Businessman Ly Ngoc Minh’s Desire to Make Vietnamese Porcelain Go Global

Today, Minh Long 1 is a symbol of porcelain of premium quality. Its name has been jointly built by the entire company from the establishment, particularly General Director Ly Ngoc Minh.

 

Born into a family with three generations living on Porcelain production, Minh, at the age of 16, took on the family tradition and started his desire to bring his porcelain to the world. With an iron will and burning desire to create Vietnamese ceramics on par in the world, his unfavourable family condition could not stop his aspiration. He never stopped learning and researching. He and a friend opened a laboratory. After many years of testing and researching, Minh Long Ceramics and Porcelain Company was set up. Also from that point of time, the resolve to searching for technology for traditional porcelain inspired the young director.

 

He said: "To turn the desire into reality requires double thinking and creativity. When we do it, we must believe in ourselves and never give it up halfway despite whatever obstacles we must overcome. We only need to make one small thing done and other things will follow its formula.” With his resolve, iron will and creative effort, he discovered the secret of making premium quality porcelain. Explaining his ideas about fussy and delicate products, he said with a smile: “I would like to introduce a miniature of Vietnam with gentle beauty, impressive nature, human goodness and good cultural traditions to friends worldwide.”

 

Now, his something sixties man does not drop his desire to make Vietnamese porcelain products on par with the world. His yearning is strengthened because Minh Long 1 ceramic brand name has been asserted on the international arena. From the time he started the work with his bare hands till he become the leader of a famous Porcelain brand, Labour Hero, General Director Le Ngoc Minh has never stopped researching and creating to bring his Minh Long porcelain to the crest in its class. And, his aspiration has now come true.

 

In 1996 when most ceramics producers in the country were using outdated technologies, Minh Long 1 spent millions of US dollars to import EU-standard kilns and replace its production lines with advanced ones. In 2009, the company invested nearly VND400 billion (US$20 million) to import production machinery and equipment like land extruders, enamel sprayers, pressure filling machines, and robotic cleansers. Particularly, the applications of nanotechnology to porcelain production is a breakthrough of Minh Long 1 as it helps treat more than 90 percent of defects and enhance dirt resistance of products. For that reason, Minh Long's products always have a bright lustre and hardly have any faults.

 

With internationally advanced production lines, Minh Long 1 porcelain products have a very high quality and stability. The company’s products imbued with modern features and traditional traits are interested in both domestic and global markets. The unique features of Minh Long porcelain are the Vietnamese soul and Vietnamese culture on each product. Minh said: "The interestingness and uniqueness of Minh Long ceramics is a combination of tradition and innovation; thus, the Vietnamese culture is instilled deeply in each product. I want my products to carry Vietnamese traditional traits in global concept.”

 

Today, the Minh Long 1 brand name is substantiated by a collection of more than 15,000 items. The company is known not only for being a business entity but for being a top ceramic brand in Vietnam. Minh Long 1’s innovative products have made presence all over the world and they almost have no equalled competitors. The quality of products has been proven since 1999. The company’s products have been voted the “Vietnam High Quality Goods" by consumers since then, won more than 20 gold medals, and particularly WIPO Award by the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Notably, in 2010, Minh Long was honourably conferred the First Grade Labour Order by the President of Vietnam. Besides, it also won the National Quality Award 2010, Asia Pacific International Award 2010, Top 43 Vietnam National Value Brand Names Vietnam, Trademark Pride Award 2010 and 2011, and many other awards. Markedly, Minh Long 1 porcelain was chosen to be State gifts to present to heads of state and other delegates attending the APEC meetings held in Vietnam.

 

With the endless effort of the entire company, Minh Long 1 has grown up from a small production base with a handful of employees to a big firm with nearly 1,800 employees. With 40 percent of output for export, Minh Long ceramics are strongly consumed in Germany, France, Holland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United States, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia because of elegance, modernity and trendiness. Not being satisfied with what it has achieved, Minh Long 1 is continuing with its conquering of more demanding markets. He also believes that that when people’s living standards are higher, Minh Long 1’s products will be closer to local consumers because quality makes selling prices.

 

At his 60s, Mr Minh strongly believes that a successful entrepreneur gets rich from the society and a true successfulness is sharing the richness with the society. This is he and Minh Long 1 are a regular donators for many social and charitable events like building charity houses, aiding flood-hit victims, presenting gifts for students and the poor, etc. His donations increased year after year. In 2011, the company spent billions of Vietnamese dong on charity activities.

 

He sincerely said: "My dream of making our life has not been realised much but Minh Long 1 and I will continue to make more effort for the smile and happiness of the community. We are still witnessing many ill-fated people and they need our help. Each kind deed done by Minh Long 1 is compared to a brick that will build a better life for the world.”