary about their refugee experience and the recycling businesses they built in the United States and Vietnam. VABA has brought entrepreneurs, public officials, and community members together for screenings and discussions, expanding the film's U.S. tour to 12 screening events with more than 5,000 tickets sold.

Over the past 15 years, VABA has helped countless entrepreneurs and business owners build valuable relationships, establish partnerships, and discover new opportunities in the United States and internationally. Through its extensive network of business leaders, venture capital firms, family offices, and angel investors, VABA has connected founders with potential investors, with many securing funding and growing their businesses through relationships established within the association.