Nguyễn Hải Ninh
Serial entrepreneur — from Urban Station to The Coffee House, M Village, and Every Half
Who is Nguyễn Hải Ninh?
Nguyễn Hải Ninh (born 1987) is one of Vietnam's most prominent F&B entrepreneurs, co-founder of Urban Station, founder of The Coffee House (175 stores, Forbes 30 Under 30), M Village (raised $10M), and Every Half (raised $3M). He is known for a "build brands with integrity" philosophy and a strong track record of raising capital from international investors.
Notable Quotes
“I rose from the mud, studied the wrong major, and knew nothing about coffee.”
“We don't franchise because we're afraid of handing our "child" to someone else.”
“Before money reaches your pocket, the invoices will arrive first.”
“Fundraising is a consequence, not a goal.”
Advice
3 pillars: Passion, Strength, Market need
You need at least 3 factors: passion, playing to your strengths, and those strengths must solve a real need.
Invoices arrive before revenue
Prepare mentally and financially — don't be blinded by others' glamour.
Fundraising is a consequence
Solve real problems for the right people, build systems, learn fast — investors will come to you.
Key Highlights
- ✓4 ventures in 14 years: Urban Station, The Coffee House, M Village, Every Half
- ✓The Coffee House: 175 stores, ~800B VND revenue, Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia (2019)
- ✓Every Half: $3M Pre-Series A (2025), exporting specialty Robusta to North America
- ✓M Village: $10M from Trip.com, historic 100B VND unsecured bank loan from OCB
Biography
Nguyễn Hải Ninh (b. 1987) graduated in Chemistry from HCMC University of Technology. After PepsiCo's Management Trainee program, he began his entrepreneurial journey. In 2011, co-founded Urban Station (60+ stores). In 2014, founded The Coffee House — "community coffee" philosophy, 175 stores, ~800B VND revenue (2019), Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia. Left in 2021. Now running M Village (co-living, $10M from Trip.com) and Every Half Coffee Roasters ($3M Pre-Series A, 14+ stores).
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Articles & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
›Who is Nguyen Hai Ninh?
Nguyen Hai Ninh is a Vietnamese F&B entrepreneur, co-founder of The Coffee House and founder of M Village. He is one of the most influential figures in Vietnam's modern coffee-chain and hospitality landscape.
›Did Nguyen Hai Ninh found The Coffee House?
Yes. Nguyen Hai Ninh co-founded The Coffee House in 2014 — a chain that grew to become one of the most well-known coffee brands in Vietnam. He later stepped back to focus on other ventures.
›What is M Village and who founded it?
M Village is a co-living and hospitality brand founded by Nguyen Hai Ninh, targeting young urban professionals in Vietnam with a modern, community-driven residential concept.
›Why did Nguyen Hai Ninh leave The Coffee House?
After building The Coffee House into a national coffee chain, Nguyen Hai Ninh transitioned to new ventures — notably M Village — to apply his brand-building experience to a different consumer segment.
›What is Nguyen Hai Ninh's approach to business?
His approach centers on building brands with strong community connection and modern, thoughtful design — visible in both The Coffee House's café-workspace positioning and M Village's co-living concept.
Other Experts
Ngô Nguyên Kha
CEO of The Coffee House — from Sony Ericsson Country Manager and Mobiistar founder to leading a major coffee chain
Trần Nhật Quang
Pioneer of Vietnam's first farm-to-cup Arabica coffee model
Nguyễn Hà Linh
"The 250K Girl" — from handing out flyers to a Thai restaurant chain and a 2.6M-member community
Hoàng Tùng
"Mr Pizza" — Vietnamese owner of Pizza Home chain, hands-on F&B content creator
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