Learn about Vietnamese businessmen in the first half of the 20th century through two symbols: "black dragon" and "red elephant"

Author Vo Phuc Toan is from Cu Chi commune (HCMC), currently studying and working at the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU-HCM. His main research interests are Vietnamese economy and society in the colonial period. The publication Black Dragon - Red Elephant is his first book. The book is 280 pages thick, consisting of 2 main parts: Vietnamese businessmen in the economic arena in the first half of the 20th century and Imprints of modernization in economic activities, social and political activities of Vietnamese businessmen .

The publication "Black Dragon - Red Elephant" is published by Ho Chi Minh City General Publishing House.

“Red Elephant” is the symbol associated with the Lien Thanh fish sauce brand, which was established in 1906 and is still present in the economic life of contemporary Vietnam. “Black Dragon” is the brand of Hao Vinh Company, which chose to trade imported goods from France, the most typical of which is putting the image of the Vietnamese dragon on the Marseille soap brand. Although selling imported goods from France, Nguyen Hao Vinh (Director of Hao Vinh Company) paid attention to changing the product design and making efforts to improve the company's business brand to adapt to the Vietnamese spirit. This reflects the efforts of the Vietnamese to achieve the highest efficiency as well as improve their position in the economic arena.

In this book, author Vo Phuc Toan takes readers back to the context of our country in the second half of the 19th century, when the French colonial invasion caused our country to lose its independence, becoming a French colony in Indochina. The generation of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in this period came closer together, shared and oriented towards a common goal: Independence and prosperity, for individuals and the Vietnamese nation. This was not only a "test" for patriotism and the national liberation movement in Vietnam, but also marked a strong transition in the economic and social fields.

However, this event also opened a period of introducing capitalist business into a purely agricultural economy. In particular, the appearance of new and previous Chinese merchants, who merged into the flow of socio-economic life, became a part of the history of the ethnic community in Vietnam.

During this process, the awakening of entrepreneurs created a wave, a change in the economic thinking of Vietnamese people, and then a series of large and small enterprises were born one after another such as: Bach Thai Buoi shipping company, Quang Hung Long, Van Van fish sauce, Lien Thanh fish sauce, "Co Ba Soap - Savon Vietnam" (Truong Van Ben Company and children), Résistanco paint company, Dong Loi Te, Dong Loi...

Along with that, the first generation of businessmen in history such as: Luong Khac Ninh, Bach Thai Buoi, Luong Van Can, Nguyen Trong Loi, Truong Van Ben, Nguyen Hao Vinh, Nguyen Son Ha... were very resilient in the trade war. They overcame themselves to affirm and build the foundation of Vietnamese business philosophy and ethics. They created a new image of a country that refuses to live on its knees.

QUYNH YEN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tim-hieu-ve-doanh-nhan-viet-nua-dau-the-ky-xx-qua-hai-bieu-tuong-rong-den-va-voi-do-post820216.html