Design, a key factor in determining the quality of a property and user’s convenience is very carefully considered in the design process

Interviewer: The growing COVID-19 crisis still threatens all over the world, transformative shifts taking place in the world order, personal habits changing. It can be said this is a year we have never faced with so much pressure and anxiety like no other in recent memory. Difficulties make us become more flexible to adapt, find equilibrium and come up with better comprehensive solutions. What is the first priority in your life when you have been forced to do something different than before?
Le Thi Thu: Since the covid-19 outbreak, my daily schedule has changed but I realize that health is more important; therefore, my priority is doing more exercise to build a good immune system; thanks to that, I am able to overcome difficulites. At the same time, I encourage my family to be physically active to take care of their body and health.

Interviewer: Fortunately Vietnam has gradually eased the social distance after April 22nd , almost activities return to normal, the 1st July, Vietnam reopen the international flight route, threats is still lurking, so do you have any potential actions for “New Normal” at home and at work?
Le Thi Thu: As far as I know, many countries have succeeded in slowing the outbreaks; however, the situation is unpredictable. Therefore,  I stay aware of preventing myself, my family and others from the spread Covid-19 by following the public health measures to COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from some common policy actions such as wearing face masks in public, cleaning hands often, avoiding  close contact with others…etc., at workplace, we are encouraged to follow the rules and together stay safe.

Interviewer: what is your "preventing & fighting" plan in post-pandemic financial management?
Le Thi Thu: Because of "the unavoidable declines in economy as the result of pandamic, "more saving, less spending" is my temporary response with difficulties; and for a long journey ahead for “NEW NORMAL”, we have to learn new things to catch up with the new unpredictable changes of the world.

Interviewer: In case, work affects in your own life during Covid-19 crisis, what do you do to find balance?
Le Thi Thu: We're in a shared struggle to protect both lives and livelihoods. We know that this is much more than a medical challenge and finance at risk. While working from home because of the epidemic, I changed the habit to be more positive, focusing on quality rather than quantity, I learned and upgraded my skills and technology, I think this is a booming period for Technological skill development, in which working way, online shopping,  communication and  income are probably dependent on technology.

Interviewer: Come back after a hard day of work, how did you spend your time during the outbreak of Covid-19?
Le Thi Thu: Indoor activities are interesting as well, I enjoy spending my time cooking, studying with kids. We do drawing, reading and workout together.

Interviewer:    How to show love to your little kids?
Le Thi Thu: I do loving my kids out loud, never too much saying beautiful words everyday, for me, I always take extra minutes at bedtime with kids to make them feel safe and secure by hugging and kissing.

This is great! I appreciate your taking the time; well I am hoping to hear more good news from you

Plastic trash could top 13 billion tons by 2050, and recycling doesn’t help much if human beings don’t take any action to minimize the current plastic consumption. In our company, OVC staffs are aware of this matter and start replacing plastic items with utensils made from glass, stainless steel, or porcelain to contain daily drinks and food; canvas bags, pretty paper bags are substituted for plastic bags. If we are aware of a "sustainable" lifestyle, we are contributing to protect the environment apart from countless benefits for ourselves and our family. Not much, just little changes to our daily life routines, we are making the world better.

As a young M&E Engineer in a Construction Company, what do you think you need do to help the environment?
Ta Van Huy: Things we can do at home or at work from now on, to save the heart of the Planet!
   - Do not use disposable bottles for drinking water in meeting or picnic, as an alternative we use reusable containers
  - Do not use plastic bags, one-use wipes in any activities in our company, at meetings  and at home. Alternatively, biodegradable garbage bags made of Organic materials such as ANECO bags.
  - Encourage everyone in our company to aware of using products made from sustainable materials, contributing to creating a sustainable lifestyle.

In Japan, and many developed countries worldwide completely use solar panels to reduce electricity consumption. As a manager of the M&E design team, which solutions  should we advised customers to save energy and protect the environment?
Ta Van Huy: Currently, to protect environment by reducing electricity consumption is a urgent attention in Vietnam and all over the world. As a Construction company, we care about the “Green Buildings”, friendly environment, we can provide sustainable solutions for our clients such as chillers with high module, Ice-bank cold storage, HRV heat recovery system or installing systems using solar panel - the key to a clean energy future, CO2-free, low operating costs, or wind power battery, geothermal energy. There are also many other advanced technologies that are being applied in the near future.

How long have you been working for Obayashi?
Ta Van Huy: Since 2008

At present, our company has a policy of encouraging support for higher education staff, improving professional skills. Do you plan to study Master in Vietnam or to study in Japan?
Ta Van Huy: I would like to study MBA in business administration

Why are you interested in MBA?
Ta Van Huy: I want to invest in self-growth, I think this course will bring me ability to analyze problems and a sharp mind. In addition, MBA can help me understand the bigger picture of management and leadership, then have a very different perspective on the orientation toward practical business. This is one of the important factors for working in a team with colleagues, the ability to manage and persuade customers.

You just welcomed a new member this year, so does it influence much on your family if you are proposed for overseas training or other study program?
Ta Van Huy: It will definitely affect, but I will arrange time to balance.

As the position of a manager and father, which role do you think you do better?
Ta Van Huy: It’s hard to give a clear explanation… it’s not easy to make clear this matter.

Interviewer: Could you tell me, how does your  normal day looks like?
Huy Manh: Well, I usually get up at six in the morning, after 15 mins of exercise, I will prepare  my breakfast, a very important meal of a day which provides full energy to begin a new day. Morning is effective working time for me. I start working at 8am and leave office around 19pm. Then it’s time for personal things and acquiring new knowledge, or running my own business. Of course, that’s a normal day, some special days for my family and other relationships and physical activities. I always balance between work and life.

Interviewer: Which areas are you searching for?
Huy Manh: I like drawing, I really admire the imagination and hand-drawing competence of architects.

Interviewer: How do you spend time for physical activities?
Huy Manh: I like playing sports, especially team sports. I join the company football club every Tuesday night. At weekend, I usually play the shuttlecock in the park. All my stress has been gone when I play sports.

Interviewer:    If someone is going to cook you a meal, what would you like him/ her to cook?
Huy Manh:    I am an easy-eating person. I like and taste all kinds of foods. It’s hard to describe which one is the best, but I think tortoise/snails hotpot with green banana is my favorite. This dish is often found in wedding party in my hometown. The green banana after cooked is glutinous, mixing with the greasy taste of the bacon, the nutty flavor of peanuts, the crunchiness of snails, all combination creates a great dish.

Interviewer: What is your favorite pet?
Huy Manh: I like animals, but I don’t have any pets

Interviewer: Who is the idol that you look up too?
Huy Manh: Roger Federer! A professional Tennis Player, do you know him? Federer is an alive monument in this sport with records of the number of championships in the top leagues, not only one of the most talented athletes on the planet, but also one of the richest. He has very early professional career, and keeps the Greatest of All Time. At his age, other athletes have retired from their career, but he still keeps the top rank thanks to his hard-practice. When he's not on the court, he is a model man of the family. Maybe I'll try playing tennis in future.

Interviewer: Do you have any bad habits?
Huy Manh: I don’t know…(lol), please tell me! If that’s bad habits, I will never repeat.

Interviewer: What do you do for fun when you are in bad mood?
Huy Manh: Hang out with friends, or play Video Game at home.

Yoga is a great way to work on your flexibility and strength, also helps you have a better view of life. I  admire your curve in yoga poses, bending easily, how can you do that?
Thu Ngọc: honestly, no secret just practice, practice and practice. Although some not-so-fun feelings may occur at the beginning of doing yoga when I haven’t experienced a sense of openness in my body yet, I always do with all my mind and body.

At 3 yoga levels: basic, average and advanced, flexibility is not as important as what we learn and experience through the exercises. Can you share with us your experience?
Thu Ngọc: We can’t talk about yoga without talking about practicing the postures, in fact, neither have to practice difficult and complex poses to get the best results nor to sweat as much as possible, but how we do breathing properly, an important factor that makes yoga completely different.

The company has just established Yoga Club to help people relax after work, what advice do you have for everyone when they start doing yoga?
Thu Ngọc: Yoga is for everyone, whether you are old or young, overweight or fit, yoga has the ability to relieve the mind and strengthen the body, the most important thing for those who start practicing yoga is deep breathing, and proper breathing. Inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the nose or mouth will increase the amount of oxygen, reduce the amount of carbonic, help us have more energy, the body will always be full of energy. Deep, slow and long breathing exercises will make the training process much more effective.
And when you really understand yoga, people will feel more and more their body and what kinds of food they will consume, then bad food will definitely be limited.

If someone wants to become a professional yogi, where should people practice?
Thu Ngọc: It doesn't matter where the practice is, yoga masters have developed and classified different types of yoga to suit each person's needs and fitness. Yogi should learn the type of yoga that suits them and be ready, determined to exercise physically towards the ultimate goal of making the body energized, longer meditation, quiet feeling and peace in soul. In addition to sharing and guidance from yoga trainer, finding out the philosophy and thoughts of life, the knowledge behind yoga should be well-prepared when you start yoga

Which yoga posture do you like best?
Thu Ngọc: when I am getting familiar with yoga, I really enjoy breathing-focused exercises (Pranayama) and core work exercises, fortunately I have a flexible body, and quite bendable, so practicing poses that require flexibility is quite comfortable, but soon I will focus more on Power yoga, a practice that requires good physical fitness and high concentration.

To comment on yourself, what would you say?
Thu Ngọc: think positive, like to explore new culture, that's why I study Japanese, to understand more about people and the beauty of Japanese art and architecture.

So, is there anything you are pursuing to improve yourself?
Thu Ngọc: I think, to improve myself, constantly learn something new, give me the opportunity to meet many new people, when the mind is constantly developing, I will control my emotions well. Go to new places and experience life instead of just hanging around in a familiar place. And this is a very simple thing, helping me to improve myself more is to wake up earlier than usual, a small habit that helps me start the day in an exciting way.

How do you think when a person suddenly compliments you “Beautiful”?
Thu Ngọc: This is a gift of great spiritual value, really grateful and appreciated.

Thank you so much for your sharing

Hi Tuan, let’s start the interview by an easy question, to describe yourself, what would you say?
Tuan Anh: Friendly, happy

Which color stands for your personality?
Tuan Anh: Blue

What are you pursuing to improve yourself?
Answer: study more about software for work, as an engineer, learning to work as an architect.

What do you think if company rotates you to Building Department to enrich your knowledge in a flexible way?
Tuan Anh: I graduated as a construction engineer, but am currently working in Obayashi's Design Department. If being rotated to the construction side will be a good opportunity to learn more practical knowledge as well as accumulate more expertise for design work.

If so, how long do you expect for new challenge?
Tuan Anh: Depending on the training program of the company, it may take 1 ~ 2 years (a project from beginning until end is the best) to fully understand the construction process.

This is probably the advantage for an architect when he receives feedback from the owner after handing over the project, then check the feasibility that creates good products and user’s convenience for the next ones, hope you will work on new position soon. What is your favorite sport?
Tuan Anh: Table-tennis

You play this sport for body-building or work motivation?
Tuan Anh: Table-tennis does not work much on  physical strength, mainly to help develop the ability of reflexes, hand-eye coordination and your focus.

What can ping-pong teach you about motivation?
Tuan Anh: your passions are a part of you, no matter the body is weak or strong,  just like a ping-pong game,  the observation skill is important; when you work, remember that practice always needs to go hand in hand with knowledge.  

Which movies you watch recently and what remained after that?
Tuan Anh: Game of thrones. The film shows unclear boundaries between good people and bad people, characters that aren’t wholly good or wholly evil. There is also a story about friendship, family affection, vows, honor ...etc.

About Game of Thrones, I think of Jason Momoa- an actor, a director, and a film producer, also a great husband and father. Different from the image in the movie, in real life, Jason Momoa is a gentle, humorous and emotional person, and how about you? Which actor/actress do you like  most?  Who is similar with your personality?
Tuan Anh: I like John Snow the most, feeling similar to my character. I am also interested in keeping and fulfilling the promise, respecting promises and honors, putting family affection first.

Another question for you, it’s little bit personal, are you married?
Tuan Anh:  Married in 2015

So how will your small family react if you have to work away from home?
Tuan Anh:  my kid is over 2 years old, if I work far away from home, I think we meet some difficulties in childcare because we don’t live with our parents and grandparents, they can’t receive direct support from them.

Thank you very much for your interesting sharing, wish you and your family lots of joy and health.

You are known as a girl who loves vintage-style clothing and has a strong personality.  I am guessing that you have a vast of assortment of unique items that will make you stand out from the crowd.  What is the must-have item in your daily life?
Answer:  A vintage clothes-pin or cross-body bags

Please define your personal style by your clothing.
Answer:  
      

Why do you like bohemian style clothing?
Answer:     “with its roots in free spirit” is my first choice.

I know a little about your work – life balance, you tend to spend a lot of time on drawing, painting, travelling, and landscape shooting.  Until now; how many pictures have you done?  How many places have you been?  Can you show us one of your favorite accomplishments / artistic works?  And lastly, what place leaves you with the best memories?
Answer:   Painting is my hobby, I am often sketching in my handbook because it’s easy for me to carry when I travel.  So unfortunately, none of my sketches have become a real picture yet!
                 Each place I pass by gives me unforgettable impressions; like a sea of clouds flowing through the canyons in Lao Cai – Lai Chau; the poetic scenery of Ha Giang Stone Plateau in peach blossoms and mustard flowers; the freshness in Cinque Terre (Italy) or even a little regret when not hunting fireflies on a rainy night in Alishan (Taiwan).  So many things everywhere should be and go on, these experience and locations give so much inspiration.

If company offers you an opportunity to visit any countries in the world, which one would you visit?
Answer:  USA, many things to do in UTAH, far more than just a state, Utah is a state of mind (surprising beauty of national parks – Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon) – so perfect destination for my next adventure.

How do you take care of your cat when you leave home?
Answer:  Cats are extremely loving little friends and most importantly they know how to take care of themselves.  So if you're single and don't spend much time at home, keep a cat!! ^. ^

Thank you for this short interview designed for webpage news feeds.   You used to work in the HCM head office over one year, if you are proposed to work away from home again, what will you miss most?
Reply: You see, the answer is right in the question that you asked. The most challenging part of working away from home is missing home. But for me, challenge means opportunity to experience a new working and living environment, to conquer new limits within myself and to make my character stronger.

If you are sad what do you do to change your mood?
Reply: Overall, I consider myself to be a very optimistic and positive person.   I like to live a life in a cheerful way with a very low level of stress and sadness.  However; when I am in a sad mood, I then share my feelings with my family and friends to cheer up.  They are my biggest support network!

Do you have any bad habits?
Reply: I sometimes am too much of a perfectionist.

What do you do for relaxation in your free time?
Reply: My family is always my first priority!  Then meeting friends occasionally to experience different perspectives in life.   If I am alone, I like to read books and listen to music.

Do you have a favorite book?
Reply: One of my favorite books is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

Do you have any idols that you look up too?
Reply: My Dad is my #1 idol in my life!

Company offered you a year to Japan for training, can you share with us interesting experience about people, life and study there?

Reply:
I feel lucky for a year to study in Japan. Life and learning were great, apart from improving my skills and professional knowledge, I also experience interesting life, people and traditional Japanese culture.
 
You have never learned Japanese before, but to get N3 in a very short time, how did you study?

Reply:
With determination, persistence and trying to learn more about Japanese culture, I think N3 is not too difficult to achieve.

What was your first impression when you arrived in Japan?

Reply:
A country is safe and clean from the air, the street to everything around; people are so friendly and kind

Many new discoveries at first time, the Japanese people are more polite than your imagination, the sceneries are beautiful as anime, ... Japan in the eyes of most Vietnamese people is truly a lovely land, but communication and behavior are so different from us, do you encounter any culture shock? Do you have any advices for those who will be going to Japan for training next year?

Reply:
Japan has a big difference in regions, so within japan, there are different from languages, customs and rules. At first I was a little worried. However, everyone was very good and the instructors were very helpful, so after a short time I was used to these principles. I hope that those who are going to study in the near future should learn about Japanese people and culture first. This really helps you learn Japanese better and integrate well with the community.

Which hometown dishes you miss most when you were in Japan? Which Japanese food do you like best?

Reply:
The Japanese food is yummy and healthy which beautifully decorated, I especially like sushi and sashimi. However, I always remember the taste of Bun Bo of Vietnam

Can you share your travel, eating, shopping, ... and your life in general during the training year?

Reply:
Public transport in Japan is very developed and modern, convenient and safe; go shopping at weekend and experience life here.

What are the most memorable memories of your training year?

Reply:
I think being able to sit under Sakura tree for enjoying sake is the best memory

Could you tell us about an average day in your life?
Answer: Thank you for this interesting talk. I have a small rooftop garden and my first day activities start from here, take care of my garden, do exercise, then wake up my kids to ready for school.

That's so healthy to warm up a new day! What time do you often go to bed?
Answer: (laugh…) it depends! flexible! but often before 12pm and of course with some exceptions.

Let's talk about your career. How many projects have you done until now?
Answer: In 2007, when I joined OVC, I was working in Phuc Dien & Tan Truong industrial parks in Hai Duong province where I participated and completed projects such as Jaguar Factory, Aureole Business Components & Devices Inc. factory, Yusen Air & sea service warehouse, Sanyu Seimitsu, etc. Since October 2008, I have been transferred to Thang Long Industrial Park to join Canon Misc. group and support the nearby projects. Do you think my work is different from others in the design section?

Wow! if I don’t know you, I think you are doing as an Engineer. Are you studying anything now? What kind of soft skill classes to you currently attend, if any
Answer: I am burning to learn new things, but time is not allowed me to approach by normal way. So I follow my own way, learning Revit software by Internet

Where would you like to see your career go in the future? 
Answer: Career success is what any OVC employee wants and aims. However, I understand that everything has a reason. We work smart and are determined to fight for that goal. I am not an exception.

That's impressive. Do you have any private future projects? Please tell us         
Answer: A very interesting question. I like making plans, for the Company common goal and for a busier life. Anyway, I am absolutely interested in connecting Design & Build by latest software application.
Great. How about your retirement plan? At the age of 50, 60, or never want to retire.  
Answer: By the time I hit 60, and then hopefully, I still continue working as seniors in our company do now in position of senior advisors. They are great examples of talent and devotion. I respect and admire them. At my age, 42 now, I am in the top aspiration of working, working is my life. 

That's good to hear. You seem to have a busy life of an Architecture, my dream is doing as an Architecture too. I would like to be a famous Designer. Thank you for the interview.
Answer: Thank you.

You have been with Obayashi for nearly 13 years, however it’s the first time I have met you in our one-week overseas training trip in Thailand.  During this time I found that you are quite pure and peaceful in life and rustic but very modern in thinking.  Can you share with us what you do to build your happy home?

My current happiness is in pursuit of my passion, doing my favorite work, caring for my children, watching them grow up every day, and having support and love from my family. Like many modern women today, I have to successfully complete the work in the Company and get on in family life through good time management. Personally, I attach great importance to my physical and mental health care, nutritious meals are always my top priority to keep my family happy, having a habit of sleeping early for long enough, listening to my body more are what we should do to help ourselves find happiness and plan our future.

Which experience from Thailand trip with Team in HCM makes you love traveling and devoting to Obayashi for so long?
Each trip, every destination gives us great experience, knowing more about new customs in different cultures.  I also love the Japanese country and its culture, so I have a strong attachment to Obayashi until now.  I believe opportunities to visit this country is coming soon.

And in terms of career, to manage the design team well, what do you focus on or do?
In my point of view, on feminine gender, especially the younger generation, we should value both outer and inner beauty.  In addition, it is very helpful to have professional knowledge, soft skills in communication, and behavior and ability to make decisions. 

Life is definitely full of ups and downs.  During times when life, work or family depress you, how do you quickly regain your inner strength? 

“Just stay calm”- all will be easily solved!"

In your viewpoint; how important is family to help your work and life balance?

The work as an Architect occupies almost all of my time, often I’m coming home late, so I don’t have enough time for household chores; but luckily, I receive a strong and sharing support from loving family members; my Mother, in-laws, my husband and my aunt-in-law.  They always give me the peace of mind to focus on my work.  I am so grateful and appreciate it.

Thank you for your sharing and useful advice for us.

I know you can play some classic instruments, sing folk songs, and you often appear in an impressive beard, we think that you are an artist rather than an Architect, do you have any secrets but we don't know? Also please use a brief description about you in only four words?

 
When thinking about an artist, people often think of the image of a romantic person who loves poets or music. In my opinion, whether you are an architect or musician or artist, you all need passion and persistence to pursue your achievements.
The four words to describe my personality are: Friendly frankness and full energy

Where does your full energy source come from?

 
I feel that luckily I have been able to do the job in my own right, and to live and work within my passion. I often nourish my body by participating in sport clubs and nurturing my mind by music, these help to balance and give me a top level of concentration. My most powerful source of motivation is still my small family, they bring me new inspiration and a high level of energy.  

Looking back 10 years, which limitations did you find yourself wanting to overcome?

I became a very hardworking person from a very lazy one

Will you continue to contribute to OVC for the next 10 years?

 
In 10 years I will have learned a lot from Japanese people, I am very proud to always go a long way. I always have a tendency of positive change, long-term dedication and commitment. I want to contribute as much as I can to the company and to my career!

I really like your working style, very fast and good planning. Thank you and good luck!!

To let you know more about Design team, we have a short talk with A Senior Manager in Hochiminh Head Office this month. She joined OVC in June 2002 as an Architect, over 16 years of working experience in Obayashi Vietnam Corporation provides her a good knowledge of Vietnamese market and understand well clients’ desire to offer them the best concept.

I think everybody is curious about your working style to provide new ideas for our clients, can you tell us the specific principle in your creativity?

 
I really prefer the simple style – minimalism in life as well as in architecture design idea. For me, it allows me to recognize the things that I truly value and to clear superfluous clutters.  As Leonardo Da Vinci saying “ Simplicity is ultimate sophistication”.

As a Manager & a Mom of 2 kids at the age of teenager while they need you spend more time with them, so what do you do to keep your work and life balance?

 
Yoga and Meditation really bring me inspiration and self-control, great for managing stress and pressure. I maintain regular practice to refresh my mind and nourish my body. I think all of you can do it if you really have passion and know what you want.

I have one more question for you, I know you love drawing and Architecture since you were a kid, but “if you had a chance to choose your career again, would you challenge you in another domain?”

 
I have a passion and aptitude for painting drawing since my childhood and have working dream related to this. However, before graduated from high school, I had no image or plan to approach University of architecture until my friend asked me replace her to join a course of drawing practice for examination.
With me, architecture is still my correctly decision until now ….

Thank you so much for your interesting share. Good luck to you!