I thought the Vietnamese hated the Chinese.
This is what Google Bard, Google’s AI model reported on my request for chinese connections to Vinfast:
Vinfast, Vietnam’s first domestic automaker, has a number of ties to China. These ties include:
Manufacturing: Vinfast’s manufacturing plant in Hai Phong, Vietnam, is built to Chinese standards and uses a number of Chinese suppliers.
Technology: Vinfast has partnered with Chinese companies on a number of technology projects, including battery development and vehicle design.
Investment: Chinese companies have invested heavily in Vinfast, including Gotion High-Tech, a leading Chinese battery manufacturer.
Vinfast’s ties to China have been both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, they have allowed Vinfast to gain access to capital, technology, and expertise that would have been difficult or impossible to obtain elsewhere. On the other hand, they have also made Vinfast vulnerable to criticism from those who worry that it is too dependent on China.
In recent years, Vinfast has been working to reduce its reliance on China. For example, it has been building up its own battery development capabilities and has partnered with companies from other countries, such as Germany and the United States. However, Vinfast’s ties to China remain significant.
Here are some specific examples of Vinfast’s ties to China:
In 2021, Vinfast signed a memorandum of understanding with Gotion High-Tech to build the first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Vietnam.
In 2022, Vinfast announced that it would be using batteries from Gotion High-Tech in its VF e34 and VF5 electric vehicles.
Vinfast’s VF e35 and VF e36 electric vehicles are designed by Pininfarina, an Italian design firm, but the Chinese company Taizhou Jingchaoli Molding Co., Ltd. played a significant role in the development of these vehicles.
Vinfast has also partnered with Chinese companies on other projects, such as the development of its self-driving technology and its VinBus electric bus service.
Overall, Vinfast’s ties to China are complex and multifaceted. The company has benefited from Chinese investment, technology, and expertise, but it has also been criticized for its reliance on China. Vinfast is working to reduce its reliance on China, but it remains to be seen how successful it will be in doing so.