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Born in Manchester, the U.K., the businessman graduated from the University of Sheffield before starting a career in finance and later founding an investment advisory firm in Hong Kong.

His love affair with Vietnam began in 1989 when he arrived in Hanoi to do a feasibility study for the SAS Royal Hotel project near Thong Nhat Park for an international investor. “After just one day here, I was completely captivated by Vietnam,” the 77-year-old, who lives in Thanh My Tay Ward in Ho Chi Minh City, says.

His first impression of Hanoi was of a charming old city with narrow streets, French-style buildings and a constant buzz of motorbikes.

He was surprised by the local tradition of people taking afternoon naps but returning to work with energy and diligence he recalls. “The energy and work ethic here reminded me of Hong Kong and New York in the late 1970s.”

A week later Atkinson made a life-changing decision: he would remain in Vietnam. Within a year he moved his company to Ho Chi Minh City and opened another office in Hanoi.

His entry into Vietnam’s business world began with a simple approach: making friends. He learned that Vietnamese friendships take time to build, but, once formed, are strong and reliable.

In his early days, while waiting for his business license, a friend in Hanoi lent him an office to work from. “Generosity is what truly makes this country special for foreigners,” he says, revealing local friends taught him much about Vietnam’s business culture.

Kenneth Atkinson at a gathering in Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh Ward. Photo courtesy of Kenneth Atkinson

In the mid-1990s, when his firm faced difficult times, employees voluntarily accepted lower salaries and smaller Tet bonuses to help the company survive. “I’ve never seen that kind of loyalty anywhere else.”

In 1996 he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery in Hong Kong. When he returned, his health was poor and his mobility limited, and so rented a hotel room near his District 1 office to be able to walk to work.

Each morning a motorbike-taxi driver would follow him and offer a free ride, and wait until Atkinson reached the office safely. Shop owners along his route would greet him, check on his health and offer words of encouragement.

“At that moment I truly felt I belonged here as if I were part of a family. That’s when I decided I wanted to give back to this country.”

Two years later he brought Grant Thornton, a global auditing and consulting network, to Vietnam. When his health improved, he became chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce (BritCham).

Under his leadership, BritCham became a vital bridge between the British and Vietnamese business communities, helping strengthen trade after the U.K.-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) took effect.

Atkinson settled permanently in Vietnam and asked his 85-year-old mother to live with him in Ho Chi Minh City.

At first she was overwhelmed by the busy streets and noise, but soon adapted to walking daily in City Garden, visiting his office and teaching English to staff.

She passed away in 2021 while visiting Spain. “She had five happy years here, something she might never have experienced elsewhere.”

In 2015 Atkinson began preparing for retirement and applied for Vietnamese citizenship. The process took time since he had to collect recommendation letters and prove his contributions to the country, and waited for over a year without any news.

Then one day the Ministry of Justice asked him for two additional documents: a certified copy of a commendation letter from the prime minister and a declaration renouncing consular protection.

In 2018 Atkinson finally received his Vietnamese ID card, numbered 000001. “The first six digits indicate location, gender and birth year. The last six digits mean I am the first British person ever to be granted Vietnamese citizenship.”

He chose the name Pham Kien Son with “Pham” coming from his wife, and “Kien” and “Son” from two close friends, together meaning “a strong, steadfast mountain.”

Marcel Lennartz, a Dutch friend and long-time partner, said Ken’s openness, respect for Vietnamese people and commitment to sharing knowledge have helped many foreign entrepreneurs succeed here. “Ken is often seen at charity events. It’s his way of giving back to Vietnam.”

Today, though officially retired, Atkinson works five days a week though without the pressure of KPIs.

In September this year he released his memoir, Never Say No, which speaks about decades of lessons learned in Asia, especially Vietnam, as a keepsake for his nine-year-old son, Michael. “Vietnam has given me a family, a career and a lifetime of memories. I just hope my son will one day feel the same way.”