Ly's brand builder system
My story

20 years.
123 brands.
one system.

How I built an agency, sold it to WPP, and why I am now giving everything I learned away for free.

Why this is free

we built it. we sold it.
now I'm giving it away.

2007co-founded Sofresh in Saigon with Justin Cohen
85people when WPP bought a majority stake, 2014
150+people after taking over JWT
4 yearsVietnam Digital Agency of the Year, Campaign Asia-Pacific
2021sold and fully exited

In 2007, Justin Cohen and I co-founded Sofresh, a digital agency in Saigon. We grew it, won Vietnam Digital Agency of the Year four years running, and in 2014 sold a majority stake to WPP. Sofresh became Mirum Vietnam. When we took over JWT as well, we were more than 150 people. Then we merged Mirum and JWT into Wunderman Thompson Vietnam, where I was CEO. By the end of 2021 I had sold and exited completely.

Now I want to share what I learned. Everything that worked in those rooms is in this system: the questions, the frameworks, the workshops. It's free, for anyone who can use it for their own business or their own journey.

take it. use it. build something.

The career, in credits

20 years.
five names on the door.

  1. 2007

    Co-founded Sofresh in Saigon with Justin Cohen.

  2. 2012 to 2015
    4 years

    Vietnam Digital Agency of the Year, Campaign Asia-Pacific, four years running.

  3. 2014

    At 85 people, sold a majority stake to WPP, through XM Asia, a JWT company.

  4. 2015

    Sofresh becomes Mirum Vietnam. Co-founder and Managing Director.

  5. 2016
    40 under 40

    Campaign Asia 40 Under 40. The first Vietnamese person ever named.

  6. 2018

    Took over JWT Vietnam too, 150+ people. Merged Mirum and JWT into Wunderman Thompson Vietnam, as CEO.

  7. 2021
    the end credits

    Sold and exited completely by the end of 2021. Now giving it all away.

The trophy shelf

the work
won rooms.

Ly lying on a leather sofa in a 1960s office under ten framed agency awards
The trophy room · Agency of the Year 2012 to 2015, Webby, Young Lions, Dragons of Asia and more
Campaign Asia-PacificVietnam Digital Agency of the Year2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
  • Creative Agency of the Year Vietnam, Campaign Asia-Pacific, 2012
  • AME Awards Silver, Most Effective Use of Direct Marketing, 2011
  • Webby Awards Official Honoree, 2013
  • MMA Smarties Vietnam 6 awards, 2015 to 2019
  • Transform Awards Asia-Pacific Silver, 2016
  • Dragons of Asia Black Dragon, 2016
  • Cannes Young Lions Vietnam Cyber Jury, 2017
Ly peeking over a desk covered in Agency of the Year plaques and trophies
Four Agency of the Year plaques and counting
Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year 2015 plaque
Agency of the Year, 2015
Campaign Asia-Pacific Agency of the Year 2012 plaque
Agency of the Year, 2012
Ly at the MMA Smarties awards sign
MMA Smarties
2017 Vietnam Young Lions Cyber Jury plaque for Ly Viet Vu
Young Lions jury, 2017
Ly speaking on stage at Spikes Asia in Singapore
On stage, Spikes Asia, Singapore
Ly on stage accepting Agency of the Year
On stage, Agency of the Year
Featuring

the brands
I built with.

123 brands · 11 industries · Sofresh, Mirum, JWT, Wunderman Thompson
UnileverPepsiNestléSamsungSonyHSBCJohnnie WalkerL'OréalFordAbbottHuggiesVietnam AirlinesVietjet AirVinFastElectroluxAmwayAEON MallASUSShellGrabRolexKFCDiageoFE CreditHome CreditTechcombankGSK
See all 123 brands by industry
Food & drink
Kinh DoSuntory PepsiCo7UPAquafinaStingReviveTropicana TwisterMirindaTEA+ PlusLiptonKnorrWall'sUnilever Food SolutionsSunlightCifKitKatFrieslandCampinaFrisoYomostKUNBabi MildBaileysPhilip Morris InternationalTH true HerbalDomino's Pizza
Health & beauty
Pond'sVaselineSt. IvesSunsilkRexonaLuxUnicharmDianaKimberly-ClarkX-MenMaricoEnsurePediaSureVichyJohnson & JohnsonListerineBayerBeroccaEfferalganPfizerDanoneEdgewell Personal CareSchickCity International Hospital
Tech & telco
OPPONokiaVinaPhoneBeeTalkVodafoneVnExpressCMC TelecomAriston
Banking & finance
AIATPBank
Auto & energy
MINITotal LubricantsTHACO
Retail
PNJCAO Fine JewelleryMetisekoIPPGVietceramicsKien Thanh FurnitureTudor
Travel & hospitality
Air Tahiti NuiCam Ranh International AirportSingapore Tourism BoardAir CanadaThe Grand Ho Tram StripPan Pacific Hotels GroupWynn MacauHotel ICONAthena HotelThe Crab ShackUrban Kitchen + Bar
Property
Sime Darby PropertyDTGONovalandVinhomesDat Xanh GroupTana Dai ThanhOcean VistaLancasterThe Costa Nha Trang
Media
K+Activision
Foundations
VinaCapital Foundation
Small business & B2B
Solaris PaperRestaffFace of TodayPrimus
The cast · tested by hundreds

hundreds of people.
thousands of hours.

The whole Sofresh and Mirum company at Christmas with the 2015 Agency of the Year plaque
A big company outing on a sunny hill
Team selfie on the beach
The XM Sofresh team at their desks celebrating JWT's 150th birthday
Team selfie at golden hour
Team selfie under a beach tree
A big group selfie of the team
The team jumping in the surf

This system was not written in a weekend. It was practised, broken and rebuilt by the hundreds of people in the teams I built, across years of real client work. What survived is what I am giving you.

In the press

the reviews.

Ly Viet Vu, Campaign Asia 40 Under 40
Campaign Asia 40 Under 40 · the first Vietnamese person ever named
Where it was refined

three cities.
twenty years.

This system was refined over 20 years, mostly in three cities. Every brand I build borrows a little from each: the openness of Vancouver, the craft of Kyoto, and the energy of Ho Chi Minh City.

49.28° N · 123.12° W

vancouver

where I'm from

35.01° N · 135.77° E

kyoto

where I lived for two years

10.78° N · 106.70° E

ho chi minh city

where I live and build now

A letter to small business owners and personal brand builders

Dear builder,

you don't need an agency or a big budget to build a brand. you need honest answers to a few simple questions.

Why do you exist? Who are you really for? How do you want people to feel? Answer those, and your logo, your posts and your website all get easier.

Ly

your turn.