Memories of the People and Work at the Former Branch I
In March 1991, Branch I was established; it has already been 35 years since then. The years have passed with so many cherished memories; looking back now, it feels as though I’m returning to those early days…
At its inception, the Branch had a staff of just under 20 employees. The Executive Board consisted of four members: Comrade Vo Xuan Phuc—Deputy General Director of BIDV—who was assigned to concurrently serve as Director of the Branch; Comrade Nguyen Van Kiem as Executive Deputy Director; Comrade Nguyen The Hien as Deputy Director in charge of accounting; and myself as Deputy Director, working alongside Comrade Nguyen Van Kiem to oversee disbursement and lending. At that time, the staff consisted of only 13 people transferred from the BIDV Hanoi branch and a few from other units.
Transaction Office I was tasked with disbursing funds and providing loans for long-term projects along transportation routes and for investors based in Hanoi, aiming to ensure the rapid implementation of fund disbursement and lending to avoid capital wastage. Under this policy, in 1992, the Branch was tasked with receiving loan application files and disbursing funds for road and railway projects scattered across branches along the route in northern provinces. This was a critical and time-consuming task requiring early completion to avoid disrupting the construction schedule of the projects being handed over. Among the many field trips I took to receive handovers, I will never forget the trip with the Hanoi–Vinh Railway Management Board through the provinces of Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, and Vinh.
It was around July 1992 when the handover team for the Hanoi–Vinh railway line, consisting of three people, set out: on the client side was Mr. Ke, an official from the Railway Management Board; from the Bank’s side, I was in charge, along with Le Thi Kim Khuyen—who was the youngest staff member in the group at the time. We departed from Hanoi Station by train and stopped at Nam Dinh Station. After a full day of diligent work, thanks to prior preparation and effective coordination with BIDV Nam Dinh, the task was successfully completed. The next morning, the team boarded the train again to Thanh Hoa, the second leg of the mission. Over the course of more than a day, although the workload was heavier than in Nam Dinh, thanks to a strong sense of responsibility, a quick and resourceful work ethic, and the thorough understanding of the tasks demonstrated by the young female staff member Le Thi Kim Khuyen, our team finished the work ahead of schedule.
To urgently complete the final leg of the journey to Vinh Station (Nghe An), we decided to set out the next morning despite being a bit late, even though there were no more trains to Vinh and the only remaining option was to travel by car. Back then, traveling by car was very difficult; we had to line up early to buy tickets, but we left late, and the ticket office for Vinh was already packed with people. With no other option, we “assigned” Khuyen to watch our belongings while I and Kế rushed in to join the line. After “struggling” for nearly an hour—sweating profusely, our clothes in disarray—we finally managed to secure three tickets to board the bus. By then it was nearly noon, and ahead of us lay a journey of nearly 200 kilometers, fraught with the hardships of the Central Region’s sun and wind. Once settled on the bus, Khuyen confided that this was her longest journey yet and her first time visiting Nghe An; she just hoped the bus would arrive soon so she could see the homeland of Uncle Ho. Back then, there were no air-conditioned express buses like today; sitting in the cramped bus under the scorching Central Vietnamese sun made the air inside feel even more stifling. The bus bounced up and down violently over potholes and ruts as it sped along. After nearly five hours, the bus finally brought us to Nghe An. By then, it was already late afternoon.
One thing the whole group didn’t know beforehand was that our bus wasn’t allowed to enter the center of Vinh City and had to park on the outskirts, more than 10 km away from the center. After that long, arduous journey, the bigger concern was finding transportation to get to the Vinh Railway Management Office, which was still more than 10 km away. Back then, there were no buses or taxis; the only option was to find motorbike taxis. Anh Kế, who frequently traveled for work in this area, took charge of finding motorbike taxis for the group. Within just a few minutes, he managed to flag down two drivers. But another problem arose: Vinh City did not allow motorbike taxis to carry two passengers. One driver suggested taking me and Mr. Ke on a detour to avoid the police, while the other would take Khuyen, with the meeting point being the Vinh Railway Management Office. Although the plan was set, I was very worried because it was getting dark, Khuyen was a woman, and it was her first time in Vinh; I feared that if anything went wrong, it would be a huge responsibility for me. As if sensing my worry, the driver reassured us: “Don’t worry, it’s only a 30-minute straight drive there, and besides, we’re all working people doing side jobs—we wouldn’t dare to cheat.”
With no other choice, we didn’t know what else to do. The motorcycle taxi driver took me and Anh Kế on a long, winding detour to avoid police checkpoints. Sitting in the back, I just hoped to get back to the Management Office soon so we could meet up, but it still took nearly an hour for the ride to arrive. The first thing I asked the guys at the Management Office was whether Khuyen had returned yet? Where was she resting?... At that moment, everyone was taken aback and replied that no one had arrived yet. At this point, I, Anh Ke, and the guys at the Management Office were truly worried because if she’d taken the usual route, Khuyen should’ve arrived long before us...
At that moment, I could only think to keep the motorcycle taxi driver there as a “hostage” and have him come with us to look for Khuyen. The driver also felt a sense of responsibility, so he was willing to join us and the members of the Vinh Railway Management Board to split up and search. The city of Vinh was beginning to light up; back then, there were no cell phones for communication like there are today. On the way, my mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts: Where is Khuyen right now? Has she been tricked and taken somewhere? As a very young female official visiting the completely unfamiliar city of Vinh for the first time, could she...? I considered asking the city police or broadcasting a search notice on the city radio.
We went to the BIDV branch in Nghe An to ask, but no one knew either. As we drove along, wondering where to look next, we suddenly burst into joy when we saw Khuyen standing dazed in front of the provincial State Bank of Vietnam branch. We rushed over in indescribable joy. Khuyen’s eyes were red and swollen; she smiled through her tears, her face a mix of laughter and sorrow. It turned out the motorcycle taxi driver wasn’t a professional, so when he entered the city, he didn’t know the way to the Vinh Railway Management Office. He kept driving in circles without finding it, so Khuyen asked him to take her to the BIDV Nghe An branch, but the driver only knew the Provincial State Bank, so he took Khuyen to the gate and left her there... Meeting each other safely and soundly, all worries and fatigue were swept away, and we happily returned together to the Vinh Railway Management Office. Dinner was a bit late, but everyone was in high spirits, sharing a warm sense of camaraderie.
After two days of diligent work between our group, the Vinh Railway Management Board, and BIDV Nghe An, all data and documents were fully and accurately compiled. The work trip concluded with a day-long visit to Làng Sen, the hometown of Uncle Ho. Though we bid farewell to Vinh City, our hearts were still filled with the memories of a truly unforgettable journey.
On the occasion of its 20th anniversary, Branch I was awarded the First-Class Labor Medal by the State for its outstanding achievements. This honor belongs to all generations of staff who have united and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly to the Branch and to BIDV as a whole.
Time has passed; we have grown older and stepped back to rest. But as the old bamboo gives way to new shoots, those young sprouts have risen to further glorify the traditions of the industry and the Branch. One of those proud new shoots is Comrade Le Thị Kim Khuyên, the young, dynamic official who, just 15 years later, became the first female director of the Branch. Dynamic and creative, she worked alongside her colleagues on the Executive Board to lead the Transaction Office forward relentlessly. For many years, it has been the vanguard of the entire system and the only member unit in the system to be awarded the title of “Labor Hero of the Reform Era” by the Party and the State.
Thirty-five years have passed; our country has undergone countless changes, and the BIDV system has grown steadily, becoming one of Vietnam’s most reputable commercial banks. Notably, Branch I—which began as a department of BIDV Headquarters—has now become one of the largest branches in the entire system, consistently leading in all areas of operation.
With a tradition of diligent and innovative work, I am confident that Branch I will achieve even greater heights. Young colleagues at the branch, strive with all your might, dedicate yourselves to learning and contributing, and every opportunity and glory will come to you.
V.Q.Đ