One day in early March 2025, at her home on Lac Long Quan Street (Ward 3, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City), which also serves as the "headquarters" of Thuan Nam Stationery Company Limited, Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien was assisting her staff in the product packaging process. Around her, modern sealing and printing machines were operating at full capacity.
"Initially, Thuan Nam was just a small, unknown business. But today, the company's products are available in provinces and cities nationwide and exported to many countries in the region, especially Laos and Cambodia," Ms. Dieu Hien began her story.
Originally from Hue , Dieu Hien graduated from university with a degree in Law and moved to Ho Chi Minh City to work for a well-known logistics company. In 2010, she got married and decided to quit her job to support her husband's business.
"Actually, I used to want to study to become a police officer and work as a civil servant. When I decided to quit my job at the logistics company, I struggled with the decision a lot because the job involved a lot of travel, interaction with many people, and a high salary—a dream for many. But at that time, my husband wanted me to come back and support his work, so I made up my mind," Ms. Dieu Hien recalled.
Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien is currently working at the company.
At that time, Thuan Nam was just a family business with two main products: rulers and student whiteboards, and was not yet widely known. Recognizing the great potential of the stationery sector, she discussed and planned with her husband to expand their products and market. In August 2013, the couple decided to sell all their old machinery and invest all their capital in modern technology and equipment. According to her, this was a bold and risky decision, but it was actually very carefully calculated.
"When we sold the old machinery, quite a few people spread rumors that we were bankrupt. But just three days later, when they saw the new machinery arrive, everyone realized that we had invested in upgrading our equipment, and it was all large and modern machines. In 2016, Thuan Nam Company was officially established, and I took on the position of director," she shared.
In the early days of establishing her business, Ms. Hien also faced many challenges, such as legal issues and fierce market competition. Despite encountering many difficulties, she never gave up and continued to learn. In addition, the experience and relationships she gained while working at a logistics company proved very helpful. She also noted that because her mother and grandmother were well-known businesswomen in her hometown, she learned business acumen from a young age. She always carefully calculated and weighed every aspect of her work.
Thanks to tireless efforts, the business headed by Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien has grown significantly. Currently, the company employs 22 people, the majority of whom are women. In addition to the standard regulations and policies, the company also offers many special benefits and policies to support its female employees.
Specifically, the company always provides flexible working hours so that female employees can pick up and drop off their children, care for them when they are sick; supports housing costs for employees from other provinces; and assists employees in purchasing vehicles on installment plans for transportation... In addition to regular employment, the company also creates jobs for many women in difficult circumstances in the area by allowing them to do piecework and packaging goods at home, with an income of approximately 4-5 million VND per month.
Sharing with those in need
Not only is she skilled at managing her business and taking care of her family, Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien is also well-known for her meaningful charitable activities. For a long time, on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, she has often collaborated with local authorities to distribute gifts to people in difficult circumstances in the area.
Later, her charitable activities became more frequent and extensive. Not only did she support and share with people, especially women and orphaned children affected by Covid-19 in the area, but she also regularly awarded scholarships to underprivileged children who excelled in their studies, and provided gifts to people in central provinces/cities such as Hue, Quang Binh , and Quang Tri…
Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien (third from the right) at the "Wings of Dreams" scholarship program for underprivileged but academically优秀 students in the district.
"This year, I also plan to build charitable houses for people in need of housing in the district. In business, you have to be very careful with calculations, but in charitable activities, you try your best to do as much as you can, without hesitation or calculation. I am also very fortunate to have my husband's unwavering support and understanding. In charitable activities, he not only supports but also guides and shares ideas on how to make the charitable work as practical and effective as possible," Ms. Dieu Hien said.
According to the Women's Union of District 11 (Ho Chi Minh City), as a member of the District's Women Entrepreneurs Club, Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Dien has contributed significantly to social welfare activities. In particular, she has actively helped and supported women and children in difficult circumstances in the area, such as: donating 3 bicycles to poor but studious students; providing 140 gifts to poor students in Ward 3; giving 230 gifts to exemplary children at the "Good Children of Uncle Ho" Congress; awarding 4 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai scholarships worth 8 million VND; and donating 50 sets of school supplies and 1,000 notebooks to outstanding students from disadvantaged backgrounds in the area. Every year, she collaborates with the District Women's Union in caring for members and women in difficult circumstances during Tet (Lunar New Year), contributing a total of 10 million VND.
According to Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien, to achieve the results she has today, she has always received the support and companionship of her family members. In addition, she has also continuously strived to learn and improve herself.
"The path we take isn't always smooth; there will be ups and downs. You need enough passion and confidence, and never give up, to succeed. Besides that, it's even more important to balance your time between family, work, and social life; only then will success have meaning and value," shared Ms. Ngo Thi Dieu Hien.
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