Businesswoman Nguyen Thi Tuy Van: Perfect Talent and Virtue

She was born into a disciplined family. Her father was a well-known contractor in Southern Vietnam and her mother was the owner of Quang Hung bakery, a famous brand nationwide. She was raised in a strict environment, but filled with love and care of her parents. Despite being very busy and successful, her parents always saw bringing up their family with cultured behaviour as a measure of virtue. Hence, they always taught their children how to behave and how to care for each other from the time they were very young. So, it is easy to understand why her and five siblings were well educated.

 

Speaking of her path into business, she said she inherited the business "genes" from her parents, plus her desires to know her own ability. For that reason, after she graduated from Chemistry Department, Da Nang College of Education (now Da Nang Pedagogical University), instead of pursuing a teaching career as many of her classmates, she decided to apply for a position in Quang Nam - Da Nang Tourism Company (now Vitour Travel Company). And, this time built the foundation for her to take longer steps in her career. In 1993, she was appointed the deputy director and then director of Vung Tau Tourism Company’s branch in Da Nang City.

 

The turning point for the current position of Hoang Tra brand name was Government Decree 27/2001/ND-CP in 2001 that allowed private companies to run international travel business. Then, her ability to grasp the opportunity and make market forecasts was maximised. She forecast that the central region had huge potential and strength for international tourism development because it had three world cultural heritages within a radius of 100 km (Hoi An, My Son and Hue), and beautiful long sunny beaches. She believed that these were magnets to attract domestic and foreign tourists in the future. A couple of months later, she set up Hoang Tra Travel Co., Ltd specialised in inbound and outbound travel, with interesting tours to historical sites and landscapes in Vietnam, and to places of interest in foreign nations. One year later, seeing that Da Nang was gathering speed in development, the company commenced construction on the first five-star Da Nang Lifestyle Resort (transferred to other company in April 2012) on a 4-ha site near My Khe Beach, Da Nang City. In 2008, she decided to buy the 3-star 54-room Magnolia Hotel and built the 2-star Thu Do Hotel at 125-127 Hung Vuong Street to serve tourists.

 

The clear evidence for the sustainable development of Hoang Tra brand is its firm standing amid the crucible of financial storm raging over the market and sweeping away many companies. The management of Hoang Tra has led the company through the storm to see new opportunities. The sustainability of Hoang Tra comes from its persistence in business development strategies and orientations in the light of the principle “quality is the most important, not quantity.” It did not make sparse investments, but focuses only on its key businesses of travel and hotel. Besides, the objectives and directions of Hoang Tra are always in line with the tourism development strategy of Da Nang City, thus boosting the development of the key economic sector in general and the development of the company in particular.

 

Amidst the current stiff competition in price, service and other conditions, with the focus on main inbound and outbound travel businesses, the supply of professional travel services, and the advantage of infrastructure system like Magnolia Hotel and Thu Do Hotel, situated in prime locations in Da Nang City, and the best transport vehicle fleet, Hoang Tra has built a strong prestige and position in the tourism industry of Da Nang City in particular and of the central and highland regions in general. The scale of operations of the company has also been expanded. Apart from its headquarters at 06 Le Loi Street, Thach Thang ward, Hai Chau district, Da Nang City, Hoang Tra also has a branch in Ho Chi Minh City, one branch and one operating centre in Hanoi, powered by a strong force of expert, enthusiastic, passionate employees who always serve customers in the most professional, polite and friendly manner.

 

Remarking on the future development orientation of Hoang Tra, Director Van said: "In addition to direct flights to South Korea and Laos, the opening of more direct flights to Hong Kong, Macao and Moscow in 2013 will help bring Da Nang City to a new high and open up opportunities for the development of the tourism industry. Apart from popular tours in Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia, Hoang Tra will increase tours to popular destinations in Hong Kong, Macao and Moscow. The company’s priority markets will be Russia, the United States, Australia and Japan. To have new high-quality packages at unchanged prices, Hoang Tra selectively chooses restaurants with suitable criteria like safe food, cleanliness and deliciousness and well-serviced 3-4-star hotels.”

 

As a successful businesswoman, she is always ready to support the poor and disadvantaged in society. She said “Human life is short. When you die, you cannot take your possessions with you. In this world, giving will get return.”

 

Every year, she and her friends spend a good sum of money on charity and social activities in the locality like financing VND50 million annually to Ngu Hanh Son Social Welfare Programme, Da Nang City Women’s Union, VND200 million to the Police Newspaper for social security work, building charity houses in Hai Chau district, and delivering relief to flood victims. In 2012, they presented eight charity houses in the city. Personally, she has funded more than 10 heart surgeries for the disadvantaged, with VND20-80 million each case. On the fifth and 25^th days of every month, Hoang Tra donates more than 1,000 food rations for the needy at 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Da Nang City. To date, the money for charity work has reached billions of Vietnamese dong.

 

In addition, she also calls on friends and relatives to chip in with charity work aiding the disadvantaged, since she thinks that philanthropy is an opportunity for successful entrepreneurs and the rich like her and her friends to share and sympathise with the community, the poor, and the unlucky.

 

That is also her living philosophy: A successful entrepreneur needs a bright heart for the community and society, reflecting his/her position and level.