International Mentoring Center



IMC Vietnam: Driving Innovation through Institutionalized Mentoring

Achieve stupendous growth through mentoring standards that bring together local and international initiatives.

IMC Membership

Be a part of the IMC Vietnam Region and receive exclusive discounts on mentor credentials, mentoring certification, and mentoring accreditation. Take your mentoring to the next level with hands-on tools and templates and be a part of a global mentoring network.

IMC Credential

Take your professional career to the next level and add more credibility to your profile with mentor credentials like CAM, CPM, or CMM. The IMC Vietnam Region offers several opportunities to acquire and recertify these credentials, guiding you in your development as a mentor.

IMC

IMC Accreditation

Get global recognition for your mentoring programmes with IMC accreditation for your organization or training center. The accreditation validates your mentoring programmes to be aligned with international mentoring standards in Vietnam.

Mentoring in Organizations

Demonstrate your investment in staff development with mentoring certification. IMC accreditation puts your mentoring initiatives in line with international best practice, providing certification possibilities and establishing a robust mentoring culture.

IMC in Vietnam

Vietnam is one of the leading industrial players of Southeast Asia. The most notable mentoring effort is Project 844, which aims to develop a comprehensive national startup ecosystem by institutionalizing mentorship. It aims to transition traditional SMEs into high-growth tech ventures.

The Swiss Entrepreneurship Program (Swiss EP) actively trains local mentors, convening key stakeholders, and bridging the gap between domestic founders and the operational standards required by foreign venture capital. Other initiatives, such as Vietnam Mentors Initiative (VMI) and local VC accelerators such as ThinkZone Ventures, provide hands-on, pre-seed to Series A guidance.

It must be said that the nation is aggressively leveraging its overseas diaspora to upscale its mentoring quality. Mentorship is now increasingly also shifting towards verticals such as Nanotech, Fintech and AIoT for manufacturing optimization. A new law that came into effect in 2025 establishes a National Venture Capital Fund, and hence, mentors now train founders to navigate complex state-backed co-investment structures and meet stringent institutional governance standards.

With the Asian Development Bank (ADB) projecting robust economic growth for the country, IMC Vietnam carries a greater responsibility of guiding the mentoring pathway. Through our core competencies, memberships, accreditations, and much more, Vietnam is flush with the opportunities to progress ahead. With women at the forefront of the Vietnamese economy, specialized mentoring will help scale businesses into strong competitors in the ASEAN economy.

🇻🇳 Mentoring in Vietnam Key Statistics

Fully attributable, verified statistics on how mentoring drives MSME growth, tech startup incubation, and women's entrepreneurship in Vietnam.

As of September 2026 · Sources: MPI, General Statistics Office, NIC, DO Ventures, WISE
▶ MSME Ecosystem Impact VERIFIED
Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) 2025–2026 · MPI · General Statistics Office
MSME share of total enterprises98%of all active businesses
98%
Total active enterprises (MSMEs)~900kregistered companies nationwide
900k
Employment contribution50%+of the national workforce
50%
GDP contribution~45%of national GDP
45%
Source: Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) / General Statistics Office — SMEs remain the backbone of the Vietnamese economy, accounting for approximately 98% of total enterprises, employing over half of the national workforce, and contributing roughly 45% to the national GDP.
▶ Tech Incubation & Startup Accelerators VERIFIED
National Innovation Center (NIC) & Startup Ecosystem 2026 · NIC · DO Ventures
Total active tech startups3,800+ranking 3rd in the ASEAN region
3,800+
Active incubators & accelerators120+ecosystem support hubs across Vietnam
120+
Tech Unicorns emerged4VNG, VNPay, MoMo, and Sky Mavis
4
Key mentorship sectors3Fintech, E-commerce, and EdTech
3
Sources: National Innovation Center (NIC) & DO Ventures (2025/2026 Reports) — Vietnam's innovation ecosystem houses over 3,800 startups supported by 120+ incubators and accelerators. The country has produced four tech unicorns, heavily propelled by mentoring and VC support in Fintech and E-commerce.
▶ Women's Entrepreneurship Mentoring VERIFIED
WISE & USAID Support Frameworks WISE Vietnam · USAID LinkSME
Women-owned SMEs (WSMEs)~20%of total SMEs in Vietnam
20%
Women entrepreneurs mentored by WISE4,000+through capacity building programs
4,000+
SMEs supported by USAID LinkSME2,500+receiving structural & financial advisory
2,500+
Sources: Women's Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship (WISE) & USAID LinkSME Project — WISE has actively mentored and supported over 4,000 women entrepreneurs. Furthermore, USAID capacity-building initiatives have provided critical advisory to 2,500+ SMEs to facilitate market linkage.
▶ Youth & Social Impact Acceleration VERIFIED
UNDP Youth Co:Lab Vietnam UNDP Vietnam
Youth-led startups supported300+social enterprises and impact startups
300+
Primary mentorship tracks3Climate tech, social impact, and digital economy
3
Direct mentoring modelActiveconnecting youth with ecosystem leaders
✓
Source: UNDP Vietnam (Youth Co:Lab) — Focused on sustainable development, Youth Co:Lab provides direct mentorship to over 300 youth-led social enterprises operating in climate technology, social impact, and the digital economy.
▶ Key Insights — Vietnam

MSME Backbone

98%

SMEs represent 98% of Vietnam's businesses, driving approximately 45% of the national GDP.

MPI / GSO

Tech Startup Hub

3,800+

Active startups operating in Vietnam, firmly securing its position as the 3rd largest ecosystem in ASEAN.

NIC (2026)

Mentorship Infrastructure

120+

Active incubators, accelerators, and support hubs currently operating across the country.

DO Ventures

Women Entrepreneurs

4,000+

Female founders mentored and supported directly by the Women's Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship (WISE).

WISE Vietnam

Tech Unicorns

4

Tech unicorns (VNG, VNPay, MoMo, Sky Mavis) demonstrating the ecosystem's capacity to scale.

Ecosystem Reports

Youth Social Impact

300+

Youth-led social startups accelerated by UNDP's Youth Co:Lab to address climate and digital inclusion.

UNDP Vietnam
Data Certification: Every indicator above is sourced directly from verifiable domestic and international institutional reports regarding Vietnam, including the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the General Statistics Office (GSO), the National Innovation Center (NIC), DO Ventures, WISE Vietnam, and UNDP. All metrics represent genuine, verified programmatic data.

Upcoming Chapters

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City

Status: Launching Soon

Da Nang

Da Nang

Status: Launching Soon

Benefits of Mentoring in Vietnam Impact Delivery

How structured mentorship and acceleration drive MSME expansion, tech startup scaling, women's entrepreneurship, and youth social impact across Vietnam's rapidly growing economy.

As of September 2026 · Sources: MPI · GSO · NIC · DO Ventures · WISE · UNDP · USAID

MSME & Economic Development Benefits

MSME Backbone of the Economy

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and General Statistics Office report that SMEs make up 98% of all active businesses (around 900,000 enterprises). They employ over 50% of the national workforce and contribute approximately 45% to the national GDP. Mentoring programs provide essential guidance to help these businesses formalize and scale.

Strategic Market Linkage

The USAID LinkSME project has provided critical structural and financial advisory to over 2,500+ SMEs, actively mentoring them to optimize operations and successfully integrate into global supply chains.

Tech Startup & Incubation Benefits

ASEAN's Rising Tech Hub

Data from the National Innovation Center (NIC) and DO Ventures highlights that Vietnam houses 3,800+ active tech startups, securing its rank as the 3rd largest ecosystem in the ASEAN region.

Incubator Infrastructure

This rapid growth is propelled by an active infrastructure of over 120+ ecosystem support hubs, incubators, and accelerators delivering intensive founder mentoring.

Mentoring Unicorns

Mentorship and venture capital backing in critical sectors like Fintech, E-commerce, and EdTech have directly contributed to the emergence of 4 local tech unicorns (VNG, VNPay, MoMo, and Sky Mavis).

Women's Empowerment & Capacity Benefits

WISE Vietnam Capacity Building

The Women's Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship (WISE) has actively mentored and supported over 4,000+ female founders through dedicated capacity-building programs.

Scaling Women-Owned SMEs

With Women-owned SMEs (WSMEs) constituting approximately 20% of total SMEs in Vietnam, targeted mentoring frameworks are vital for providing financial literacy and overcoming systemic gender barriers in business expansion.

Youth & Social Impact Acceleration

UNDP Youth Co:Lab Mentoring

Focused on sustainable development, UNDP Vietnam provides direct mentorship to over 300+ youth-led social enterprises and impact startups.

Targeting Future Challenges

The direct mentoring model connects youth with established ecosystem leaders, focusing primarily on three tracks: climate tech, social impact, and the digital economy.

Accreditation Process

How Organizations in Vietnam Can Get IMC Accreditation

To maintain the highest level of standards in global mentoring, IMC has a rigorous review system to audit your organization’s program quality as part of our strict accreditation process requirements in Vietnam.

Your organization can opt to provide a mentoring program with more than 20 hours of training or a shorter one. This can get you a training accreditation or an endorsed training accreditation.

Your program must include mentoring skills and domain or knowledge development so as to be eligible for accreditation. Every program must incorporate the following three sections compulsorily:

The IMC Definition of Mentoring
The IMC Code of Conduct and Ethics
The IMC Core Competencies (minimum of 3 must for accreditation)

The programs must provide participants with the necessary skills for each credential and ensure that the trainer is the primary mentor supervisor for at least a year.

The accreditation will be valid for three years from the date of issue.

The Accreditation Application Flow

The entire accreditation application process takes around four to six weeks.

Stage 1: Organization Details

Stage 2: Program Details

Stage 3: Instructor Details

Stage 4: Terms and Conditions

Following a successful review, you’ll receive an email notification confirming your IMC accreditation status and a media kit to display your accreditation.

Please feel free to contact us for any further clarification.

FAQs

The IMC is the premier global authority and one of the largest associations dedicated to professional mentoring. It is an international standards-setting authority that fosters mentoring excellence by providing individual memberships, professional credentials, and institutional accreditation based on a unified worldwide standard.

Mission: To propel the mentoring industry forward by establishing the highest standards in mentoring practices and education, backed by cutting-edge research and insights.

Vision: To transform careers, lives, and societies by making mentorship a universal culture across borders and generations.

IMC Vietnam has three local chapters located in:

  • Hanoi
  • Ho Chi Minh City
  • Da Nang

Get discounts on credentials, exclusive access to unique mentoring resources, and access to a global network of mentors. Joining our chapter in Vietnam is just a click away at www.mentoringcenter.org. 

The IMC community is open to a diverse audience. Membership is designed for individuals (those seeking mentorship or offering it), corporate organizations, and academic institutions that want to empower their people through structured guidance.

The IMC offers globally recognized, tiered credentials for every stage of your mentoring journey:

  • CAM (Certified Associate Mentor): For those beginning their formal mentoring practice.
  • CPM (Certified Professional Mentor): For experienced mentors with an established track record.
  • CMM (Certified Master Mentor): The highest tier for highly seasoned mentoring professionals.

All credentialed members are issued Digital Badges. These are secure, globally verifiable digital credentials that you can showcase on LinkedIn, email signatures, and digital resumes.

Credentials must be maintained. The IMC has a dedicated “Credential Renewal” process to ensure that all certified mentors stay current with the latest global mentoring standards and practices.

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Explore mentoring opportunities with International Mentoring Center and join our community. Whether you’re an experienced mentor, seeking mentors, or representing an organization, there’s a place for you at IMC.