From a small enterprise founded in the early years of Vietnam’s economic opening, AA Corporation has grown into a leading high-end interior brand in the region, standing shoulder to shoulder with international groups in the fields of interior design, fit-out, and manufacturing. At the heart of this nearly four-decade journey is entrepreneur Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Founder and Chairman of AA Corporation, whose unwavering dedication has played a pivotal role in ushering Vietnam’s interior industry into a new era of global emergence.
A Nearly Four-Decade Journey in Shaping the Standing of a Vietnamese Brand
Founded in 1989, when Vietnam’s private sector was still in its early stages, AA Corporation) was established by Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh with the ambition of becoming a leading interior contractor and manufacturer in Vietnam. The company’s formation coincided with the country’s economic opening, enabling AA Corporation to quickly participate in major interior fit-out projects nationwide.
A defining milestone came in 1995 with the completion of Vietnam’s first five-star hotel, the Sofitel Dalat Palace Hotel, affirming the capabilities of Vietnamese professionals and marking the beginning of AA Corporation’s long-term strategy to invest in modern manufacturing and international-standard processes.
Over the years, AA Corporation has developed large-scale manufacturing facilities—initially in Long An and later expanding to more than 50 hectares in Tay Ninh—with technology transfer from European experts. Guided by the vision of elevating Vietnamese enterprises to global standards, the company has built capabilities comparable to international contractors, competing on quality while maintaining a distinctive identity.
Today, AA Corporation delivers end-to-end interior solutions and bespoke products for high-end hospitality, resort, and residential projects worldwide. Operating under a One Stop Destination model, the company integrates comprehensive in-house capabilities, enabling strict control over quality, timelines, and costs.
After nearly four decades, AA Corporation has evolved into an international interior ecosystem with 10 member companies across four countries, exporting to more than 40 markets and partnering with global hospitality brands such as Marriott, Hyatt, and InterContinental. Its presence in landmark projects including The Watergate Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, and The Henry Hotel – Autograph Collection underscores the growing global stature of a Vietnamese interior brand.
Green thinking as the Foundation for Sustainable development
Amid the global shift toward a circular economy and lower emissions, AA Corporation is recognized as one of the Vietnamese enterprises that embraced green thinking at an early stage. Chairman Nguyen Quoc Khanh has consistently emphasized that sustainability is not a slogan but a mindset—one rooted in responsibility toward the environment, where all values originate.
This philosophy has shaped the company’s long-term direction. Since the early 2000s, AA Corporation has invested in internationally compliant air and wastewater treatment systems, implemented rigorous quality management processes, and adopted energy-efficient manufacturing practices. The company has also been among the pioneers in using FSC-certified materials and exploring solar energy solutions at its factories, guided by a commitment to responsible design and long-lasting products.
In a rapidly changing global market, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh underscores the need for Vietnamese enterprises to move beyond order-based manufacturing toward building long-term competitiveness through investment in governance, technology, productivity, and green production. He envisions the future enterprise not merely as an OEM, but as an OEM+ model—one that owns design capabilities, integrated solutions, and higher value creation.
A Leader who "walks alongside to inspire"
Beyond his role as Founder and Chairman of AA Corporation, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh is widely recognized as a pioneering figure who has long accompanied the development of Vietnam’s interior and handicraft industries. Having served for many years as Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Handicraft and Wood Processing Association, he has consistently upheld a leadership philosophy that is both simple and profound: “Leadership is not about walking ahead to be recognized, but about walking alongside others to inspire.”
Guided by this belief, for more than two decades he has remained steadfast in promoting the growth of Vietnam’s younger generation of designers—those who will shape the creative future of the industry. During his tenure at the association, together with his colleagues, he initiated and developed the Hoa Mai Interior and Handicraft Design Awards, creating a professional and inspiring platform for emerging talents.
From this foundation, Vietnam has gradually nurtured a new generation of designers who are creative, internationally minded, and capable of competing at both regional and global levels. This is the “human capital ecosystem” that Mr. Khanh has long been committed to building, firmly believing that sustainable industry growth depends on a successor generation stronger than the one before it.
With long-term vision, a commitment to sustainable development, and a spirit of continuous innovation, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Khanh has led AA Corporation to become a symbol of professionalism, creativity, and Vietnamese excellence in the global interior industry. The company’s growth is defined not merely by scale, but by values; not only by market success, but by its ability to inspire the broader advancement of Vietnam’s interior sector.
Throughout this journey, the imprint of its Founder and Chairman, Nguyen Quoc Khanh, remains a vital cornerstone—shaping the spirit, resilience, and culture of AA Corporation as a whole.
[Published in the special edition “Vietnam – An Era of Global Emergence”, compiled and released by the State Organization and Labour Magazine (Ministry of Home Affairs).]
