Allan Nguyen is the Vietnamese Australian co-founder and Chief Financial Officer of EzyRemit, a fast-growing digital payments platform connecting Australia with Southeast Asia.
Allan’s upbringing in Ho Chi Minh City, paired with IT studies in Germany and accounting at Western Sydney University, shaped his career as a regional fintech leader.
Leveraging his deep cultural fluency and financial expertise, Allan has built EzyRemit into a trusted remittance network. EzyRemit has partnered with major banks across multiple countries to deliver simple and affordable money transfers for migrant workers, businesses and students.
A childhood forged in trust
Allan’s earliest lessons in business came from helping his mother run a convenience store. One memory in particular stands out.
‘When I was 12, my mum asked me to deliver gold as payment to a supplier 200 km away to keep a promise,’ Allan says.
‘I was scared of losing it, but I had no choice. So I took the bus, followed her instructions exactly, and delivered it safely. That moment taught me what trust and responsibility mean in business.’
In a country where informal exchanges of gold and cash were used more often than formal banking, that gold run errand was more than a simple chore.
It was an elementary “money transfer” requiring trust, reliability and an unwavering commitment to keeping his mother’s word.
This formative experience planted a seed that would germinate later in life.
From Vietnam to Germany to Australia
After completing his school years in Vietnam, Allan pursued technical studies in Germany. He earned a strong foundation in IT and gained valuable cross-cultural insights.
‘After returning to Vietnam, I felt like I didn’t belong there anymore,’ says Allan. ‘The country was still developing, and I wanted to do something global.’
Motivated by the desire to access English-language education and international opportunities, Allan moved to Australia to study accounting at Western Sydney University.
After settling in Sydney’s Vietnamese community, he became a financial director and later launched Allan & Co., a business consulting and accounting firm. He quickly became the go-to advisor for Vietnamese entrepreneurs seeking to establish businesses in Australia, and for Australian companies eager to navigate the Vietnamese market.
Allan Nguyen completed his first money transfer at age 12. He went on to co-found EzyRemit, a global digital payments platform.
The Vietnam opportunity and the birth of EzyRemit
While advising clients on cross-border ventures, Allan recognised a pressing pain point: sending money between Australia and Southeast Asia remained slow, costly and lacked transparency.
In 2020, he conceived the idea for EzyRemit. Its mission was simple yet profound. ‘We created it to help people send money to their families quickly and affordably,’ says Allan.
In one month, Allan and his business partner launched the digital payments platform. Leveraging Allan’s Vietnamese language skills and cultural fluency, the team rapidly spread across the ASEAN region.
Today, EzyRemit has partnerships with major banks and financial institutions across Southeast Asia and Japan. Read about EzyRemit’s success in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam’s fintech sector is expected to be worth A$232.4 billion in 2025. There are nearly 300 fintech companies in Vietnam, a massive jump from 39 in 2020 when EzyRemit was launched.
According to Jonathan Saw, Trade Commissioner, Austrade Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s fast-growing digital economy offers strong opportunities for Australian fintechs.
‘Vietnam’s economy is driven by a young and dynamic population, increasing urbanisation, and an expanding middle class,’ he says. ‘Thanks to high rates of smartphone and internet usage, e-commerce and digital payments are growing rapidly, along with broader digitisation.’
EzyRemit - Simple. Fast. Secure to send money
Cultural understanding as a strategic advantage
Allan believes successful market entry requires immersion in local customs, values and trust networks.
‘In Vietnam, business is based on trust, not paperwork,’ Allan says. ‘People give their word and expect others to follow through. I learned that early.’
He recounts a COVID-era negotiation that illustrates this principle:
‘During COVID, our staff tried for 2 months to close a deal with a major Vietnamese bank. Once borders opened, I flew there, met the chairman and CEO, and in just 15 minutes, we closed the deal. That’s the power of trust and face-to-face connection.
‘Since then, we’ve become close friends. When there’s a problem, we solve it quickly, often with just one call. The trust is strong.’
Never underestimate the importance of small symbolic gifts, he adds.
‘It’s not about money. It’s about respect. I forgot once, and I’ll never forget how embarrassed I felt. Now I always bring a gift,’ he says.
Allan encourages businesses to spend time in market.
‘Visit the country. Meet the people. Attend local events. Don’t rely on second-hand info. That’s how you understand the culture and plan your business properly.’
Outside of work, he has served as president of a Vietnamese football club in Bankstown. He also advised NFTBooks – a platform designed to make books affordable and accessible in developing markets.
Expanding the horizon
EzyRemit is expanding into North America and deepening its presence across Southeast Asia. But Allan remains committed to sharing his expertise.
‘I’m always happy to share my experience with anyone who wants to do business in Vietnam or Southeast Asia. If they need support, I’ll do my best to help.’
He is a firm believer in the future of the relationship between Australia and Southeast Asia.
‘International trade is important because it opens new markets,’ he says.
‘Southeast Asia has over 600 million people – it’s a young, educated, growing market and it’s full of opportunity.’
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