Not-so-distant memories
For many middle-aged people living and working in Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Son is not just a shipyard or a historical landmark, but was once an integral part of the city's identity. Tens of thousands of cadres, workers, and laborers grew up here, becoming attached to it through every shift and every ship that left the dock. Hundreds of families have had three or four generations working at Ba Son, their "second home filled with affection," throughout various historical periods.
Mr. Kieu Dang Thanh Quy, Deputy Head of the Materials Department, Ba Son Corporation, recalled: “When I was in 5th grade, my father, a Ba Son worker, died in a work accident. The factory leadership provided support and care so that my siblings and I could continue our education. After graduating from Cao Thang Technical School in 1998, I joined Ba Son, continuing the tradition of Ba Son workers with my older brother. The unit facilitated my studies, and I graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education. I was then transferred to the professional military, selected to join the officer corps, and currently hold the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. I want to stay with Ba Son until my retirement, like my older brother…”
In 2016, in line with the policy on investment and development of the defense industry in general and Ba Son Corporation in particular, and the development of infrastructure and urban areas in Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Son Corporation decided to relocate its base and production plant from the center of Ho Chi Minh City to Phu My 2 Industrial Park, Tan Thanh District, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province (now Phu My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City). The towering docks, the reaching cranes, and the streams of workers in blue uniforms arriving and departing amidst the bustling sounds of ship horns signaling arrival and departure gradually faded into the past.
However, in the memories of many, the name Ba Son Shipyard has never faded. Mr. Tran Tien Duc (residing in Tan Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City) shared: "Every time I take my children past the Ba Son bridge and the Ba Son metro station, I tell them that Ba Son is not only the cradle of our country's shipbuilding industry, but also a place associated with the revolutionary struggle of the Vietnamese working class, where Uncle Ton Duc Thang once worked and carried out revolutionary activities, and where the people of the city still affectionately call it 'Ba Son Factory - Uncle Ton's Factory'. Teaching children to love the city begins with its landmarks."
Accompanying the city's development
Having been associated with the Saigon - Gia Dinh - Ho Chi Minh City region since 1791 (formerly the Chu Su Shipyard), and spanning over 230 years of history, Ba Son is not only marked as one of the country's first shipbuilding facilities but also a symbol of the enduring bond between the military and the people. Since the reunification of the country, Ba Son has always been a partner with Ho Chi Minh City in industrial development and many practical social activities.
Ba Son Corporation is one of the exemplary military units that has done a good job in showing gratitude and providing social welfare in Ho Chi Minh City. The unit has provided support to 9 Vietnamese Heroic Mothers and regularly contributes to funds such as "For the Poor," "Gratitude and Remembrance," and "For the Homeland's Islands and Seas - For the Frontline of the Fatherland"... Ba Son has also left a lasting impression on the city's residents with its outstanding sports and cultural activities such as: football tournaments, volleyball tournaments, the Mekong Delta Cycling Cup, the 9th Hour..., contributing to the rich spiritual life of Ho Chi Minh City.
Expressing his sentiments about the close relationship between Ba Son and the city, Comrade Phan Van Binh, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Ba Son Corporation, affirmed: “Being a part of Ho Chi Minh City's historical flow, accompanying the development of the city named after President Ho Chi Minh, is a great source of pride and a sacred responsibility that the Ba Son collective always cherishes. This sentiment cannot be measured by time or numbers, but is preserved, nurtured, and passed down through generations of Ba Son's cadres and workers.”
Today, August 4th, 2025, Ba Son Corporation is holding a ceremony to celebrate its 100th anniversary (August 4th, 1925 - August 4th, 2025). At the ceremony, Ba Son Corporation will receive the First Class Order of National Defense – a prestigious award from the Party and State; the Traditional Flag from the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; and a Certificate of Merit from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City for its achievements in the construction and development of the city.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tieng-coi-tau-con-vang-vong-post806724.html
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