She borrowed money to open the store with a friend but she said there were too many conflicts so she pulled her money out of the shop and focused on her modelling career while she waited for another opportunity.

From being a familiar face on the catwalk Phuong became a famous model who worked in France. She and her friends searched Paris to find a clothing brand that she loved.

The Best Model of 2008 and accomplished actress is now the brand manager and creative director of the Vietnam branches of French fashion trademark Louis, which has three stores in Ho Chi Minh City.

When asked which job she likes best, Phuong says, “First is modelling, second is acting in film and third is business.”

It took her about a year to bring the Louis brand name to her country.

The stunning economics graduate, who has starred in a local TV series plus had a small role in the Hollywood movie “Shanghai,” had to prove to the parent company that Louis fashion products would sell in Vietnam and present the company with a business plan.

The first fashion Louis shop in Vietnam opened on Nguyen Trai Street. It was a good place to start because the rent was cheap especially for the famous HCMC fashion strip.

However, after only eight months, the owner decided to sell the property putting all of Phuong’s plans at risk.

She decided to move her store to Le Lai Street. It wasn’t a great position but she weighed her options and thought that it would work because of the beautiful clothes and famous brand name. But Phuong was entirely wrong. “Louis” fell into a serious crisis.

Phuong wanted to return her shop to Nguyen Trai Street but it was very difficult. A friend suggested a place on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, in a good position with a broad shopfront. Phuong took it but still wanted a spot on Nguyen Trai Street.

It took her three months to choose a suitable shop on the fashion strip. The second shop was founded. A short time later, the third shop appeared on Ly Tu Trong Street.

After three years of business Phuong owns three stores and together with her elder brother runs two other fashion shops.

So far Phuong’s chain of stores has a regular clientele but the economic slowdown has not been good for business. She wants to cut her costs rather than raise her prices.

Phuong has asked the parent company to allow her to produce 30 percent of her product-line in Vietnam this year. To do this, Phuong would play a new role. She would become a creative director of “Louis” in Vietnam and design samples to send to the parent company to examine.

She is trying to persuade Louis in France to permit her to use Vietnamese cloth to reduce costs.

Phuong’s goal is to build a chain of brand name stores in Vietnam with this principle in mind: “Beautiful, high-quality French fashion and service in the Japanese style: enthusiastic and considerate.”

Reported by Thanh Trung