Founder of tech retail chain Mai Nguyen dies at 49 after Australia highway accident

He died at the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he was admitted with severe injuries suffered in a freeway accident in Melbourne on March 5.

Born in 1976 in Vietnam’s central province of Khanh Hoa, Nguyen founded the HCMC-based Mai Nguyen retail chain in 2002 to sell mid-range and high-end phones, audio devices and digital gadgets.

He launched his career by providing software installation and ringtone services for Nokia phones before expanding Mai Nguyen into a major retail chain.

Mai Trieu Nguyen. Photo courtesy of Mai Trieu Nguyen

He was among the first judges of VnExpress’s annual Tech Awards for major technology products and development and remained on the jury for 12 years.

He was also a key figure in Vietnam’s tech community, having inspired tech and motorcycle enthusiasts.

He was among the few CEOs with a personal vlog channel, where he consistently shared updates on products, tech hobbies and glimpses into a life centered around his passions and travels to many countries over the years.

His YouTube channel had over 200,000 subscribers and 1,500 videos.

Throughout his hospitalization, Nguyen was surrounded by friends, family and the broader community.

A person commented after his passing: "Farewell to a respected figure in the tech retail industry. You lived a life full of passion. Rest in peace!"

Nguyen’s personal Facebook page carried a famous quote: "It is never too late to be what you might have been."