Vietnam - Laos culture in the heart of Laos - Vietnam Joint Venture Bank
To have a strong organization, first of all, the culture of that organization must be very strong and loved by everyone in the organization, and voluntarily followed. With the Lao-Vietnam Joint Venture Bank, the mission itself given at the time of establishment has created a unique cultural foundation among the staff.
In the early days of establishment, amidst the many difficulties of establishing the apparatus, operating, implementing new mechanisms... there was an issue that could not be ignored: language barriers, customs and practices, not to mention the lack of
lack of facilities. In that context, the tradition of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Laos and especially the sincerity and friendliness of the people of Champa helped Vietnamese cadres quickly integrate, get used to the living environment, customs and especially the coordination in work. To support Vietnamese cadres in the joint venture, the Lao Foreign Trade Bank sent cadres who had studied in Vietnam to accompany Vietnamese brothers and sisters in work.
Recalling those difficult and challenging early days, Mr. Phan Duc Hung - one of the first BIDV officers sent to Laos - Viet Bank shared: "The mutual care and concern of the eleven brothers in the group helped me ease my homesickness. We watched Vietnamese TV, learned Lao, worked and played sports, interacted and got along with Lao officers, learned more about the unique culture, good customs and practices, and learned about the wild and hidden features of the landscape, mountains and forests of the country where I was working. 1 ”
No one knows since when, Vietnamese cadres who came to Laos felt, absorbed and loved the culture, country and people of Laos as their second homeland. Because when living and working here, experiencing the unique cultural features of Laos, Vietnamese cadres all felt the warm and sincere affection of the people of the neighboring country. Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien - one of the first 11 cadres told about the first Tet away from the Fatherland, missing his homeland and relatives dearly but in return, having Lao friends by his side: “On New Year's Eve, Lao friends and their families came to attend, making the spring atmosphere more joyful and warm. Everyone gathered together to enjoy Vietnamese dishes and tell stories about the dishes and customs of the New Year. The wine glasses were rotated in a circle in the Lao style of drinking, making the faces more rosy and the eyes seemed brighter, making the spring atmosphere more bustling. At the moment of New Year's Eve, the joyful atmosphere suddenly quieted down, everyone turned to the TV to listen to the President's New Year's greetings, together silently wishing for a lucky new year for their relatives and families, for the Lao - Vietnam Joint Venture Bank, for the Mother Bank BCEL and BIDV..."
Mr. Le Dao Nguyen - Former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Joint Venture Bank, who has been involved with Lao Viet Bank since the early days, recalled: “I still remember that Vietnamese officers who came to work in the Joint Venture had all gone through basic training courses, including Lam Vong dance. Almost everyone had a common feeling of being closer and more attached to Lao friends after each Lam Vong dance. Under the profound influence of Buddhist culture, Lao friends are always gentle in communication, always know how to respect elders and give way to juniors... The personalities of Lao friends complemented the quickness and enthusiasm of BIDV officers to create great efficiency in work. It was the friendliness and hospitality of Lao friends that won them over, leaving them with many unforgettable memories, and when their 3-year working term in Laos ended, they were reluctant to return... "
At Lao Viet Bank, there were many more Vietnamese cadres who followed the call of their hearts and became daughters-in-law and sons-in-law of the Land of a Million Elephants, wearing Singaporean skirts and eating sticky rice like Ms. Ngoc and Ms. Ha... That also helped the process of linking Lao and Vietnamese cultures under the roof of LVB easier and closer.
Not only Vietnamese people came to Laos, but in the process of expanding the network, the Joint Venture Bank established a branch in Hanoi, some Lao officials also came to Vietnam to work. Recalling the days when he came to Vietnam to work as Deputy Director of the Hanoi branch, Mr. Bouvan-Simalivone - Deputy General Director recalled the memories of life when he was far from home, about the times when he missed his family, and then being a spiritual support, being the eldest brother who encouraged other Lao officials to come to Vietnam to work.
In another aspect, it can also be said that the Lao-Vietnamese Joint Venture Bank has become a bridge of affection between the two "mother banks", the two banking sectors and, even more so, the two economies. Through this bridge of affection, the close relationship between the business communities of the two countries has gradually expanded and become closer and more cohesive. The Lao-Vietnamese Joint Venture Bank has become a "destination" for cultural, economic and training exchange activities as well as social security activities, for the community towards the Lao people and overseas Vietnamese in the land of Champa.