**Interview with Long Ping: A Vietnamese Businessman from Hunan Committed to His Roots**
Reporter: Tang Xiaoqing
“Unity of knowledge and action leads to a far-reaching path.” This guiding principle underpins the philosophy of Long Ping, the Executive Chairman of the Southern District of the Vietnam Hunan Business Association. Drawing inspiration from Wang Chuanshan’s thoughts on practical knowledge, this ambitious entrepreneur from Hengyang, Hunan, has carved out a successful niche in Vietnam’s color masterbatch production industry.
Long Ping grew up in Daan Township in Heng County, where his parents instilled in him the values of hard work and integrity from a young age. After earning his degree from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2004, he joined Emerson, a Fortune 500 company, where he worked his way up from engineer to regional manager, eventually overseeing the East China region. He later assumed an executive role at a Finnish firm.
With ample experience in multinational corporations, Long developed a broad network and significant investment channels, coupled with expertise in cross-cultural communication and management. In 2015, he recognized the potential in the color masterbatch sector and founded Yongsheng (Vietnam) Plastic Masterbatch Co., Ltd. in Binh Duong Province, southern Vietnam, focusing on providing color solutions for various manufacturing industries.
Color masterbatch, a type of polymer composite coloring material, finds its applications in numerous sectors, including food and medical packaging, home appliances, agriculture, automotive parts, and plastic pipes. At the time Long ventured into the market, Vietnam had only two companies engaged in this field, with most competitors originating from Europe and America. Although international opportunities were abundant, Long encountered a range of challenges.
Starting from scratch, he needed to secure market share from established competitors while also recruiting technical and management staff from China. Additionally, he had to engage several translators to support market and office operations. To quickly build his presence, Long leveraged connections with fellow expatriates, personally introducing clients to his products and facilitating sample testing. His reputation grew as he progressed from small-scale tests to full production, anchoring trust in his product quality and technical support, which naturally led to an increase in orders.
Realizing many Chinese technicians were reluctant to work in Vietnam, Long made frequent visits to encourage them, offering salaries at least 50% higher than what they could find in China, along with enticing living conditions and vacation benefits. “The high proportion of Chinese technicians in our factory became our greatest competitive advantage,” he explained. After establishing a solid market presence, Long launched another plastics company to provide injection molding services for several Fortune 500 clients.
Despite years spent abroad, Long remains deeply connected to his hometown. “Hengyang boasts a rich cultural heritage, highlighted by respected institutions like Shigu Academy and Yeho Academy,” he shared. The values of patriotism, accountability, integrity, and practicality, shaped by the culture of these academies, continue to resonate with many Hengyang natives abroad.
Long frequently travels between China and Vietnam, seeking ways to help local enterprises expand internationally while exploring investment policies in Hengyang that would attract more businesses to fuel development. “The business environment in Hengyang has improved significantly; local governments are more proactive and service-oriented,” he noted. “Collaborative initiatives are helping enterprises innovate and attract skilled talent, setting the stage for economic growth.” Over the last three years, he has worked with the Vietnamese Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Hunan Business Association to offer guidance and consulting for Hengyang entrepreneurs interested in the Vietnamese and Southeast Asian markets.
He expresses optimism about Hengyang’s recent innovation initiatives and development strategies, particularly as the city prepares to host the Third Hunan Tourism Development Conference. “Hengyang is stepping up as a key regional player, showcasing significant progress. It has ranked among the top 100 advanced manufacturing cities in China for three consecutive years, earning recognition for innovation and digital advancements.”
Long stressed the importance of promoting Hengyang’s resources, market strengths, and policies to attract investors. “I would invest in my hometown given the right opportunities.”
Dedicated to giving back, Long has made contributions to local infrastructure and various charitable causes, including support for retirement homes. Following the recent flooding disaster in Yueyang, he led a donation of 100,000 yuan for recovery efforts.
“I will continue to focus on my hometown’s development, support its growth, and strive to share China’s story effectively in Vietnam, fostering stronger ties and enhancing economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries,” Long Ping concluded.
