VIMC - 30-year journey of overcoming waves and reaching far

During the 30th anniversary celebration at the National Convention Center, Vietnam National Shipping Lines (VIMC) was honored to receive the Second Class Labor Medal from the President. This noble award is a worthy recognition of the VIMC team’s tenacious journey and tireless efforts over the past three decades. But more than pride, it is also a profound reminder of a long-term responsibility – to the country, to the maritime industry, and to those who are steering the ship.

It is no coincidence that on that occasion, VIMC emphasized culture more than ever. Because they understood that: to continue to set sail, the first thing needed is a compass. An internal compass - to not lose direction in the midst of the turbulent ocean, and to keep people's hearts steady in the midst of the many challenges ahead.

VIMC was honored to receive the Second Class Labor Medal at the 30th anniversary of the organization's establishment on May 10, 2025.

Journey Beyond Waves

Not every journey begins with a proactive choice. Some journeys only truly begin when they are forced to face – and forced to move on. For VIMC, those were years that are not easy to name. From prolonged losses to the risk of losing direction, from restructuring pressure to quiet internal doubts – all made the ship at times seem unable to continue sailing.

For VIMC, “30 years has been a journey of many ups and downs. There have been brilliant periods but also many times when VIMC had to dive into the depths of difficulties. There were times when this ship seemed to be sunk by the fierce waves of the market when debts piled up and confidence was shaken,” said Mr. Le Anh Son, Chairman of the Board of Directors of VIMC at the 30th anniversary celebration.

VIMC Chairman of the Board of Directors - Mr. Le Anh Son speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration

But in that difficult moment, VIMC did not let go. VIMC chose to tighten the steering wheel, making a courageous decision to comprehensively restructure: streamlining the apparatus, restructuring finances, innovating the business model and management methods. They adjusted the direction, innovated step by step, and rekindled the never-ending desire to set sail.

Restructuring begins with a change in mindset. 2021 marks an important spiritual shift for VIMC when nearly 100 leaders from 34 member companies gathered in an unprecedented conference - likened to the "Dien Hong Conference" of the maritime industry. Here, the Dai Lai Declaration was officially born, carrying the spirit of "Joining forces to lead".

Dai Lai Declaration affirms determination to realize VIMC Development Plan for the period up to 2025 and vision to 2030

In particular, the idea of ​​“taking customers as the center” is established as a focus of action – a bold and progressive orientation in 2021. Clearly defining the principle of action towards customers as the fulcrum for development not only demonstrates acumen, but also demonstrates the forward-thinking of the captains steering the VIMC ship.

These changes do not come naturally. They begin with a very human change – from the leaders themselves. From an unprecedented conference to signed cultural commitments, each milestone bears the mark of a collective that dares to look reality in the face and act.

Turn culture into a lever of internal power

  After three decades, VIMC has gradually escaped the old and stagnant cycle, strongly growing to become a pillar of the maritime industry, contributing to bringing Vietnam's marine economy to the sea. In the last 5 years alone, VIMC's total profit has reached more than 15 trillion VND, a high profit among state-owned corporations and groups.

Currently, the Corporation has transformed itself into a public enterprise with a capitalization value of over 100,000 billion VND, managing more than 16 key seaports, accounting for nearly 30% of the market share of goods through the Vietnamese seaport system, and owning a fleet of sea transport vessels with increasingly improved transport capacity.

For VIMC, culture is the foundation for shaping new ways of working, the glue to retain people and maintain direction during the restructuring process. Culture helps VIMC to stand up in an orderly manner after the crisis – and now, continues to be a lever for the next stage of development.

The most important thing is not how many programs are implemented, but how the organizational mindset has changed. VIMC people today no longer operate by orders, but by understanding - of common values, of their role in a journey larger than themselves.

In September 2024, the program to assess the current state of corporate culture was officially deployed throughout the system, with the support of Blue C. Before that, the VIMC culture team had been thoroughly trained and received strong support from the Board of Directors. This is not a purely technical activity, but a deliberate step to turn culture into a real driving force.

Blue C team interviewed Chairman Le Anh Son to learn about VIMC corporate culture

Chairman Le Anh Son, when sharing about VIMC culture, emphasized two simple but core values: Discipline and Sharing.

Discipline for sailors is not a choice, but a principle of survival. A ship at sea, if there is no absolute compliance, is dangerous not only for the work but also for the lives of all sailors. However, discipline will become cold without sharing. On a ship with only a few dozen people living side by side for months in the middle of the ocean, there must be sympathy, sharing each shift, each moment of rest, each difficult and tiring moment.

This spirit has been included in the Cultural Handbook “Prosperity from the Sea”, which summarizes the values, aspirations and practical actions of VIMC people. At the same time, VIMC has built a “Cultural Compass” symbol with 5 clear core values: Discipline, Dedication, Creativity, Unity and Integrity. This becomes the compass for all decisions and actions.

Cultural handbook “Prosperity from the sea” and the Cultural Compass symbol – the compass for all actions of VIMC people

Culture does not stop at declaration. VIMC has put these values ​​into concrete actions: from training, evaluation, recruitment to leadership policies. All are aimed at the same destination: synchronizing behavior - raising service standards - maintaining people's trust. Not stopping there, VIMC culture is concretized into behavioral standards, integrated into training, evaluation, recruitment and even in the KPI of leaders. Practical solutions such as the 5C commitment to service exceeding expectations, the campaign "Leaders set an example - Remember, Do, Remind, Praise", improving processes and enhancing service quality through the campaign "Exceeding expectations", or creating a cultural space have been deployed synchronously throughout the system.

VIMC leaders at the signing ceremony of the Commitment to build and develop a Customer-centric culture

As a result, a unified cultural foundation has been established, facilitating the application of culture into customer service practices, while initially creating a clear commitment from the leadership team - a premise for the next stage of development of VIMC.

The cultural platform is covered in the working space of VIMC people throughout the system through the activity "VIMC Check-in Challenge: Catching the cultural wave - Spreading check-in"

Looking back on the 30-year journey, VIMC General Director Nguyen Canh Tinh shared that the most valuable thing that VIMC has is not only the achievements or awards, but also the courage that has been forged in the very stages that seemed impossible to overcome. That courage does not come from calm seas, but from the stormy months - where every decision requires courage, every step must be exchanged for real effort.

Thirty years – long enough to affirm our identity, challenging enough to prove our direction. And now, with our cultural foundation established, VIMC is ready for the next stage – more united, more connected, and firmly reaching out to the ocean.

With a wide open horizon ahead, VIMC is facing many great opportunities, both domestically and internationally - from new investment flows, the shift in global supply chains, to the increasingly important role of the marine economy in the country's development strategy. With a solid foundation and clear development strategy, VIMC continues to affirm its pioneering role in the maritime sector, aiming for a future of sustainable development and deep integration. Culture - as it has been a fulcrum in the journey of overcoming waves - will continue to accompany VIMC on its journey to the open sea.

Blue C

 

Source: https://vimc.co/case-study-vimc-hanh-trinh-30-nam-vuot-song-vuot-xa/