Tai Pham, a Vietnamese-American technologist and CEO of Bangkok Silicon

In Southeast Asia’s growing digital economy, Tai Pham is leading an ambitious transformation effort between Thailand and Vietnam. Pham, a Vietnamese-American technologist and CEO of Bangkok Silicon, is uniting the talent of Vietnam with the ambition of Thailand to spark a scalable model for digital nation-building.

A legacy rekindled

“Most people my age are retired, sipping piña coladas on the beach. I chose to start from scratch—again.”

In the heart of Bangkok’s bustling business district sits a man with salt-and-pepper hair whose quiet demeanor belies his revolutionary ambitions. Pham, the 64-year-old CEO of Bangkok Silicon (BKS), speaks with the measured confidence of someone who has transformed entire industries before—and is prepared to do it again.

At an age when most seasoned executives lean into comfort, Pham chose to dive into unfamiliar waters. Decades after pioneering Vietnam’s IT outsourcing wave through Paragon Solutions, he’s back—this time, planting new roots in Bangkok. Not for profit. Not for prestige. But for legacy.

From refugee to regional visionary

“I saw people die for the chance to live free,” he recalls. “So when I got that chance, I vowed never to waste it.”

This experience imprinted a deep sense of purpose. After rebuilding his life from scratch in America, he entered the tech industry and returned to Vietnam in 1994, just as the US lifted its trade embargo. There, he founded Paragon Solutions, growing it to over 400 staff across three countries before successfully selling it in 2001.

Paragon became a cradle for Vietnam’s tech leadership. Alumni from Paragon have gone on to helm leading IT firms in Vietnam, including Dr. Le, who went on to found TMA Solutions, now one of Vietnam’s largest tech firms.

“I wanted to prove Vietnam wasn’t just cheap labour—it was smart labour,” Pham recalls.

The spark of Bangkok silicon – Why Thailand, why now

So why, after everything, did he move to Thailand in 2024?

When a group of investors approached Pham with a simple question —”Do you want to build Paragon Solutions 2.0?”—the retired executive found himself unable to resist the challenge.

Drawn by the Thai government’s digital ambitions—and armed with scalable Vietnamese talent—Pham joined Bangkok Silicon as CEO.

“This isn’t about financial gain,” he insists, adding that he accepted “a significant reduction” in income to lead BKS. “If I were an investor, I’d put money into this opportunity. Instead, I’m investing my time.”

Bangkok Silicon’s mission extends far beyond being a traditional software development company. With the Thai government as its primary client, BKS aims to operationalise key elements of Thailand’s National Digital Economy and Society Plan.

Also Read: Then vs now: A look back at Vietnam’s changing e-commerce battleground

Strategic initiatives in motion

Pham’s vision includes several strategic initiatives:

• Building Thailand’s technology hub

BKS has committed to establishing a 2,000-person digital technology center in Thailand by 2026—an ambitious goal considering the country’s current IT talent shortage.

• Cross-border knowledge transfer

To address this gap, Pham is leveraging his Vietnamese connections to bring experienced engineers to Thailand, creating a bridge between the two countries’ tech ecosystems.

“Initially, we’ll have more Vietnamese than Thai engineers, but our goal is to reach a 50-50 balance by 2026, and eventually have more Thai professionals.”

• Education ecosystem development

Drawing from his experience in Vietnam, Pham is working with Thailand’s leading universities—Thammasat, Kasetsart, Srinakharinwirot, and others—to develop curricula and scholarship programs that will expand the country’s tech talent pipeline.

• Government digital transformation

One of the most ambitious initiatives currently underway is BKS’s partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a Center of Excellence (COE) for Agricultural Technology. Positioned at the intersection of AI, cloud computing, and IoT, this effort aims to revolutionise Thailand’s agriculture sector—a critical pillar of ASEAN economies.

“If we can transform how farmers produce, plan, and respond to climate and market challenges using advanced technologies,” Pham says, “Thailand could become a reference model for digitally-enabled agriculture across the developing world.

ASEAN’s twin engines

What makes Pham’s vision particularly compelling is how he positions Thailand and Vietnam as complementary forces in Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem.

“Vietnam brings the talent. Thailand brings the capital and infrastructure,” he explains.

Through Bangkok Silicon, he’s creating what he calls “a coalition”—not as its founder, but as the orchestrator of its mission—that could potentially rival any regional tech hub.

The approach is pragmatic yet ambitious. Pham evaluates progress in six-month cycles, setting clear milestones—and is prepared to adjust direction if necessary to stay aligned with long-term goals.

“I just completed my first six months, and I’m either hitting or exceeding all expectations,” he says with quiet confidence.

Also Read: David Kim: Championing entrepreneurs, shaping the future of innovation

The legacy builder

At an age when most executives are writing memoirs, Pham is writing Thailand’s tech future. His motivation transcends profit margins and quarterly reports.

“This is my twilight,” he acknowledges with remarkable candour. “I probably have another seven to ten years to do this with full energy, heart, and mind. This is my final run—one last mission with everything I’ve got.

For Thailand, Pham represents more than just technical expertise; he embodies the strategic foresight the country needs to realise its digital ambitions. The government’s recognition of Thailand’s lag in applying AI and emerging technologies has created an urgency that Pham is uniquely positioned to address.

“The Thai government has developed AI strategies and digital transformation programs, but they lack the resources and expertise to execute them effectively,” he notes. “That’s the gap we’re filling.”

Measuring success through impact

Unlike many tech executives who measure success through revenue growth and valuations, Pham focuses on tangible outcomes and trust-building.

“We talk about big numbers—one million, two million users—but the best way to build trust is documenting progress consistently. Even if we increase by just 10 or 100 new customers or farmers each time, if we keep achieving those targets, people will believe in our vision,” he explains.

This methodical approach reflects Pham’s understanding that transformations happen gradually, through consistent delivery rather than grand proclamations.

Looking ahead: Thailand’s digital renaissance

As our conversation concludes, Pham’s vision for Thailand becomes increasingly clear: a country that leverages its strengths in infrastructure, strategic location, and investment capacity while developing a robust tech workforce that can compete globally.

“I’m not just building a company,” he emphasises. “I’m building a legacy that will position Thailand as one of Asia’s most sought-after digital technology hubs.”

For a man who has already transformed one nation’s tech landscape, such ambitions might seem routine. But there’s nothing routine about Pham’s second act. With the backing of influential investors, support from the Thai government, and decades of hard-earned wisdom, he’s architecting what could become Southeast Asia’s most significant digital transformation story.

“If we succeed here,” he concludes, “If it works here, it becomes a blueprint for developing nations. That’s the deeper vision—and what truly drives me.”

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The post Rewiring Southeast Asia: Tai Pham’s mission to put Thai-Vietnamese digital innovation on the global map appeared first on e27.