FAHASA – A Lifetime of Dedication, A Lifetime of Pride

Author: Ms. Nguyen Thi My Loan – Former Deputy General Director of FAHASA

As autumn arrives, the gentle sunlight resting on the leaves in my front yard stirs so many emotions as FAHASA approaches its 50th anniversary. Thoughts and feelings intertwine, and cherished memories from my youth to the present come flooding back, filling my heart with warmth, excitement, and nostalgia.

How could I ever forget the day I first walked into Nguyen Hue Bookstore to apply for a job? I was thrilled to be accepted into that enormous bookstore located on one of the largest and most central streets of Ho Chi Minh City. That fortunate encounter marked the beginning of a lifelong bond with FAHASA. The bewildered young graduate I once was is now approaching the age of seventy.

During nearly 40 years of working at FAHASA, I witnessed the Company through many ups and downs and had the privilege of working alongside generations of leaders and employees. Looking back today, we fondly refer to those years as “the old days.”

In those days, bookstores were often converted from buildings managed by the State and were therefore quite simply designed. Books were kept behind the counters, and whenever customers asked for a particular title, a salesperson would take it out for them. How different it is today! FAHASA bookstores are spacious, bright, elegant, and beautifully designed, with countless books displayed for readers to browse and choose at their leisure.

I have also had the privilege of witnessing the remarkable growth of the FAHASA bookstore network. From just one or two bookstores when I first joined the Company, FAHASA has now grown to 150 bookstores – a truly impressive milestone!

I learned so much from the colleagues who came before me, and I grew and matured with each passing year. During my twenty years working in book sales, I had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life – children, young people, adults, and the elderly. Through these encounters and years of experience, I gradually developed a broader understanding of people, society, and life itself. These experiences have continually inspired me to remain positive, to embrace life, and to give my very best to everything I do.

The many people and life stories I encountered throughout my journey with FAHASA also opened my heart, teaching me to appreciate people more deeply and to love life more fully.

As the years passed, I came to understand something important: under the shared roof of FAHASA, we may have different thoughts, different ideas, different ways of working, managing, or leading. But when we share the same destination and genuinely care for one another, there is little we cannot accomplish together.

Today, I also find myself remembering the many business trips I took with my colleagues. Whether we traveled within Vietnam or to distant places around the world, the experiences we shared — the happiness, the challenges, and everything in between – remain deeply etched in my memory.

As FAHASA approaches its 50th anniversary, my heart is filled with emotion. From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank FAHASA for giving me the opportunity to live such a meaningful life, for allowing me to devote my energy and abilities to my work, and for giving me the chance to contribute to my family, the Company, and society.

FAHASA will always be a source of immense pride for me, and I will always be proud to call myself a member of the FAHASA family. My life story can perhaps be summed up in one simple sentence:

“I spent my childhood learning, and my adulthood with FAHASA.”

May FAHASA continue to move forward with strength and confidence on its enduring mission:

“Bringing Knowledge to Everyone.”