Apple CEO Tim Cook Makes Surprise Visit to Vietnam!

Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, recently made a surprise visit to Hanoi, Vietnam! During his whirlwind trip, he connected with Vietnamese culture, met local celebrities, and announced exciting new investments in the country.

During his visit, he had the opportunity to meet with famous singer My Linh and her daughter My Anh, where they enjoyed a cup of Vietnamese egg coffee together. The 30-minute meeting included conversations about various topics including art, creative fields, and Hanoi’s rich culture and history. Tim Cook also expressed his desire to see Apple Plus products reach a wider audience beyond English-speaking regions.

My Linh was impressed by Tim Cook’s down-to-earth demeanor and friendly personality. She mentioned that after trying the egg coffee, he complimented its delicious taste. My Anh described the encounter as an unexpected surprise, and found Tim Cook to be kind and approachable. She was particularly impressed by his genuine interest in the Vietnamese music industry and its talented young composers.

Tim Cook’s visit to Vietnam was announced just five minutes before his arrival at a restaurant on Hang Be street. The restaurant manager, Phan Le, described Tim Cook as having a simple and friendly presence, always smiling and foregoing the company of bodyguards.

Tim Cook and Apple leaders stroll through the historic streets of Hanoi, Vietnam. (April 15, 2024)

The visit concluded with an Apple employee paying for the coffee and Tim Cook thanking the restaurant staff for their hospitality and praising the delicious drinks.

Following the meeting, Tim Cook posted his first tweet from Vietnam, featuring a photo of him enjoying the egg coffee. In the tweet, he expressed his appreciation to My Linh and My Anh for their warm welcome and declared his love for Vietnamese egg coffee.

During his visit to Vietnam, Tim Cook took a stroll around the scenic Hoan Kiem Lake alongside some of the country’s most popular tech influencers. The tech giant and the TikTok stars enjoyed a lively exchange, likely discussing the latest trends and innovations in the tech world.

Apple CEO Tim Cook enjoys a visit to Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. The historic Turtle Tower stands behind him.

Tim Cook travelled to Vietnam on a private plane and is staying at a 5-star hotel. Upon arrival in Hanoi, he expressed his excitement to be in this “vibrant and beautiful country.” His visit is aimed at strengthening connections with Vietnamese students, creative minds, and customers, while gaining a deeper understanding of how they utilize Apple products.

Apple also announced its plans to further invest in the Vietnamese market during this visit. This includes increased spending with domestic suppliers and new initiatives to provide clean water access to local schools. Since 2019, Apple has contributed nearly 400 trillion VND to the Vietnamese supply chain, more than doubling its annual spending in that timeframe.

Furthermore, Apple is partnering with Gravity Water, a global clean water organization, to install rainwater storage systems in 131 schools across Hoa Binh province. This initiative will provide a safe and reliable year-round water source for over 42,000 students, teachers, and their families. Vietnam is one of the countries participating in Apple’s “Power for Impact” program, which brings clean energy solutions to schools in rural areas.

Over the past year, Apple has significantly expanded its offerings in the Vietnamese market. This includes launching the Apple Store online, implementing Apple Pay, and introducing a detailed map photography vehicle system. The company is actively recruiting talent, with open positions for Siri language engineers specializing in machine learning and AI to support the Vietnamese market. Recognizing the potential of the Vietnamese market, Apple has been steadily increasing its operations and investments in the country in recent years. Tim Cook, CEO, emphasized Vietnam’s significance to Apple, highlighting it as a very important location for the company.

Tim Cook, 64 years old, joined Apple in 1998 as the Senior Vice President of Global Operations. He was later promoted to Executive Vice President before assuming the CEO role in August 2011. Since becoming CEO, Tim Cook has played a pivotal role in Apple’s success, doubling both revenue and profits between 2011 and 2020. In 2023, Apple became the first company globally to reach a market capitalization of 3 trillion USD. Under his leadership, Apple introduced groundbreaking new products such as the Apple Watch and Vision Pro virtual reality glasses.