A study on vision of vietnamese corporations lesson from president ho chi minhs vision

1.7.4 Communicating the Vision Chapter 2: Research on Vietnamese corporations 2.1 Unawareness of the importance of Vision of an organization: 2.1.1 The enterprises do not think that Vi

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Vu Anh Duong

A STUDY ON VISION OF VIETNAMESE CORPORATIONS

& LESSON FROM PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH’S VISION

Major: Business Administration

TABLE OF CONTENT

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

INTRODUCTION

1 Statement of the study

2 Objectives and Aims

1.3 Desirable characteristics for a Vision

1.3.1 Simple and compendious:

1.3.2 Inner worth:

1.3.3 Challenging and realistic:

1.3.4 Appealing and encouraging:

1.3.5 Concentrate:

1.3.6 Time factor:

1.3.7 Vivid picture:

1.4 Distinguish an Vision

1.4.1 Vision and mission:

1.4.2 Vision and core value:

1.4.3 Vision and slogan:

1.4.4 Vision and strategic:

1.4.5 Vision and project objective:

1.5 Procedures for Developing a Vision

1.6 Transforming a vision

1.7 Lesson of the Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

1.7.1 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

a The first case

b The second case

1.7.2 Structure of Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

a Core ideology

b Great aspiration

1.7.3 Characteristics of Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

1.7.4 Communicating the Vision

Chapter 2: Research on Vietnamese corporations

2.1 Unawareness of the importance of Vision of an organization:

2.1.1 The enterprises do not think that Vision is extremely important

2.1.2 The enterprises do not want to have Vision

2.2 The enterprises do not clearly understand Vision

2.2.1 Misunderstanding about the vision

a Wrong in Vision structure:

b Lack of necessary characteristics of Vision

2.2.2 The enterprises mistake on Vision:

a Vision and Mission

b Vision and core value:

c Vision and Slogan:

d Vision and Strategic objectives:

e Vision and Project objectives:

2.3 The enterprises cannot effectively communicate their Vision

2.3.1 Bad Vision statement

2.3.2 No communicate the Vision

2.3.3 No invest to brainpower and efforts to develop and communicate a Vision

2.4 Discussions

Chapter 3: Conclusions and recommendations

3.1 Conclusions

3.2 Recommendations

3.2.1 Develop a successful vision

3.2.2 Communicate widely the vision

3.2.3 Commitment to follow the vision

READING REFERENCES

APPENDIX 1

APPENDIX 2

A STUDY ON VISION OF VIETNAMESE CORPORATIONS

& LESSON FROM PRESIDENT HO CHI MINH’S VISION

Vu Anh Duong MBA Candidate, 2007 – 2009 School of Business Vietnam National University, Hanoi Supervisor: Dr Ta Ngoc Cau

The Vision of enterprises has become more and more important with the enterprise especially in the deep and wide integrating process of Vietnam economy now Whether, the enterprise will develop in the right direction, right itinerary as planned and whether the enterprises have a huge enough aspiration, which will direct all members, endeavored to develop company Almost big company in the world has set up a goal, ambition of international stature and then they initially are the big company of country to become the leading international enterprises Their visions will have to be big enough and transformed to all member, employees, and owners of company, as result they will contribute to the strength of their company

1 Objectives and Aims

In order to get a full knowledge of the Vision and Vision of Ho Chi Minh President, and how to suggest Vietnamese Leaders, the study will aim to achieve the following objectives:

1 Clear the Vision and Mission of organization? Form and content; required characteristics; differentiate Vision with other statements

2 Find out the lessons about leadership styles of Ho Chi Minh President in term of setting up vision and how to transform the vision

3 Research the biggest companies and cooperation in Vietnam

4 Give suggestions for Vietnamese Leaders to create an appealing vision to apply into their organization

5 Give the approach or suggestion to transform the vision to each member of organization

2 Research questions

To fulfill the objectives of the study, the following research questions need to be answered:

 What is Vision and Mission of organization?

 What is characteristic of Vision?

 How to develop a vision? How is the valuable vision?

 What are the differences between Mission and Vision?

 How to transfer a vision of corporation to all people within the corporation?

 In Vietnam, how do Vietnamese Leaders develop and implement their vision?

 What are suggestions for Vietnamese Leaders?

3 Scope of Work

 The thesis focuses on studying the biggest Vietnamese enterprises The conclusions; evaluations; recommendations; or proposal aim to apply on the biggest corporations of Vietnam and the world

 This study will focus on analyzing Vision and vision transformation of Ho Chi Minh President

 To generalize the fact of Vietnamese companies, study considers the Vietnamese biggest private companies

4 Data Sources and Processing

 Book: Leadership in organizations; fifth edition; The author: Gary Yukl

 Built to last ; The author: Jim Collins

 Vietnam report 500 (VNR500)

 Documents and profile of 100 Vietnamese largest private enterprises

 “The CEO golden rules” author Mary key + Dennis Stearns

 Author: Susan Ward issued on website: About.com (a part of NY times company)

5 Method

This study is an empirical research, which applied two methods:

 Review of related literature/documentation

 Interview relevant people

Review of Related Literature/Documentation: This will examine the multidisciplinary theories of and empirical studies on corporate social responsibility in the literature Besides, it will help to compare between theory and practical activities

Interview: Questions will be developed and structured interviews are conducted

6 Significance and implications

This study will contribute to the body of knowledge and understanding on Vision, Mission, and effective Leadership It will also help Vietnamese enterprises enrich their knowledge on Vision for better application in cooperation with business activities

7 Limitations

While the study examines the biggest companies, represented by 100 leading corporations, there are limitations on data sources for analyzing and giving out discussions and conclusions Besides, the inconsistent reporting system of different corporations on Vision is also another limitation for the study

8 Expected Results

The study will give a better understanding on the Vision definition and Vision transformation as well

as the modern Vision’s transformation activities in the World and in Vietnam Vietnamese corporations’ Vision awareness, implementation, and achievements are also figured out through successful case studies Moreover, some suggestions for promoting Vision in Vietnamese enterprises are recommended at the end of the study

9 Disseminations

The result of study will be useful for many target groups Many Vietnamese enterprises might be interested in the recommendations and the conclusions of the study, from which they can get useful information on how to react in Vision-related issues and how to benefit from them

The research is divided into three parts, which are including:

Chapter 1: Theoretical Foundation: Will give a relevant theoretical background to the study

and case study of Ho Chi Minh

Chapter 2: Research on Vietnamese corporations: In this chapter, Vision understanding and

implementation in Vietnam will be reviewed One hundred biggest private corporations representing for Vietnamese enterprises will be analyzed on their awareness, real activities

In connection with the Vision of Ho Chi Minh in term of creation and transformation of visions, it will be the best lesson for Vietnamese company

Chapter 3: Conclusions and recommendations: Conclusions and recommendations will be

noticed for better implementation of Vision in Vietnamese enterprises

CHAPTER 1: THEORETICAL FOUNDATION

“Vision” has been commonly used nowadays; however, it also has rarely been understood right meaning When someone has been asked “what is the vision?” there is less people can understand the right meaning of this word or can give the right definition of it, however almost of people know that

it is the goal, the long-term plan described the future

Thesis will extract some Vision definitions of some authors in the world to bring out the general observation as well as basic meaning of Vision

“Vision includes two main parts: A core ideology and a future perspective Let pay attention to the symmetrical motivation is “Keeping the core value – promoting the advance.” A far Vision

is built on the connection between two elements of “Jin” and “Yang”: on the one side it determines “the reason for existence of us” (core ideology, constancy), at the same time on the other side it talks about “what we expect to achieve, become, create (that will promote the advance and change to achieve the future perspective.”

Quoted “Built to Last” of author - Jim Collins & Jerry I.Porras

“The Vision can provide a sense of continuity for followers by liking past events and present strategies to a vivid image of a better future for the organization The vision provides hope for

a better future and the faith that it will be attained some day During the hectic and confusing process of implementing major change, a clear vision helps to guide and coordinate the decisions and actions of thousands of people working in widely dispersed location.”

Quoted “Leadership in organization” of author Gary Yulk

According to the author, Vision is a future vision that the enterprise should look forward to and it becomes dynamism to encourage everybody to share his or her efforts to achieve it Vision is offered basing on the current core value or the past and great aspiration of the enterprise

Based on the above-mentioned definitions, Author found that Vision could be understood as follows:

1 It is the combination between cores values of organization with the ambition that the organizations want to archive in the future

2 The statement of the Vision is imagination about the future of its organization However, the imagination is not without basic it has been raised from real abilities of organization in the present and the past

3 Vision is not same with Mission that the purpose of Vision attends to its organization and the member of its organization, purpose of Mission attend to customer of its organization

4 The statement of Vision will not present how to reach to it, it only show the direction of other business plans That is the reason why the organization issues a statement of Vision while the Leader has to image where his organization come to and has enough courage to dream of it Besides that, statement of Vision could catch the emotion of a Leader

5 A good vision should have a strength to attract everybody in the enterprise to together look forward to and achieve it in the future, basing on the competence or characteristics that the enterprise is owning That means Vision should emphasize the strongest point of the enterprise, what the enterprise needs to exploit it is to overcome the desire of the enterprise itself

1.2 Structure of Vision

This thesis has a special interest in a model or structure and elements of “Vision” of an organization; thereby “Vision” includes Core ideology and Future perspective Following this vision means to create link of organization and strategy to keep cores and push up advances for a future perspective Such link brings vitality and realizes initial vision

1.2.1 Core ideology:

Constant particulars of an organization are constant factors and surpass product/ market life cycle, technological advances, administration styles and leaders Frankly, the biggest and most important contribution of “architects” of the world leading corporations is core ideology of such corporations The talented leaders will depart this world, products will be outdated, the market will change, new technologies will appear, and administration styles will change Nevertheless, core ideology of a

leading corporation is always invariable and a guiding star for development The core ideology includes core values and core objectives

- Core values:

Core values are basic and constant of an organization The core values are a small group of leading, constant, and unexplained principles They have internal values and importance for members of the organization

- Core goals:

Core goals are basic reason for existence of an organization Between core goals and core values, core goals are considered more important in leading and communicating inspiration for an organization

To see more clearly, what the core value is The author selected and offered some examples about the core goals, as follows:

 3M: Solving the unsolved problems creatively and innovatively

 Wal-mart: Creating opportunity for ordinary people to purchase the goods like the rich often

buy

 Merck: Protecting and developing human life

Example about Core ideology:

Table 1.1: Case of core ideology

Ford Motor

Humans are the core of the company strength

The product is the final results of efforts Profit is a necessary means, being measure of success Honesty, veracious in business

Sony

Expect to achieve happiness achieved due to development, renovation and applying technology due to the benefit of community

Improving the cultural life of Japan Always be leaders

Respect and encourage the ability and creativity of the staff IBM

Taking enough care to all staff Spending time bringing about trust to customers Going to end in all pledge, always in leading position

1.2.2 Future perspective:

It includes two small parts: Big hairy audacious goal (BHAG) for duration of 10-30 years and a specific description about the company’s situation upon obtaining such BHAG Future perspective describes a detail and vivid future of an organization when it reaches to the BHAG stipulated It is supposed concretization of the Vision; from words of mouth to the detail “picture”; create the vivid images appear on mind of organization’s member The author believes that it is “paint the picture by words.” The “painting” is extremely important to lead the BHAG (long term 10-30 years) will become what is very detailed, visible things on the member’s mind Please consider the example of Henry Ford, instead of saying the importance of cars and present about his cars and company, he describe the future society with car, it is looked very nice and excited society not only for society but also for his employees

The example about Henry Ford describes future perspective: “I will supply cars for the majority of people Cars should have reasonable prices, helping any commuters can purchase them, using them comfortably with their families By then, anyone can have a car Horse carriages will disappear from the highways of our country, cars will be considered as an obvious means of transport … and we will create jobs with high salaries for many laborers.”

1.2.3 Vision:

Nature of the Vision as analyzed above is a combination between the present and the future, any company’s Vision must be shown Core ideology and BHAG Some leaders seem to ignore the past or the present and only focus on the future If a leader respects things obtained by his organization or

himself and expresses respect for the persons who lay foundation for his position This makes people

of such organization feel unworried because they know that they are members of an organization with historical depth and all their efforts to be respected

The example about Vision of Merck: “With the tools supplied by us, science and knowledge will develop; people’s life will be free from diseases and anxieties We pledge to assist maximally so that the center will deserve our belief Let’s people fetch for truth, the laborers are hard-working for a better world, those who always raise the torch of science and knowledge, having more courage and feel that they are always assisted by us.”

1.3 Desirable characteristics for a Vision

The Thesis has integrated the most essential characteristics that a vision should be:

1.3.1 Simple and compendious:

A vision should be simple and idealistic, a picture of a desirable future, not a complex plan with quantitative objectives and detailed action steps In addition, a successful vision should be simple enough to be communicated clearly in five minutes or less A successful vision must be easy to remember and remind as well as it must be excited every one whenever mentioned it This characteristic requires a vision should be simple enough to such an extent that all people in the organization can understand and remember

1.3.2 Inner worth:

The main purpose of vision attend to the member inside the organization, therefore The vision should appeal to the values, hopes, and ideals of organizations members and other stakeholders whose support is needed The vision not only guides the people know where they need to go, what they are required to perform but also support them to go right way

1.3.3 Challenging and realistic:

The vision should be challenging but realistic Hope is not a vision; vision has to be realistic other than it will be an impractical ideal Realistic of the vision should increase faith on a leader The vision should address basic assumption about what is important for the organization, how it should relate to the environment, and how people should be treated Turning a vision into realistic, it is not meaning turning it into challenge If the vision not requires all people have to try by their best, maybe they will ask themselves that their contribution will be worth A number of leaders may be afraid since challenging his group However, a challenge should interest the qualified person want to have wingspan and take off as well as inflame enthusiasm of conscientious person and make threats against emotionless person Challenging will support the people on the organization have to attempt

by their best to achieve the goals

1.3.4 Appealing and encouraging:

The vision should be appealing, compelling and encourage enough to evolve the people A successful vision should excite on value, hope, and idea of all member on the organization as well as stakeholders who their contribution is very necessary with the organization The vision should emphasize distant ideological objectives rather than immediate tangible benefits

1.3.5 Concentrate:

It should be focused enough to guide decisions and actions, but general enough to allow initiative and creatively in the strategies for attaining it The vision will state how to achieve the inspiration of enterprise however, it should not show the detail any way or step

Vision should stem from sincere sentiment, passionate feelings, the convincement of the listeners, etc which are basic qualities of Vision It is possible that some managers do not wish to express sentiment when talking about their desires; however, the truth is like that which is easy to attract and encourage people more Let us try to analyze an example about the declaration of Winston Churchill

in 1940, he not only stated clearly: “Let’s defeat Hitler”, but said:

“Hitler knew that he had to either defeat us on this island, or lose in the whole war If we stay firm, the whole Europe will be free, and life in the whole world will step forward If we lose, this whole world (including the US, including what we take care about) will fall into the abyss of prolonged disasters Thus, take our hands firmly to implement our mission; how to make the United Kingdom exists more than one thousand years, people will keep talking about today as follows: That is their most splendid time.”

1.4 Distinguish an Vision

Vision is a term used with many different meanings, and there is widespread confusion about it It is unclear whether a mission statement, strategic, objective, value statement, or slogan constitutes an effective vision In the absence of direct research on this question, one way to answer it is to examine each construct in relation to the desirable characteristics for a vision This analysis suggests that a compelling and enduring vision usually requires something more than a bland mission statement, a slogan, a list of value, or a specific strategic objective

1.4.1 Vision and mission:

The mission statement usually describes the purpose of the organization in terms of the type of activities to be performed for constituents or customers A vision is concerned with what these activities mean to people The core of the vision is the organization’s mission, but different aspects of

it may be emphasized A successful vision tells you not only what the organization does, but why it is worthwhile and exciting to do it A successful vision makes the typical dull, abstract mission statement come alive, infusing it with excitement, arousing emotions, and stimulating creativity to achieve it

In vision there usually includes Mission, thus in many cases Vision and Mission are not clearly distinguishable or they can be one entity However, it is still recognizable of its basis and qualities, specifically: Vision is mostly used internally of the organization whereas Mission is often used for objects outside organization such as customers or partners

1.4.2 Vision and core value:

A value statement is a list of the key values or ideological themes considered important for an organization The values usually pertain to treatment of customers, treatment of organization members, core competencies, and standards of excellence Common themes include satisfying customers, achieving excellence in products or services, and making important contributions to society A value statement provides a good beginning for developing a more complete vision However, just listing values does not clearly explain their relative priority, how they are interrelated,

or how they will be expressed and achieved An effective vision statement provides a glimpse of a possible future in which all the key values are realized at the same time

Basing on the structure of Vision mentioned above, Vision should include core values of the enterprise and Vision should be based on that core value if one wishes to have a strong enough and feasible vision The distinction here is core value is what an organization is having, is possessing and

it should actually be the strength of that organization, and Vision will be built on that basic background

1.4.3 Vision and slogan:

Slogans are used to summarize and communicate values in simple terms However, a slogan is limited in how many values can be expressed Consider the following examples: technology is our business, quality is job one, we feel good when you feel good, all the news people want to read, and partners in making dreams come true Only the last slogan has more than one value; it describes the ideal service provided to customers and the ideal relationship among the providers Slogan can be useful as part of a larger vision, but overemphasis on a simplistic slogan can trivialize the vision and diminish important values not include in the slogan

The slogan is like mission, it mainly serves the objects who are customers or partners of organizations Thus, all individuals in the Organization should try their same strength to achieve and serve the Slogan of the Organization; however, the beneficiary is not only the individuals in the organization Vision is introspective, all individuals in the organization strives their best to achieve the same aloft purpose of the organization that the beneficiary from that strive is the individuals of this organization

1.4.4 Vision and strategic:

Strategic objectives are tangible outcomes or results to be achieved, sometimes by a specific deadline A performance objective may be stated in terms of the absolute level of performance (e.g., profits, sales, return on investment), or the relative level of performance (e.g., becoming number one

in the industry or region, outperforming a traditional rival) Neither type of objective is likely to involve enduring, ideological themes Performance objectives are useful to guide planning and facilitate evaluation of progress, but the focus of a vision should be on values and ideological themes, not on improvement of economic outcomes or outperforming rivals If performance objectives are included in a vision, they should be regarded as milestones along the way toward achieving ideological objectives

1.4.5 Vision and project objective:

Project objective are defined in terms of the successful completion of a complex activity (e.g., developing a new type of product, implementing a new MBA program establishing a subsidiary in China) These objectives can emphasize economic outcomes, ideological outcomes, or both A limitation of most project objectives is their relatively short time perspective When the project is completed, the vision is end Project objectives can be included in the long-term vision for an organization or a supplementary vision can be built around an especially important project However,

no single project should be allowed to eclipse the fuller, more enduring vision for the organization

1.5 Procedures for Developing a Vision

It is extremely difficult to develop a compelling vision, and it cannot be generated by a mechanical formula Judgment and analytical ability are needed to synthesize the vision, but intuition and creativity are important as well To develop an appealing vision, it is essential to have a good understanding of the organization (its operations, products, services, markets, competitors, and social-political environment), its culture (shared beliefs and assumptions about the world and the organization’s place in it), and the underlying needs and values of employees and other stakeholders

In most cases, a successful vision is not the creation of a single, heroic leader working alone, but instead in reflects the contributions of many diverse people in the organization The vision is seldom created in a single moment of revelation, but instead it takes shape during a lengthy process of exploration, discussion, and refinement of ideas

Some tentative guideline to help leaders develop a vision is summarized as follows:

- Involve key stakeholders

- Identify strategic objectives with wide appeal

- Identify relevant elements in the old ideology

- Link the vision to core competencies

- Continually assess and regime the vision

1.6 Transforming a vision

The successful leader must know how to transform his vision to people to evolve “enthusiasm flame,” and encourage the people in the right way Base on seven below-mentioned elements for the leader to achieve the goal:

- Articulate a clear and appealing vision

- Explain how the vision can be attained

- Act confidently and optimistically

- Express confidence in followers

- Use dramatic, symbolic actions to emphasize key values

- Lead by example

- Empower people to achieve the vision

1.7 Lesson of the Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

As mentioned above, the Vision is an overall picture of the future, which gives perspective of an organization to be attained in future The above definitions are abstract All people may understand what the Vision is but not leader can create and implement it However, it may be analyze and study practical lessons and lessons about the leaders’ success in building and communicating the Vision to the doers to help the leaders create the Vision for themselves and their organizations

1.7.1 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

a The first case

In the position of the President of a country, which had just seized power with accumulated difficulties, it may be said that Vietnam was in the precarious situation The country, or to be exact, North Vietnam with more than 20 million people (most of them were illiterate) was meeting difficulties such as completely empty treasury, starvation and “internal enemies and external invaders” who were lying in wait to reoccupy and overthrow new government At that time, our country had just escaped from domination of French colonialism and real situation of our country was extremely poverty-stricken and backward With over ninety percent of the illiterate people and a tenth of population died of hunger, President Ho Chi Minh hoped and believed much in the future In such context, President Ho Chi Minh still kept calm to provide proper reactions to lead the country to final victory To do this, President Ho Chi Minh must have steady ideology and imagine the country’s future perspective President Ho Chi Minh clearly pointed out in the letter to children in the

first new academic year of independent Vietnam, “Whether Viet Nam can become glorious or not

and whether the Vietnamese nation can be on an equal footing with other powerful countries in the five continents or not, mostly depends on your efforts in learning.” This is a message of President Ho

Chi Minh indicating the whole of his Vision

After when Vietnam had just gained independence and in internal enemies and external invaders situation, he still imagined in a certain day Vietnam would be bigger and more beautiful to be equal footing with powerful countries in five continents He drew a vivid and appealing picture of the future He not only talked to children who are future resources of the country but also communicated

to Vietnamese people that in a certain day Vietnam would be bigger and more beautiful This was a great inspiration of President Ho Chi Minh about a powerful Vietnam in near future Indeed, Vietnam presently has position on the international market and is recognized by countries in five continents Although Vietnam has not developed as he imagined, Vietnam, from a country of wars, has become a part of the world and a non-standing member of the United Nations for two years and ASEAN … In fact, excellent learning achievements of Vietnamese students have brought glory for the country From 1970s to now, Vietnamese students annually take international examinations of Mathematics, Informatics, English, and French … and win high prizes Upon awarding, Vietnamese national flag flutters in the wind together with national flags of other countries all over the world Vietnamese students bring glory to the country as Uncle Ho’s wish

In the present era, strength of a nation is not only powerful army but also brainpower, technical science and powerful economy Large countries in the world such America, Japan, England and France … have developed economy In Vietnam, this becomes true when the country’s owners have high educational background and ability of integrating with the world educational background Not another way is that we must study well and continuously “Study, study more, study forever.” School years are necessary for students to acquire basic knowledge accumulated for thousands of years Thanks to diligent learning, when grow-up, the students will be learned and highly qualified citizens

to construct the country to catch up with the era The State takes care of and creates condition for all children at school age to go to school for the country is long-term future

Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is also an instruction not only for the children to make efforts to learn to construct the country, but also for nationwide people that development of the country is to not only fight but also construct and develop the country on educational and intellectual foundations The people must care of Vietnam’s education It is required to build more schools, have more teachers, and create conditions for all people to learn and research and improve their knowledge

b The second case

In his testament to Vietnam nation, he wrote:

“Existent mountains, existent river, existent people, The American invaders defeated, we will rebuild our land ten times more beautiful!”

At the time he was unable to serve for the country, he imagined a future of our country “The American invaders defeated, we will rebuild our land ten times more beautiful.” As to force correlation and ability of success of Vietnamese Revolution in national unity, this ability was too unrealizable In his Vision, he always imagined a bright future and a powerful country “ten times.”

He also believed that Vietnamese people, with patriotism and national pride, would do extraordinary things to protect and construct the country: “our mountains will always be, our rivers will always be, our people will always be.”

Here there are core values of Vietnamese nation such as patriotic spirit, labor diligence, intelligence, and creativeness All such characteristics of Vietnamese people are foundations for success If compared with countries in the region, preeminence of Vietnamese nation will be obvious

In his mind, he always imagined a powerful country, Vietnam, on a basis of strengths of Vietnamese people His Vision statement pointed out pathway and manner to attain such Vision That was the American invaders defeated This was an obligatory step to construct and develop the country

1.7.2 Structure of Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

As to structure of Ho Chi Minh’s Vision and analyses based on modern viewpoint about the Vision,

it contains two important factors: core values and future aspiration The core values in Ho Chi Minh’s Vision are “ardent patriotism” and “our mountains will always be, our rivers will always be, our people will always be.” Together with such core values is his highest aspiration about Vietnam

“more beautiful and equal footing with powerful countries in five continents” and “rebuild our land ten times more beautiful.” This is a great historical ambition of the human kind The Vision will be easy to become trivial if it is not built based on a great ambition and true core values of a country or

an organization An ambition of an organization, which is not great, persuasive, and historical, will not attract all people to join and develop it The core values must be true values such organization own or potential values in members of such organization

a Core ideology

Ideology value is patriotism of Vietnamese people, which exists during the history of country construction and protection It may be that patriotism is a particular feature of Vietnamese people It may be said that rare is there any country which experienced more invasions of the foreign aggressors than Vietnam and rare is there any country dominated mostly in its history However, not

all could yield to patriotism of Vietnamese people He summarized that” “Vietnamese people have

ardent patriotism That is a valuable tradition From the old days to now, once the native Vietnam is invaded, such spirit is ebullient It creates an extremely strong and great wave It passes by all dangers and difficulties It plunges all traitors and invaders” – Complete works of Ho Chi Minh,

volume 6, Truth Publishing House, H.1986, pages 36-37 Patriotism is the most valuable asset in national salvation of President Ho Chi Minh It is the basis, motive force and a red thread throughout

his revolutionary life, even when he went and joined Leninism by his natural feeling – i.e patriotic

feeling – not communist heart He respected V.I.Lenin because V.I Lenin is a great patriot: “At first,

patriotism, but not communism, makes me believe in Lenin and the Third International” – Complete

works of Ho Chi Minh, volume 6, Truth Publishing House H1989

The core values are labor diligence, resistance to difficulties, intelligence, and creativeness, which are inherent nature of Vietnamese people We could pride that Vietnamese nation has many famous men and great men for the world such as Tran Hung Dao King; Top-ranking General Vo Nguyen Giap, and world recognized great soldiers; President Ho Chi Minh and Nguyen Trai are great men of culture of the world; or in the latest time, Prof – Dr Ngo Bao Chau was awarded Fields prize of the world, previously, in Asia, only 3 persons were awarded this prize and Japanese … Vietnamese people are second to none in the world regarding brainpower

b Great aspiration

Aspiration of an independent and powerful country was smoldered right when Uncle Ho left Nha Rong Port to seek pathways for national salvation In the same period, many revolutions of Phan Boi Chau and Phan Chu Trinh were taken place however, they failed President Ho Chi Minh, by his experiences, went to many parts of the world, met many people and all lifestyles (capitalistic class, bourgeois class and proletarian class) in the world and he realized the pathway of national liberation With Lenin-Marxist Ideology, which played a key role and his steadiness and profound visions, President Ho Chi Minh led Vietnamese Communist Party to gain a final victory The greatest victory was that Vietnam seized power from French colonialism in 1945 and President Ho Chi Minh wrote Declaration of Independence to mark success This proves that his aspiration is not a groundless and dreamy aspiration Such aspiration is based on his experiences, knowledge and great will

1.7.3 Characteristics of Ho Chi Minh’s Vision

Considering characteristic aspects in Ho Chi Minh’s Vision based on modern theory on Vision, Ho Chi Minh’s Vision contains all these characteristics:

 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is always a vivid picture of the future of a country in general and an organization in particular Such picture is drawn with materials of straightforward, easy-to-imagine and extremely vivid words such as “Vietnam’s nation”, “more decent, more beautiful”, “can be on an equal footing with other powerful countries in five continents” and “we will rebuild our land ten times more beautiful”… His imagination to communicate to the listeners is easy to understand and imagine, even children can imagine He used comparative words “ten times,” “be on equal footing with other powerful countries in five continents.” These words are easy to communicate to the listeners and the readers and help them imagine a clear and coherent future

 His statement clearly pointed out purposes and objectives that the whole nation must aim at in near future That is a nation of powerful, decent, beautiful nation and equal footing with other powerful countries in five continents With clear purposes, all people must research and create to obtain such objectives It is not an inflexible instruction forced all people to follow

 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is realistic His statement is not totally groundless and an unrealizable wish During the process of seeking pathways for national salvation, he experienced hardship With only two bare hands and secret operation, he led the country to gain independence To do this, he struggled by strength of brainpower, sound guidelines, and mobilization of the masses to carry out revolution … and he succeeded With studious spirit, diligence and no fear of hardship, creativeness and intelligence of Vietnamese people are core values to develop the country by knowledge Knowledge is the foundation of development in the world

 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is a time factor “Mostly depends on your efforts in learning” or “The American invaders defeated” show the generation of students at present but not dream of former President Ho Chi Minh about the future Or “The American invaders defeated” is not impracticable because when he wrote a testament in 1965, American army basically no longer predominated in the battle-field; the balance of power at that time made us hope a united and independent country

 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is legible, straightforward, and easy to communicate it to many people His words are not for the intellectual circles only They are for the whole of people His words are close and pure

 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is highly encouraging In his statement, he drew a picture of bright future He used highly encouraging words such as “Vietnam can be glorious or not” It is like a harassing question to urge patriots to develop the country When this question imprints on the mind,

it will become urgency and great encouragement Or “Our mountains will always be, our rivers will always be, our people will always be” hurries national pride of each Vietnamese person,

 Ho Chi Minh’s Vision is challenging However, to fulfill objectives he expected, it was a great challenge, which is not easy to do this This challenge was not only to children who go to school but also to all generations of Vietnamese people and all walks of life that how to create the best learning and research environment in order to develop Vietnam’s intellectual foundations His