It’s obvious, in your face and undeniable: Heineken rules, at least, in Vietnam.
The company built a brewery there as early as 1990. And this preemptive move has paid off quite handsomely.
As people in Vietnam say, when you are sad, you toast, when you are happy, you toast, and when you feel neither,
toast anyway.
And Heineken (Ken for short) they toast: 1,2,3 Dzo, Dzo. Dzo.
The only thing left is for KFC to join forces. Colonel Sanders, as he was teasingly called, was just about to give up.
It’s his 1099th time knocking on doors. One last stop. The bar man said he was not interested in fried chicken.
But if the Colonel had been willing to add more salt so he could push some beer. Being old and retired, the Colonel
wouldn’t personally prefer a saltier diet. But to please the prospect and “what do I have to lose” before
throwing in the towel, he complied.
So we have KFC . And in Vietnam, as in China, his emblem (long bow tie, beard and glasses) has
been quite recognizable. Here, he could put even more salt to partner with Ken, his 1101th cold call, to have people pop open a Ken or two.
And preferably they come in large cans.
You know you product is selling when they have knock-offs.
And in Vietnam, people start staying away from bottles, which are more easily be copies.
You go figure how a nation with almost bottom GDP per head, could afford to pop and toast Ken at all hour of the day.
I have seen it on many trips, and even outside of my boarding room where I stayed and taught English for three months.
People seem to be happy (2nd happiest nation on Earth).
And I suspect Ken has something to do with it.
Dzo.
Thang Nguyen 555 