Over 15 years of establishment and development, every step forward for Ánh Dương Building has borne the mark of individuals who chose to accompany, commit, and grow alongside the enterprise.
Image of Mr. Doan Van Chinh at the project groundbreaking ceremony. - Photo: Anh Duong Building.
From the challenging early days to the increasingly strong Ánh Dương of today, behind every project and milestone lies the intellect, responsibility, and upward aspiration of multiple generations. "Ánh Dương People" is the story of these individuals—those who have contributed and continue to contribute to forging the bravery, core values, and strength that empower Ánh Dương to reach further.
The "Ánh Dương People" series begins with the story of a man who has devoted over a decade to the steel structure industry—a "son of steel structures" who has matured through the developmental years of Ánh Dương.
A fateful encounter turned into a lifelong career
When he first arrived in Saigon to study, young Đoàn Văn Chinh—now the Head of Steel Structure Department —chose the University of Transport and Communications. At that time, he likely never imagined he would dedicate over a decade to steel structures, nor did he know this career would stay with him for such a long journey, from his youth to starting a family.
Portrait of Mr. Doan Van Chinh in a navy blue suit, displaying a confident and professional demeanor. - Photo: Anh Duong Building.
Steel structures were part of his university curriculum, but only a fraction of the knowledge, not a specialized major. Therefore, when entering actual fieldwork, he had to fill in the gaps by learning on the job.
In 2014, he joined Ánh Dương.
Ánh Dương back then was far different from today. The company had few employees, and work was not yet divided into systematic departments or specialized roles like it is now. One person could handle multiple tasks. Whenever work arose, everyone tackled it together.
For a young man like Chinh, those were the days of learning the trade fastest.
"At first, I just learned as I worked. I researched whatever the job required, and whatever I didn't know, I had to learn how to do," he recalled.
He learned from his predecessors, through every task, and even from times he had to roll up his sleeves and do things not found in any job description.
A warm everyday moment of Mr. Doan Van Chinh with his family in a traditional Lunar New Year setting. - Photo: Anh Duong Building.
Chinh still remembers an evening over 10 years ago. Around 8 PM, after a hasty dinner, he and General Director Nguyễn Văn Hoàng rushed from Ho Chi Minh City down to Bình Dương to handle a shipment. At that time, the company didn't have enough personnel for every stage like today. The ones managing the project were also the ones directly unloading the goods.
By the time the truck was fully unloaded, it was past midnight. "Everyone's face was smudged, clothes and faces covered in oil and grease. By the time we finished and drove home, it was probably close to 1 AM," he smiled when reminiscing.
After all these years, it remains one of his most memorable stories. Not necessarily because the shipment was special, but because it evokes an entire era of Ánh Dương: those who sought work followed through with it, and even the executives rolled up their sleeves to unload cargo. With fewer people, everyone did a little more; wherever there was a difficulty, they resolved it together.
From a young man entering the steel structure field with limited knowledge, he learned the trade through every project and task.
"Once you commit, no task is too small"
During his journey at Ánh Dương, Mr. Đoàn Văn Chinh spent a lot of time working alongside General Director Nguyễn Văn Hoàng. From the days the company had few staff to when the organization grew larger, what he remembers most about his leader is quite simple: always be willing to learn and give your all to whatever you do. His leader, who is also like an older brother to him, has always been a role model. He drew a lesson for himself: once you take on a job, you must be responsible for it; whether big or small, a task must be seen through to the end.
The longer he works, the more he understands that experience is a valuable asset, but it cannot be an excuse to stop learning. Technology changes rapidly, and management and organizational methods are constantly innovating. Predecessors have experience, while the younger generation is quick to grasp technology and new approaches.
Mr. Doan Van Chinh and partners joining hands to show solidarity at the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the WANA Beverage Manufacturing, Exporting, and Distribution Plant Project. - Photo: Anh Duong Building.
"Those who came before might be slower with technology than the youth. We must learn, we must accept changing ourselves to suit the job and the company's growth. We cannot just follow the beaten path," he said.
The young man from years ago is now the Head of Steel Structure Department, and he shares this advice with the younger generation: If you have better conditions, you must seize the opportunities, understand the company's direction, and always know how to commit and learn to develop.
From a young man stepping into steel structures with much unfamiliarity to someone who has dedicated over a decade to the profession, he maintains a very simple mindset: if you don't know, learn; if you already know, learn more; once you accept a job, do it thoroughly.
A generation of Ánh Dương has grown up just like that. And when that experience, mindset, and sense of responsibility are passed down, those who come after will not have to start from scratch, but can build upon the foundation their predecessors established to continue growing.
