A Self-Made Investor: Mai Phương Thúy’s Journey from Beauty Queen to Stock Market Success
Mai Phương Thúy, the 2006 Miss Vietnam, was once a household name in the entertainment industry. However, instead of continuing down the path of showbiz, she chose to venture into investing, a field often regarded as a risky and challenging arena.
Mai Phương Thúy entered the stock market in 2014. She shared that her investments did not interfere with her personal life, and she always maintained a relaxed mindset when participating in the market. “I like the stock market because it’s transparent,” she said. “I’m not good at networking, and I don’t enjoy it. Compared to having to network and schmooze to get projects, staying at home and figuring things out on my own is much more enjoyable,” the beauty queen shared.
In late 2021, she subtly boasted that her total assets in her stock portfolio had increased between three and five times in just one year.
However, when referred to as the “Stock Market Queen” or the “Share Queen,” Mai Phương Thúy expressed discomfort. She felt that with this title, people often asked her for investment tips and secrets. “I don’t like this title because I don’t want to carry the pressure of always having to be good, right, and successful,” she emphasized. “I only like the self-proclaimed title of ‘housewife who knows how to invest, making money breed money.’ I want to be free to experience and take calculated risks in my investments.”
Mai Phương Thúy’s Notable Investments
Despite only sharing vague statements on social media, Mai Phương Thúy’s comments about stocks like HPG and VCB have strangely coincided with actual market movements in Vietnam. As a result, investors have become intrigued by her posts and often interpret them as potential hidden messages.
For instance, on April 9, when the market was predominantly red, Mai Phương Thúy unexpectedly shared that she had participated in bottom-fishing for HPG shares of Hoa Phat Group. The very next day, the Vietnamese stock market witnessed its strongest surge in history, with the VN-Index rising 74.04 points to 1,168.3, the HNX-Index climbing 15.7 points to 208.3, and the UPCoM-Index gaining 8.4 points to 92.8. A total of 666 stocks hit the ceiling, and 312 stocks rose in price.
Notably, all stocks in the VN30 basket rose to the ceiling, with no sellers. HPG, in particular, saw only 3 million shares traded, while over 81 million shares were bid at the ceiling price. At the close, HPG rose to its limit (+6.81%), reaching 22,750 VND per share. Thus, her investment of 1 million shares could have brought in nearly VND 1.5 billion in just one day.
The market continued its strong upward trend on April 11, with the VN-Index breaking through the 1,200-point threshold and recovering more than 128 points in just two sessions after the US temporarily delayed the application of new tax rates for 90 days for over 75 countries.
At the close of April 11, the VN-Index added 54.12 points to 1,222.46, the HNX-Index rose 5.02 points to 213.34, and the UPCoM-Index gained 0.41 points to 93.25. HPG continued to hit the ceiling, reaching 24,300 VND per share, with a matched volume of over 76 million shares. Mai Phương Thúy could have made a profit of 3 billion VND in just two days, an unimaginable figure for any investor.
This was not the first time that Mai Phương Thúy had surprised the investment community. In 2020, she analyzed and expressed optimism about HPG shares. In September of the same year, she posted another eye-catching status: “Hoa Phat Group’s profit will surpass that of Vinamilk in 2020 or 2021.”
At the time of posting, HPG shares were trading at 21,500-25,400 VND. A year later, on May 19, 2021, HPG reached 63,200 VND per share, almost tripling in value.
In 2019, the beauty queen also made headlines when she declared that she would hold VCB shares of Vietcombank until they surpassed 80,000 VND. She revealed that she had purchased VCB shares at 40,000-50,000 VND. While many investors sold when VCB exceeded 60,000 VND, Mai Phương Thúy remained steadfast. In November 2019, VCB surpassed 82,000 VND per share, just as she had predicted.
In addition to HPG and VCB, the beauty queen also disclosed a portfolio of large-cap stocks, including MWG (The Gioi Di Dong), VJC (VietJet Air), VCS (Vicostone), VPB (VPBank), and VGI (Viettel Global). These are all blue-chip stocks highly regarded by investors.
Investment Philosophy: Skill, Timing, and a Calm Mindset
According to Mai Phương Thúy, the ultimate goal of investing is to make a lot of money at the right time, not quickly or consistently. Therefore, she favors a flexible approach, leaning towards long-term investments.
“When I first entered the market, I chose long-term investments. But after a while, short-term investments can also bring a sense of excitement. However, I consciously redirect my focus to long-term investments,” she shared.
The beauty queen also believes that accumulating investment experience does not necessarily lead to success. It’s not just about hard work; it’s about accumulating the right skills and knowledge at the right time. Moreover, investors cannot always rely on past experiences as the market is ever-changing. Sometimes, it’s necessary to let go of old strategies and embrace new skills.
Mai Phương Thúy’s Memorable Quotes about the Stock Market
When asked about her investment journey, Mai Phương Thúy shared that she did not let money or investing interfere with her life. “If you’re losing sleep over investments, there’s something wrong with your calculations. Essentially, happiness, peace, rest, and enjoyment greatly impact success. If you’re losing sleep, you won’t achieve great success. I don’t fear temporary losses because they will pass, and there’s no need to be afraid,” she asserted.
Three years ago (in April 2022), during a quick interview when the stock market was down, Mai Phương Thúy stated, “For example, when the market is up, you make 10 million, but someone else makes 100 million, 1 billion, 100 billion, or even billions of dollars in one bull market phase. So, when the market is down, the big players are the ones who suffer the most and the hardest, and they don’t even complain. So, I think you shouldn’t complain either.”
She also believes that predicting the market is pointless: “The biggest mistake is trying to predict the market. No one can accurately predict it, and if you’re wrong, you bear the consequences and doubt yourself. So, don’t focus on the market; focus on the businesses. Predicting the market can be fun, and it’s thrilling when you get it right once. But you have to control that urge. I never predict the market; it’s useless.”
Regarding risk management, she said, “I face failures and risks all the time, but I remain calm about them. A typical person loses sleep over losing 10 million VND. If you can’t sleep over that amount, how will you ever make 20 million? Your risk appetite is too low. I haven’t had a significant failure, maybe due to luck, but I’m always prepared for one.”
- I don’t mind gossip; I just don’t want my intellect to become a free product.
- Don’t follow anyone because when you lose, you bear the consequences, and those who advise you to buy this or that don’t lose anything.
- Every time I make a mistake, it’s a different one. I’ve lost my sense of shame, and I don’t need to rationalize to myself anymore…
- Expanding my vision is challenging, and answering the question of how much I truly deserve is ten times harder. Investment knowledge isn’t complicated, but figuring out how much I deserve is another story.
- You ask if I think it’s cheap. I do, but I don’t know if it’s the cheapest. I won’t rush to buy, but I won’t sell anything either. You’re an F0 investor, and you’re afraid of the big players, but they’re more afraid of you.
