The Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam today is in healthy competition with other state-owned commercial banks and domestic and international joint stock commercial banks present in Vietnam. It was such a huge growth step that we could not have imagined back then, when we first entered the industry. The more I think about it, the happier I feel inside.

In 1947 - at the age of 14, I left my family to join the resistance war against the French colonialists. In October 1950, I volunteered to join the army to dedicate my youth, making a small contribution to regaining independence for the homeland.

As a soldier - a radio reporter, I made my contribution to ensuring the information lifeline for the army of the Southwest region during the resistance war against the French colonialism.

In December 1954, at the age of twenty-one, I was gathered to the North, and continued to join the armed force, became the chief of the radio communication network, protecting the sea from Nghi Xuan - Ha Tinh to Deo Ngang Pass - Quang Binh. There were mountains of memories I could never forget.

In 1955, there was a time when I was stationed in Vinh city - Nghe An. Many Party, government, financial, banking, police and military agencies were built in the city after the North was completely liberated. At that time there was an agency with a nameboard that read: “Bank for Construction - Nghe An Branch” near Vinh City Stadium. Beautifully painted inscriptions underneath the lush green mother-of-pearl trees. I had no idea at that time what mission that agency did.

The words “Bank for Construction Branch” made me naively thought it was a shop selling building materials. As time passed by, I left Vinh City without paying any attention to that agency.

In October 1960, at the age of 27, I was transferred to the Ministry of Finance and assigned to Bank for Construction - Thai Nguyen Branch, I was really surprised! Surprised and funny remembering my explanation in the past. As before, I had no idea about the functions and duties of Bank for Construction - Nghe An Branch. Yet since October 1960, I had a better understanding about the functions and duties of Bank for Construction - Thai Nguyen Branch - where I directly worked from the beginning without much knowledge about the industry. At that time, Mac Duc, a man from the Dao ethnic people, was the head of the branch; and my fellows Phan Dang, Dau, Oanh, Thuy had heartfully helped guide me in my professional work.

The Bank for Construction - Thai Nguyen Branch was the agency that allocated resources for the construction of Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Zone (blast furnace, toad furnace, cast iron furnace), Cao Ngan power plant, Trai Cau iron mine, contributing to the building of heavy industry foundations for the socialist regime of a large province in Viet Bac war zone, Vietnamese revolutionary base then. Three years working at Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Zone, I had grown up one step further, allocating resources according to the actual payment mode, initially allocating according to the completed work volume - a more progressive form of allocation.

Due to the development needs of the industry, in 1963 (at the age of 30), I was transferred to Bank for Construction - Hanoi Branch. The Branch established 3 sub-branches, namely: Sub-branch I (Hai Ba Trung - Thanh Tri area); Sub-branch II (Ba Dinh - Tu Liem area); and Sub-branch III (Gia Lam - Dong Anh area).

I was assigned to Sub-branch I, led by Mr. Quang as the head of the Sub-branch, allocating resources for a medium-sized factory, a leading project of the mechanical industry in our country, cutting tools factory, Sao Vang rubber, Thang Long tobacco, Ha Dinh water works, Thuong Dinh canvas shoes, Van Dien phosphorus fertilizer, Van Dien battery. Tireless footsteps on the scene of those historical works.

In 1967, I returned to Sub-branch II during the resistance period against the war caused by the American imperialists in order to sabotage the large Backyard in the North and limit the support of people and property to the South. The allocation was mainly for evacuated works and factories to maintain production for combat and consumption.

Recall back then, if in the past, at Bank for Construction - Thai Nguyen Branch, the allocation was mainly done according to the actual payment mode, then at Bank for Construction - Hanoi Branch, the allocation and lending had been leveled up both in terms of form and content:

• Allocation was made according to the volume of completed works.
• Allocation according to estimated completed works, collection according to approved designed tasks.
• Allocation close to the actual volume, not allocating false volume.
• Allocation combined with field trips.
• Allocation according to construction quality.
• Allocation and preparation of materials for do-it-yourself projects.
• Lending instead of advance payment.
• Loans to reserve materials following the limit.
• Loans based on working capital turnover for construction works, etc..

I must say that when I moved to work for Bank for Construction - Hanoi Branch, it was a turning point in my life both in terms of professionalism and moral thought. Professionalism, as I said before. In terms of moral thought, I absorbed the morality and virtue of Mr. Do Cong Lo - Director of Bank for Construction - Hanoi Branch. He taught us integrity, fairness, impartiality, anti-individualism, in professional work, not cultivating for ourselves, not taking public property as private property.

Van Dien Phosphate Factory funded by Bank for Construction - Hanoi Branch

In November 1976 (at the age of 43), I was assigned by the Central Bank for Construction to establish Bank for Construction - Hau Giang Branch after the South was completely liberated and the country was reunited. At that time, there were still plenty of difficulties and challenges in terms of facilities and people - especially people after the South was completely liberated. Some officers from the North were mobilized to support the South. Key officials in the North formed the framework for Bank for Construction - Hau Giang Branch, right from the very beginning.

We were so happy about the establishment of Bank for Construction - Hau Giang Branch. That was my relentless efforts with strong spiritual and physical support of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Committee, Department of Finance of Hau Giang province. I am grateful to Mr. Ba Re - Director of the Department of Finance for providing both people and equipment for the office, including accommodation and meals for officials and employees who were struggling when the Branch were newly established.

Between April 1977 and December 1993, with my professional awareness and understanding from Bank for Construction Hanoi Branch - which fostered and imparted knowledge of the industry to me, I completed my duties at the Bank for Construction - Hau Giang Branch (now Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development - Can Tho Branch).