- 1972 - Highlands Coffee founder David Thai is born in Southern Vietnam to Northern Vietnamese parents.
- 1978 – moves to Seattle. Series of entrepreneurial ventures at an early age combined with witnessing the rise of Starbucks provided David the motivation to move to Vietnam and get into coffee.
- 1996 - Moves to Hanoi, Vietnam. Spends a year studying Vietnamese language and culture, while busy operating his first cafe, "Au Lac", located on Hoan Kiem Lake
- 1998 - Achieves a "first" by being the initial Viet Kieu (overseas Vietnamese) to register a private Vietnamese company.
- 2000 - Achieves another "first" when registers the private company as a joint stock company. Vision to one day list on the stock exchange. Launches packaged roast and ground "Highlands Coffee" brand through high end hotels and supermarkets.
- 2002 - First Highlands Coffee outlet opens at the Metropolitan building in Ho Chi Minh City, opposite the Notre Dame Cathedral. One week later first outlet in Hanoi opens. The organisation is growing.
- 2006 - The Saigon Centre store opens with a new look retail identity. Big investment into the future.
- 2007 - Goal of 70 cafes by year end is set. Will include national iconic locations such as the Hanoi Opera House.
