Vietnamese coffee chain Viva Star Coffee is expanding into Malaysia, with its first outlet scheduled to open in October at Wyndham Acmar Klang as the brand steps up its international franchise ambitions.
The Malaysian launch is being developed through a partnership with GinsengWorld Biotech Berhad, with the two companies set to jointly develop the Viva brand in the country. The deal gives Viva Star Coffee its seventh overseas market, following earlier expansion into Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, China and India. Malaysia is also its third new international market in the past 12 months, after India and Thailand.
The partnership was formalised through a memorandum of understanding between Viva Caphe Limited, Singapore, and Ginseng World, Malaysia, at Wyndham Acmar Klang. Viva said the agreement represents more than a market entry, bringing together Vietnamese coffee heritage, local market knowledge and a shared ambition for long-term growth.
“For Viva, franchising goes beyond expanding stores; it is about scaling a proven system,” said founder and chair Le Thi Ngoc Thuy. She said the company looks for international partners that understand their local markets, cultures and consumers and have the capability to develop the business locally.
Under the partnership, Viva will contribute its experience across coffee sourcing, production, branding, operations and franchise development, while GinsengWorld will bring local market capabilities to the Malaysian rollout. The structure is intended to support development beyond the first store, positioning Malaysia as a platform for broader network growth.
The first outlet at Wyndham Acmar Klang is scheduled for October 2026. The location will give Viva its first physical presence in Malaysia as it builds on a rapidly expanding international network.
Viva’s overseas expansion began with Cambodia in 2018, followed by Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, China and India. In February, the company announced its strategic cooperation with GinsengWorld and also reported the opening of its 428th outlet in Melbourne, Australia, highlighting the wider pace of its international development.
The company has positioned its international strategy around a vertically integrated coffee ecosystem, covering sourcing and production through to branding, retail operations and franchise development. Its official website traces its coffee heritage to farms in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and describes the business as building a value chain from farm to consumer.
Viva has also developed multiple formats, including its core Viva Star Coffee concept and smaller, convenience-focused formats, giving franchise partners flexibility when approaching different locations and consumer occasions.
The Malaysian expansion comes as Vietnamese food and beverage brands increasingly look beyond their home market for growth. For Viva, Malaysia provides a strategically important Southeast Asian market close to its existing regional footprint and another opportunity to test its franchise model with a local operating partner.
With the Wyndham Acmar Klang opening now targeted for October, the first Malaysian store will be an important next step in Viva Star Coffee’s ambition to move “From Vietnam to the World” and build a wider international franchise network.
