Business On the Other Side of the World

Business literally brought Rachel Doan to Hanoi.

She was one of 12 Sawyer Business School MBA students who traveled to Vietnam on an academic seminar in January. But as she explored the capital city, she quickly fell under its spell, captivated by its vibrant streets filled with historic buildings and intricate lantern displays.

“Train Street was a highlight, with its bustling cafes and the thrill of a train passing right through the narrow alleyway,” marveled Doan, MBA '25. “The colorful lights and lively atmosphere made it feel surreal.”

Over the course of seven days, Doan and her classmates covered a lot of ground. They visited nine companies in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, across such industries as textiles, agriculture, and hospitality, and conducted flash consulting for three of them. They also saw firsthand how business takes many forms—each unique to their owners and deeply embedded in Vietnamese culture.

“This was my first time in Asia, and I’m so glad I got to experience Vietnam with Suffolk,” said Doan, who spent the past three years working in marketing and global integration strategy at New Jersey chemical manufacturer Pflaumer Brothers Inc. “Every corner I turned and every conversation I had, I was learning something new or taking in different aspects of the culture.” With plans for a career in strategy development, she saw Vietnam as an important market to explore.

A defining moment came when Doan met a potential distributor for her company—a connection that could shape her company’s expansion strategy. Consulting with local businesses also gave her a deeper appreciation for the factors driving Vietnam’s rapid economic growth. “I came away with real insights into the unique growth opportunities here,” she said.