Local VnExpress online newspaper Tuesday listed the 100 richest people earning fortunes from the Vietnamese stock market, comprising 58 men and 42 women, all of Vietnamese nationality except one.

As of last December 29^th, the Vietnamese stock market has had 193 players, with total capitalization at US$13.8 billion. Last year, it accounted for 22.6 percent of the country’s GDP.

Around 650 individuals dominate this market, with stock fortunes totaling over VND37.2 trillion (US$2.3 billion).

The top five in the list own over VND1 trillion ($62.5 million) each.

Though there are 42 women, their fortunes are only around half of their male counterparts.

Topping the list is Truong Gia Binh, President cum CEO of FPT, Vietnam’s telecom giant. He owns 5.12 million FPT shares, worth around $150 million - based on stock prices on the 29th of last month.

FPT is considered the most profitable company in telecommunications in Vietnam.

But only three months ago, his stock was worth just $63 million.

The dramatic rise is thanks to FPT shares increasing nearly 50 fold only half a month since being listed last month.

It is not surprising the three richest in the list all hold FPT shares. 14 others working for FPT are also in the top 100.

Binh’s two deputies: Le Quang Tien and Bui Quang Ngoc rank second and third. The former owns 3.71 million shares worth VND1.7 trillion ($106.2 million) while the latter nearly VND1.2 trillion.

Fourth and fifth places are occupied by Le Van Quang and Chu Thi Binh [female], president and deputy director of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, respectively.

Only 49 years old, Quang owns over 14.5 million shares valued at more than VND1.1 trillion ($68.75 million). His 21-year-old daughter, Le Thi Diu Minh, who holds 6 million shares worth VND474 billion, is undoubtedly the most sought-after date in the Southeast Asian country.

Binh, with a fortune roughly equal to her boss Quang, is the richest woman listed.

The second richest woman is Nguyen Thi Mai Thanh, chairwoman cum CEO of the Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corporation (REE). She is ranked ninth in all, being estimated to possess over VND887 billion ($55.4 million) with 8 million REE shares and nearly 11 million shares of Saigon Thuong Tin Commercial Joint-Stock Bank.

Her husband Nguyen Ngoc Hai has nearly VND392 billion, ranked 34th.

Tran Kim Thanh, chairman of Kinh Do Corporation, Vietnam’s largest confectionary maker, has over VND836 billion in stocks, ranked 10^th overall.

His brother Tran Le Nguyen, being Kinh Do’s vice chairman, owns over VND525 billion, ranked 24th.

Another sibling pair found their way in the list.

Dang Thi Hoang Yen and her brother Dang Thanh Tam, chairwoman and director of Tan Tao Industrial Park Corporation respectively, each own 4.2 million shares worth VND371.7 billion, ranked 35th and 36^th.

However, they are by far humbler than their relatives.

Their mother Hoang Thi Kim Tuyen owns 4.71 million shares.

Yen’s daughter Nguyen Phuong Anh, holding 8.4 million shares valued at VND743.4 billion ($46.4 million), stands 12th and is thus the third richest woman - being 23 notches above her mother.

Tam’s wife Nguyen Thi Kim Thanh possesses over 5.2 million shares worth over VND460 billion, ranked 30th.

Only one foreigner finds a place in the list. Pang Tee Chiang, Chairman cum CEO of International Food Company, owns over 5.5 million shares worth nearly VND239 billion, ranked 43^rd.

Last week, Vietnamese Dai Doan Ket newspaper compiled a group of the richest earning their fortune through means other than stocks.

Among them is Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, president of Hoan Cau Co., who owns roughly around VND2 trillion ($125 million) in real estate and housing projects.

Vo Quoc Thang, director of Dong Tam Ceramic Tiles Company, and Doan Nguyen Duc, president of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group, each possesses approximately over a trillion dong (VND1 trillion = $62.5 million) and both own prestigious football clubs.

Then there is Tram Be, major shareholder of Phuong Nam Bank and Trieu An Hospital who is worth over VND1 trillion.

Below are the top 10 richest stockholders listed by VnExpress:

VND1,000 billion = US$62.5 million

• Source: VnExpress, TNO