After nearly 20 years of ongoing effort, entrepreneur Do Thanh Thuy has built Gia Loc Production and Trading Company Limited, a multi-business firm, with an increasingly open market. She is also an outstanding businesswoman of Hai Duong province and always actively participates in philanthropic activities with the belief that "giving is forever".
Our reporter has an interview about profound humanistic concepts in business and life with entrepreneur Do Thanh Thuy.
Entrepreneur Do Thanh Thuy is among the outstanding businesswomen honored at a ceremony in Hai Duong province for her great achievements and contributions
After nearly 20 years of doing business, what do you feel most satisfied with?
In 2007, I started my business by buying a loss-making incense producer in Thanh Hoa province. I boldly innovated technology, invested in machinery, searched for markets, especially for export, so I gradually restored its production.
In 2010, I established Gia Loc Production and Trading Company Limited at Gia Xuyen handicraft site, Hai Duong City, to produce incense. Always working for community health and ancient values, I focused on making traditional clean incense from friendly and safe chemical-free materials for health.
I don't know why I am very fortunate in investing and reviving ailing businesses. Gia Loc took over Giai Duc Vietnam Material Co., Ltd, a manufacturer and supplier of auto and motorbike components (in Chuong My district, Hanoi) in 2022, and took over Toan Luong Production and Trading Co., Ltd (in Hung Yen) in 2023, which was later renamed to DLG Vietnam Co., Ltd, a manufacturer of export packaging. Now, both businesses have not only restored production but also kept growing, with many opportunities for development in the future.
In addition, Gia Loc has expanded infrastructure investment and operation in some industrial complexes, including underperforming Gia Xuyen Industrial Complex (Gia Loc district) and invested in 70.2-ha Yet Kieu Industrial Complex and 75-ha Bach Dang Industrial Complex. Now the company will promote investment in five projects in different business fields in Hai Duong province.
In the past years, Hai Duong province has been an attractive destination for many foreign firms. In this success, Gia Loc is a bridge to welcome big investors that have sustainable operations, create jobs and have clear development strategies.
What I feel most satisfied with in the past journey is being able to grow in my homeland, generate many jobs, pay the budget and attract hard foreign currencies for the locality. This was also my initial goal when I returned to my hometown to start a business.
More importantly, as my business grows, I myself can help disadvantaged people in society.
What are your thoughts and aspirations for charity?
My parents were both civil servants. So, from a young age until university, I did not think I would do business on my own in the future. When I started working, I met many successful people and learned a lot from them, especially about the social responsibility of every entrepreneur.
My biggest aspiration and dream is to "get richer to give more". That is also the motivation and sustainable development goal of Gia Loc.
Our workers are mainly disadvantaged people like the elderly, the disabled and the poor, even prisoners who are trying hard to be included in the community. What could be more joyful than meaningfully helping people with small incense sticks?
I also always keep in mind that a successful entrepreneur is lucky to receive support from society. When I am successful, that luck should be shared to be meaningful. Therefore, although I am always busy with my work and sometimes stressed, I still take time to take part in community activities.
I set a goal that, by 2027 when Gia Loc celebrates its 20th anniversary, I will travel to all 63 provinces and cities to deliver gifts and help the poor and disadvantaged.
How can you do everything so well while you are effectively managing your business, taking good care of your family and devoting yourself to charity?
My daily motivation is to see my children healthy and growing up. When I am stressed with my work, I feel happy when I see my children taking care of themselves, teaching each other, and knowing how to be sympathetic with their mother's hardships.
My happiness is that whatever I do, big or small, is helpful for people and society.
My family is the sustained support for my balanced, important work of growing my business and doing social activities. I have never put those things on the scale because work is where I can express my passion and fulfill my responsibility toward life and family.
I always cherish the time with my family, cook with my children and enjoy meals together and talk about work or life. I often bring up stories, events in life and daily work for my children to discuss and give advice to their mother and make them more sympathetic and mature.
I think in the digital age, people, despite being far apart, like being close to each other. However, even if they stay together, they still feel far apart. We need to unite members from simple things to spread and keep love.
To spend more time on activities outside business, how have you been building a successor team to prepare for the transfer of business management?
Most of the successor generations of family businesses in Vietnam today are well-educated from developed countries. They have high levels of education, grasp modern technology, and are sensible to business. However, many of them lack practical experience and lack knowledge of history and traditions.
| Every year, entrepreneur Do Thanh Thuy spends much time going to many provinces and cities to present gifts to disadvantaged people and poor students with good academic performance and supporting families affected by natural disasters and epidemics. In Hai Duong, every year, Gia Loc Company supports building a charity house and presents hundreds of gifts to poor households. Every month, she donates Charity Traditional Medicine Clinic, An Duc Pagoda (Quang Nghiep Commune, Tu Ky District) for examining, consulting and treating the elderly, the poor and the disadvantaged. |
Therefore, to prepare a capable successor generation, I always support my children as well as my executive team with sufficient knowledge and skills. At the same time, I complete and scientifically arrange departments and establish a methodical operating process.
I always tell my children that if you want to do big things, you must be able to do small things successfully and accumulate a lot of experience in life. You should be your mother's assistant who will give advice, put forth plans, do in-depth research and then take charge or do big projects.
My view on the next successors is also very open. They are not necessarily my children but essentially passionate about and capable of taking on the business. On the other hand, we cannot force our children into jobs that they do not like. Instead, we need to encourage them to work hard for their own ambitions and choices.
Thank you very much!
By Ngoc Tung, Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
