The article won an encouragement prize in the writing contest "Dien Quang and I", aiming to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the company's founding.
I was born and raised in Saigon. My parents were both teachers at Giong Ong To School - Thu Duc, now District 2. My paternal family had many children, but the war took away all of my paternal sons. So after Saigon was liberated, although my father was the youngest son in the family, my whole family had to return to Quang Ngai so that my father could take care of his grandfather and worship his ancestors.
Living in the middle of a noisy, bustling city with countless sparkling electric lights at night, now returning to the poor and hard-working Central countryside, every house lit up with flickering oil lamps. Then, after a while, electricity was brought to my hometown, those days were so much fun! From dusk when the lights were turned on, the whole neighborhood was bustling with laughter. In the first few years, my neighborhood only used round lamps because the electricity was very weak. I was the one who was often assigned by my parents to ride my bike to the town to buy replacement lamps whenever the lamps were broken. I still remember clearly that every time I bought a lamp, I rode my bike to the Town intersection, where there was an electrical appliance dealer with a huge Dien Quang sign. Back then, I didn't know what Dien Quang was. I only knew that every time I bought a lamp, I had to ride my bike to the right Dien Quang dealer and buy the right Dien Quang lamp for my parents to be satisfied.
A few years later, I passed the high school entrance exam and went to the town to study. In my class, there was a very cute girl named Ti Muoi. Later, I found out that she was the daughter of the owner of the Dien Quang agency where I used to buy replacement lamps. Perhaps that was why my impression of Dien Quang lamps was even stronger.
Then I passed the entrance exam to the Polytechnic University in the city. After 15 years, I had the opportunity to return to Saigon to study. I said goodbye to my family and beloved neighbors to start an independent life in a distant city, both strange and familiar. Besides the small amount of money my parents tried to send me, which was not enough to cover everything for life in this expensive city, I had to work hard to do everything I could such as pedicab, breakfast sales assistant, marketing, tutoring... Then 5 years of university passed and I started working.
With a good degree from a university considered one of the best in the city, I easily found a job. I worked at several private companies specializing in mechanical engineering, hydraulics and pneumatics... But for nearly a year, I was not satisfied with my current job. Although the salary for a newly graduated engineer at that time was 1,500,000 - 1,700,000 VND/month, which was not low. By chance, on a day off, while drinking coffee with friends, I read an advertisement on the recruitment page "Dien Quang is recruiting engineers". Suddenly, memories came back to me, the image of the Dien Quang light bulb that I used to buy and my girlfriend from the past, as well as the questions I used to ask and care about. “What is Dien Quang?”. And to answer that question, I decided to apply for a job interview at this company.
The day I went to the company for an interview was also an unforgettable memory in my life, it was a day at the end of June 1999. The person interviewing me was Ms. Xoa. After reviewing my profile and discussing some work, I saw that her face looked satisfied. I was secretly happy, but when it came to the salary negotiation part, she asked me: "How much salary do you propose?" Actually, I had also researched the salary level at state-owned companies at that time, and based on my current salary at the private company, I proposed to her 1,200,000 VND/month. She looked at me and smiled, saying: "No, my child, the probationary salary is 600,000 VND/month! Do you agree?". I don't know why at that time I didn't care about the salary issue, I thought for a while and agreed.
On the first day of work, I went to the company very early. I received a job at the Technical Department of Binh Minh Light Bulb Factory, Dien Quang Light Bulb Company. My factory is located at 12 Ton Dan - District 4, including two main workshops mainly producing incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps and ballasts. At that time, with a salary as a newly graduated engineer, and belonging to a state-owned company, I could only manage myself. To take care of my younger siblings' education, I had to work very hard. Every month, I took on additional projects to work overtime outside. Although it was difficult, deep down I felt very attached to my job and the factory. Since working at this factory, I have felt many more things, the affection of my lovely, friendly, dynamic and enthusiastic colleagues. This place has given me a good working environment, motivated and given me more wings to my dreams as well as given me dreams of career success and strong belief in life.
One year later, in 2000, due to the need for development and production expansion, Binh Minh factory was moved to Dong An Industrial Park - Binh Duong, renamed Dong An factory and is now Dong An Branch.
From a small factory with old machinery, the company has invested heavily in Dong An Branch with a series of new production lines and factory development: building three large factories with full infrastructure located on an area of 17,100 m2, invested in two fully automatic production lines for the production of all kinds of fluorescent lamps and two automatic production lines for the production of all kinds of round lamps, high-voltage lines, T5 lines, Doublewing, all kinds of electronic ballasts...
In 2006, Dong An Branch immersed itself in the busy work, competing to produce and export all kinds of compact lamps to Cuba, half a world away. This was a major breakthrough for the company. Dong An Branch continued to invest and expand, upgrading to 4 compact assembly lines. The entire branch at that time had over 1,000 employees. The work was stressful but there was still no shortage of laughter and happy faces of all employees when the containers of compact lamps rolled one after another to begin their export journey to Cuba.
By the end of 2008, the Branch was invested by the Company with an additional central factory to match the development level. The appearance of the Branch has completely changed, more spacious and beautiful. We are promoting a larger project, cooperating with Venezuela to build a factory to produce energy-saving light bulbs in your country. Dien Quang is honored to be the main contractor to implement the EPC contract for the Vietven joint venture factory (a joint venture between Dien Quang Vietnam and Venezuelan Oil and Gas Group), installing all equipment, training the joint venture in the technology of assembling energy-saving compact lamps. Dien Quang Lamp Joint Stock Company is the first company in the lighting field in Vietnam to export and transfer technology to the international market. Not only Dien Quang's products but also DIEN QUANG'S GRAY MATTER and PEOPLE have spread to all five continents.
Since the beginning of April 2012, each group of experts from Dong An Branch has left Vietnam to carry out the noble mission that the Company's Board of Directors has entrusted them with.
Despite the busy work, the Dong An Branch still maintains good movement and union activities, cares for and visits disadvantaged families, retired employees... demonstrating the spirit of mutual love. With the above contributions, Dong An Branch has achieved the following achievements: Excellent unit in the whole company for 2 consecutive years (2009-2010).
Time flies so fast, it has been more than 13 years with the Dien Quang family, this place will be the beautiful memories that will follow me forever.
t the remaining journey.
Dong An Industrial Park, September 14, 2012
Le Xuan Nghiem
