April is here, let's "Get up and go"
I feel a double sense of pride in these April days when celebrating BIDV’s Traditional Day, which takes place right around the anniversary of the Liberation of the South and the reunification of the country. These days, whenever I hear the song “Get up and go, get up and go, my fellow countrymen!”, it seems like a fire is burning, urging me to be more responsible and take action.
Go back to the past so that the heart does not step back
I still remember the first time I entered BIDV's Traditional Room - a place that preserves historical imprints throughout the journey of nearly seven decades - I was moved. Black and white photos, old documents, artifacts discolored by time... all tell the story of a financial institution that is not simply a bank, but also an indispensable part in the journey of building and developing the country.
Established on April 26, 1957, the Construction Bank - the predecessor of BIDV today, had the main function of allocating state budget capital for investment, serving the cause of building socialism in the North and the cause of liberating the South and unifying the Fatherland. Besides the century-sized projects built from the capital allocated by the Construction Bank, what impressed me was the group of bank "soldiers" who were familiar with writing and enthusiastically volunteered to go to the front line. Although I have never met uncles Tran Duc Buu, Nguyen Dang Duyen, Nguyen Thi Lien, Hoang Thi Nghiem, Nguyen Thi Xe and many other names, I can still imagine their bright eyes on the day they set off to the battlefield following the sacred call to "cut through Truong Son to save the country".

One of the important tasks in the early period of BIDV's establishment was to manage and allocate capital for the basic construction of the Ho Chi Minh trail. By organizing special branches with codes 70.1, 70.2, B12, the Construction Bank promptly served the capital needs for the vital traffic routes, radio and wire stations, communication lines, and fuel transmission systems along the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail. Hundreds of bank staff were directly present on the front line and 17 comrades heroically sacrificed for the independence of the country.
So, from BIDV, there were soldiers, chests full of enthusiasm, hands holding sticks, feet clinging to rocks, continuing step by step to the beloved South. Now, we young people do not know what the first meal at the foot of the pass after hours of marching is like, nor can we imagine all the hardships. But I understand that patriotism alone is not enough, it must be accompanied by responsibility and action, must have the spirit of not retreating in the face of unprecedented difficulties to leave such a glorious history.
Go between the present to fuel aspirations
After the day of national reunification, BIDV did not stand still in the ivory tower of victory. Capital flows continued to circulate like alluvial soil to help the South revive, for the country's economy to rise high. Going through different stages of development from Construction Bank (1957 - 1981) to Vietnam Construction and Investment Bank (1981 - 1990) then Vietnam Development and Investment Bank (1990 - 2012) and later Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development, all of BIDV's goals and directions of operation were always closely linked to the country's contemporary socio-economic context.
Studying history, those who come after can only briefly read about events and milestones, and only know the names. But surely behind the brief information about achievements are the efforts, enthusiasm, and intelligence of the entire system. The story of "to exist or not to exist" of BIDV in 1994 helped me deeply understand the development aspirations of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam. It is a pride to know that at BIDV there was also a "Dien Hong" Conference (according to the words of the late Chairman of the Board of Directors of BIDV Nguyen Van Doan), thereby affirming the determination to save ourselves by all means, overcome difficulties, and maintain and ensure the existence of the system by all means. More than ever, the aspiration for existence, for preserving BIDV has become strong, fierce, and spread to each unit and person. At the time of difficult trials, it was the aspiration that helped BIDV move forward. Perhaps from here on, the two words “aspiration” have become an important part of each BIDV employee’s values. The event of the past has been a long time in the past, but every time I think about it, I feel that the aspirations of previous generations have awakened and fueled my aspirations.

As a matter of course, when passing the test of history, history will record its name. After 68 years of formation and development, BIDV today has made an impressive mark as the leading financial institution in the country and the region. Thinking about BIDV's journey from history to the present, I imagine that there is a boat, on which tens of thousands of rowers, day and night, steer and cut the waves to move the boat forward. That boat crosses storms and storms to reach the open sea, and knows how to take advantage of the wind to glide quickly, glide quickly, glide until it takes off and flies high, becoming a shining morning star. The effort for BIDV to continuously develop on its journey is also the effort that many generations of BIDV officials have contributed to the construction and development of the country through each period.
Go to the future to shine
On April 16, I had the opportunity to attend and meet with some veteran officials of BIDV, including former Chairman of BIDV Board of Directors Vu Quoc Sau (2003 - 2008) and especially former Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung. My task was to introduce the BIDV Traditional Room, but I understood that I would be the one to hear more stories through the sharing of the uncles and aunts. I was very surprised and proud to know that Uncle Nguyen Sinh Hung was also an officer of the Construction Bank in the past. Listening attentively to each story, admiring the memory and clarity of the uncles and aunts, I forgot my duty. The people I had only known through newspapers and radio, now standing in the Traditional Room, I and they have something in common, a connection. That is the pride of being an officer of BIDV. Before leaving, we young cadres were also shaken hands with Uncle Sau's advice: "Try to work hard, come visit me at my house some day." The short, intimate advice made me feel cared for like a child in a family.
Meeting with the previous cadres and historical witnesses is an opportunity and joy that I have when working at BIDV. There is a personal joy as a young cadre and also a common joy as a Vietnamese person. Our generation, born after the war, did not know what the difficult years of the previous generation were like, but we clearly know the happy feeling of peace. I think that everyone, from every position, responsibility, level, ... can contribute to the development of the country and protect peace in many different ways. I know that I can contribute to that common cause through my own efforts, sense of responsibility and work at BIDV. The patriotism and desire to contribute of generations of BIDV cadres is like a pedestal, a solid foundation for me to confidently act.

I understand that, in BIDV's own joy, there is always a shared joy with the country. Every step forward of BIDV is a testament to the strength of a financial institution, a mark of contribution to the sustainable development of the economy, a vivid expression of the nation's aspiration to rise up in the integration period. Wearing the BIDV shirt, I am not only working for the bank, but also contributing to the Fatherland - in a very modern and practical way.
Every time I hear the melody “Get up and go, get up and go, my fellow countrymen!”, my heart is awakened once again. Not only is it a heroic song of the resistance period, “Get up and go” today is also an urge for action, patriotism, and the desire to contribute without stopping. That song awakens in me a silent pride and urges me to constantly improve, devote myself, and spread good values in my role as a BIDV officer.
Not daring to speak for or represent the young generation of BIDV, only starting from my heart and mind, I vow to "get up and go" following the footsteps of those who came before, joining hands to continue writing the BIDV story in the rising picture of an increasingly prosperous Vietnam.