Updated: 2026.03.14

Minh Phu Dao is a prominent Vietnamese professional poker player and entrepreneur who shocked the poker world by rising from a local amateur to a high-stakes champion in record time. Based in Hanoi, he is currently one of the highest-earning players in Vietnam’s history. Before he was competing for millions against the world’s best, Dao was a successful businessman, serving as the CEO of NextTech Group. He brought that same strategic mind and willingness to take risks to the card table, becoming a “local hero” when he defeated a field of elite international pros on home soil. His rapid ascent has made him one of the most talked-about figures in the Asian poker community.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

According to The Hendon Mob, Minh Phu Dao has total live earnings of over $3.7 million. He currently sits at 2nd on the Vietnam All Time Money List. His career reached a historic peak in March 2023 during the Triton Super High Roller Series Vietnam. Playing in his first-ever major tournament, he won the $50,000 NLH 8-Handed event for a massive $1,670,000, defeating a final table that included legends like Patrik Antonius and Dan Smith.

Dao is a consistent winner in high-stakes events across Asia. His major titles and scores include a 1st place finish in the 2024 USOP Hai Phong High Roller 6-Max for $53,800 and a runner-up finish in the USOP Da Nang Superstar Challenge for $86,760. He also secured a 3rd place finish in another Triton Vietnam $25,000 Turbo event for $301,000. His 2025 campaign remained active with multiple final tables at the Vietnam Poker Tour (VPT) Championship, including a 7th place finish in the Super Stars event for $12,652 and a 4th place finish in the 8-Max High Roller for $7,317.

Biography & Poker Background

Born in 1981, Minh Phu Dao didn’t start his professional life at the poker table. He is a well-known tech entrepreneur in Vietnam, helping lead the NextTech Group as CEO. Remarkably, Dao only started learning how to play poker around 2020. He says that the transition from the boardroom to the poker table felt natural because both require a strong understanding of people and the courage to make big investments. He first gained attention in the local Hanoi card rooms before deciding to test his skills against the world’s elite during the Triton series in Hoi An. His victory there, with his pregnant wife cheering him on from the rail, turned him into an overnight sensation and proved that Vietnam could produce world-class poker talent.

Play Style & Strategy

Dao is best known for his fearless and aggressive style of play. Because of his background as a high-level executive, he is very comfortable with the technical side of risk and isn’t afraid to go “all-in” to put maximum pressure on his opponents. In his Triton victory, observers noted that he didn’t seem intimidated by the famous professionals at his table, instead using his unconventional style to keep them off balance. While he is relatively new to the game, he has a very stoic and humble presence at the table, rarely showing emotion regardless of the stakes. This “businessman’s approach”, combining sharp intuition with a willingness to play for every chip in the stack, makes him one of the most dangerous and unpredictable players in any high-stakes tournament.

Want to keep up with Minh Phu Dao as he competes in the biggest high-roller events across Asia and Europe in 2026? You can follow his career and see his latest results through these links: