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At noon, the hot
climate was sapping everyone’s energy. Anxiety that was building
against humid surrounding suddenly evaporated and gave way to a
thriving festive environment as flock of joyful guests made their
entry to the reception hall. Smiling faces and friendly exchanges
permeated the glorious gathering.
By a graceful
timing, I encountered a lady. She’s known as a successful
entrepreneur from the Song Hau River. Her appearance – with
selective clothing and jewelry – while emanating classy luxury,
hardly concealed something rustic inside her innermost: her
countryside-accented voice stirred up in my mind a nostalgic
feeling: all of us grew up from a nurturing river, that’s The Native
Vietnamese River echoing the familiar motherly lullaby deeply dear
to each of us, or a sentimental river in Southern delta region.
Her presentation
revealed with humble sincerity her fascinating rags-to-riches
journey that compelled my curiosity: Dieu Hien, the lady proprietor
of Can Tho –based Binh An Fish Company employing 5,000 employees
embraced an ambitious goal of bringing stable living to the
destitute inhabitants in Western region of South Vietnam. She
herself suffered a humble childhood being an orphan living under the
loving care of her aunt. Step by step, and wadding through various
forms of endeavors she managed to stand on her feet to earn a
living, and in the process steel up and enlighten up her upwardly
will. From challenging adversity, she managed to make a successful
landing onto business circle, and then being empathetic to and
sharing her success with many people. As time goes, she became more
prosperous. Unison of mind and heart form the marching tempo of her
company as each and everyone contributed to the glorious success of
Binh An Fish Company.
The more
challenging and bigger target was Binh An Fish Company’s expansion
to the USA. She envisioned that her company product – bass fish -
will be embraced by American as their daily consumption.
The slogan “Yes We
Can! We Do Quality” that she learned from President Obama served as
her commitment to advance further in expanding market share and
offices in USA.
Bass fish having
been a contentious matter among some American seafood companies was
not an insurmountable barrier to Binh An Fish Company. The company’s
penetration into US market was made possible due to many reasons:
product’s credibility, American relaxation on some tariffs.
Encouraged by European market’s warm reception to her product, Dieu
Hien decided to make a formidable leap forward in opening her office
in Beverly Hills, globally known for its richest and brightest
movies stars, a coveted destination for people yearning for a
glimpse at splendid wonder of multi-million mansions
Binh An Fish
Company’s grand opening’s reception was both lavish and successful
beyond expectation as reflected by Nancy Krasne, Beverly Hills’
Mayor: “I had thought that I would come to a fish distribution
facility’s reception; instead I came to this place to meet
personalities who glamorized Beverly Hills, and in particular, to
meet a yellow-ski n Lady from other side of the ocean coming here to
contribute to this city’s development” That’s joy and pride to this
city
Sharing that same
spirit, a grandson of the Beverly Hills’ founder talked with pride
to me: “Beverly Hills is not a city that embodies affluence, rather
the IQ and achievement of people. We welcomed Binh An Fish Company
in that context, and yet her reply to us was just a nod! From her
single word”Yes,” we anticipate Binh An Fish Company’s success and
enhancement to our city’s reputation.
On the way back to
San Jose, the success by the Lady from The Song Hau River lingered
on the mind of my associates and my own. It’s difficult to be
successful in one’s native country; it’s much more difficult and
challenging to integrate into American market. I however understand
and can relate to the enduring efforts of a woman trying to advance
with empty hand, zero resources except for her own belief and
compassion which brought about her success today.
I ‘m confident that
her commitment and that of her young but talented staff will
successfully steward the Binh An Fish Company’s boat from their Ninh
Kieu Wharf, cross the immense ocean, and make a glorious landing at
Long Beach Port- California
Do Van Tron |