In a meeting in late June 2019 at Deoca Tunnel Operation Center, wrapped up in the congenial atmosphere, Mr. Ho Nghia Dung recalled with fondness: “I came back to Phu Yen on a memorable occasion. Phu Yen is not my hometown but, “It was just a place to live when we were there. But when we left, the land has transformed our soul!…".
The faith that started it all
The "memorable occasion" that the former Minister of Transport said was his return to visit Deoca tunnel on the occasion of the province's 30-year of reform. In order to know how the "land of yellow flowers on green grass" has "enriched the soul" of a Da Nang citizen, one has to look back at the difficult beginning of Deoca road tunnel project.
A walk down memory lane of 10 years ago, the act of building a tunnel through the Ca Mountain – was an extremely difficult issue that many generations have thought about to no avail, but was once again brought to the table with the original faith that have transcended time.
Mr. Ho Nghia Dung (in the middle) during an inspection on Bac Giang – Lang Son expressway
There never has been any precedent for a local young man to knock on the office’s door of the Minister of Transport, making known of his intention to make a road tunnel project through a part of his hometown, the Ca Mountain. “A person who is only 30 years old at that time wanting to conquer Deoca is definitely not an ordinary man. It takes someone extraordinary to attempt such a feat and I wanted to believe in this person’s will”, Mr. Ho Nghia Dung recalled.
At that time, transport infrastructure of Central Vietnam still faced many difficulties. Ca Pass is one of the hot spots that have a high number of traffic accidents and congestion. Mr. Dung acknowledged that in the years of 2008-2009, the investment problem of the transport sector was very difficult; the capital for infrastructure development was mainly ODA and a very small part of the State budget for reciprocity of ODA projects. Private capital was virtually absent. Foreign investors did not pay much attention to transport infrastructure projects because they deemed those yield ineffective output.
“Hoang (Chairman of Board of Directors of Deoca Group) and his partners came to see me to register his research on Ca Pass road tunnel project, borrowing capital to hire consultants from France, and proposed the project in pre-feasibility form. Realizing how seriously they worked and came up with good investment plans, moreover there were no other investors interested in the project, I proposed the Government to allow them to undertake joint ventures partnership as the project’s investor.
Mr. Ho Nghia Dung gave a speech in a meeting with leaders of Cao Bang to facilitate construction of Dong Dang – Tra Linh expressway
In 2011, I retired when the project was still unfinished. Later, I realized that I was still healthy both in mind and body, I wanted to bring my insights and experiences about transport to the young people in the areas where possible. At that time, Deoca was one of the companies I was very interested in and fully supported. On the other hand, Deoca also wished to have my support and advice, especially in its initial difficult period”, former Minister Ho Nghia Dung recalled.
At long last, Deoca has made momentous construction works of the century. In less than 3 years (July 2016 – January 2019), both Ca and Cu Mong mountains were bored through and broke open, no longer were they trapped in an oasis from the transformation of nature. Deoca and Cu Mong, two places that are the obstacles separating the two North and South ends of Phu Yen province, become the pride of Vietnamese people upon successfully implementing the most modern mountain tunnel system in the region.
It was right to place my faith in the land, to have it "transformed the soul" from hardships in the face of transformation opportunity, of course I would be moved!
Companionship
After he left the position of “Minister of Transport” to retire, Mr. Ho Nghia Dung was still very busy with his works. As busy as he was, each time Deoca Group made an important breakthrough, he never failed to attend such event and providing his valuable insights.
Mr. Ho Nghia Dung met the workers at Hai Van II tunnel project
In August 2019, during the restructuring meeting of Deoca Group, Mr. Ho Nghia Dung contributed many valuable ideas for this project.
He said that in the time people would look back to bask in the glory of the past, Deoca is looking ahead to the future to begin a whole new journey, starting from a thorough restructuring. What Deoca did in the time preceding, only those who passed through Deoca, Co Ma, Cu Mong tunnels, and in the future Hai Van 2, Bac Giang - Lang Son, Chi Lang - Huu Nghi, could understand the culmination of the investor. Mr. Dung believed that in n the future, Deoca will contribute even more valuable works to this country.
Former Minister of Transport took a picture with Chairman of Board of Directors Ho Minh Hoang inside Hai Van Mountain
Remember the morning of January 22nd, 2019, a day after the inauguration ceremony of Cu Mong tunnel (Binh Dinh - Phu Yen) which was the last pass to be completed in South-Central Vietnam, Mr. Ho Nghia Dung visited and celebrated the New Year with officers and employees at the construction site of the Hai Van road tunnel expansion project (Da Nang).
Former Minister Ho Nghia Dung shook hands to congratulate and encourage every officer and worker at the construction site. Mr. Dung and his team went underground to the heart of Hai Van Mountain to inspect and motivate construction workers. The Chairman of the Board of Directors expressed his joy in returning to Hai Van and witnessed initial positive results.
“Co Ma, Deoca and Cu Mong… Today, I saw the tireless atmosphere of the workers in the mountains, with the solidarity, many ideas, breakthroughs, continuing the tradition. I believe this will be another excellent work of Deoca in the near future”, Mr. Dung excitedly said.
“Join and link your hands”
As we recalled the small party on June 29th in Phu Yen, it was the night Deoca Group organized the "Ca Pass & Deep gratitude" agenda, the opportunity for the group to review the achievements, and talk about the difficulties encountered along the journey of more than 10 years. Especially, the agenda is an opportunity for the Group to send its gratitude to Ho Nghia Dung's Advisory Council and individuals. In a warm and loving atmosphere, Mr. Dung felt rejuvenated as he sang the famous song "I see yellow flowers on green grass" of Phu Yen people.
Former Minister gave presents at Mang Lang orphanage
On this occasion, he and Mr. Ho Minh Hoang - Chairman of Deoca Group, journalist Ho Quang Loi - Standing Vice Chairman of Vietnam Journalists Association, Colonel Pham Xuan Que - Former Chief of Investigation police of Phu Yen province visited and gave gifts to orphans at Mang Lang orphanage, where 25 abandoned children and some elderly people with disabilities in An Thach Commune, Tuy An District, Phu Yen Province were looked after.
Not just Hai Van, Deoca, Co Ma, Cu Mong... current and future transportation projects upon completion that are expected to promote socio-economic development at both ends of the country all have his mark.
His tireless work combined with his experience and ability to orientate policies is a great asset not only for Deoca Group but also for the country's transport infrastructure development.
Ha Phuong
