With the ever-increasing number of hotels and resorts in Da Nang, it is no surprise that many of today’s young graduates seek employment in the hospitality sector.  As well as being a people-oriented industry, it offers tremendous scope and variety where readily transferable skills can easily lead to movement between departments, and between resorts.  Also, employees who work hard, show initiative, and have great people skills can quickly move up the ladder to senior positions where they manage people and projects.

Nam in Furama'’s Hai Van Lounge

One man who knows only too well what hard work and dedication can achieve is 41-year-old Le Dinh Nam who works at the Furama Resort.  He is one of its most loyal, determined, and long-standing employees.

Nam was born in Da Nang Hospital on 10 June 1975.  He was the youngest of 9 children and was brought up in a small 2-roomed house with his 6 brothers and 2 sisters.  To earn a living, his parents sold groceries from their home, including homemade ice cream, rice, and noodles.  It is hard to imagine 11 people living in such a small house, and it makes me feel very grateful that when I was a child I had my own bed!  Nam and his siblings slept wherever there happened to be a space – sometimes on a bed, sometimes on the floor.

I asked Nam what his first vivid memory was.  He thought for a while and then laughed.  “When I was about 4 years old I was alone one day and I was playing with some rice.  For some unknown reason I decided to put some of the grains of rice inside my ear, so I turned my head on one side and dropped some in.  I remember my father tried to remove them but he couldn’t do it because they were so small and had gone so deep.  He poured water into my ear so the grains would swell and then he was eventually able to remove them with small syringe.  It was so painful.  I learned my lesson though, and never put rice in my ear again!”

As a teenager, music was Nam’s first love, followed by sport and photography, and he spent hours in coffee shops listening to music with his brothers.  (I find it astonishing that, at that time, coffee shops were for young men only, and it wasn’t until the late 90s that young ladies were ‘accepted’ in them!)  Nam is an accomplished drummer and can also play the guitar, the piano, and several other instruments.  He has a wonderful singing voice too which, he says, must come from his uncle as his parents have no musical ability whatsoever!  Not too long ago he was awarded ‘best singer’ at a work event in Ha Noi. 

From the early 90s, when Viet Nam first opened its doors to foreign visitors, Nam knew that he wanted to be involved in the tourism industry.  July 1994 saw a big event in Da Nang – the ground-breaking ceremony for the Furama Resort - and this gave Nam his first opportunity for paid work.  Knowing that every construction worker would need an identification photograph, he borrowed his brother’s camera and stood outside the Furama site every day touting for business and charging 15,000 VND for each photo he took, which he developed at his home.  What a clever idea!

In 1995, in order to follow his chosen career path, Nam enrolled at Da Nang’s University of Foreign Languages to study English with Tourism.  During his first year there, the Furama’s Human Resources Manager went to one of the University’s career days to talk about the opportunities which were available at the still-to-be-opened resort.  It was made very clear that only fourth year students need apply.  Undaunted, Nam completed an application form and managed to convince the HR Manager that he was a hard worker who could hold down a full-time job and still complete his studies.  It is a sign of his determination and persuasiveness that he was the only first year student to be offered employment at the Furama.  He did as he promised, worked very hard, and completed his degree in 1999.  Well done Nam!

Nam and his family

In 2000, he married Pham Thi Anh Thu who was in the same class as him at University.  I asked what it was that attracted him to her.  “She was beautiful, charming, and natural …” he answered, “… and she still is”.  Ah, that is so nice!  They now have 2 children – 14-year-old Nhi, who gained the highest score in the entrance exam for Nguyen Khuyen specialised middle school, and 9-year-old Thong who, like his father, is interested in music and hospitality.     

In 1996, still almost a year before the Furama was due to open, Nam started work as a ‘bus boy in training’.  A bus boy is one of a restaurant’s lowest positions and includes cleaning tables, taking dirty dishes to the kitchen, and generally doing anything that a waiter (or anyone else) asks you to do.  By the time the resort opened on 27 March 1997 Nam had successfully completed his first year of training and had been promoted to waiter.  His newfound skills, his willingness to learn, and his dedication to his work soon resulted in further promotions.  From Captain to Junior Supervisor, Supervisor, Banquet Service Manager, Senior Banquet Service Manager, Assistant Food and Beverage Manager, Food and Beverage Service Manager, and finally Food and Beverage Manager – the position he has held since 2011. 

Nam’s role is to ensure the best possible dining experience for customers.  He is therefore responsible for every single aspect of Furama’s restaurants – not only the choice and quality of food and beverages, but hiring and training staff, agreeing menus and decor, creating work schedules, planning, costing and organising events and promotions … and, of course, making sure that the Furama’s standards are upheld and that company profits are maximised.  One of the things Nam loves most about his job is the variety, meeting many different nationalities, and the challenge of doing what others might deem impossible – like organising an outdoor event at Ba Na Hills for 700 people, and a courtyard wedding at the Furama with 1,400 guests.  It gives me a headache just thinking about it, but for Nam, with his highly-trained team and loyal staff  it is “no problem!”.   

Nam with some of his team

I asked Nam how the Furama has changed since he first started working there.  “Probably the main change, especially for me in my job, has been to develop the hotel’s culinary theme.  We aim to provide not only top quality food and service, but our different restaurants offer a wide variety of choice - Italian, seafood, international, steaks - and our soon to open ‘Spices of Asia’ restaurant at the Furama Villas.  Of course this is all of special interest to me in my role, and it keeps me very busy!” 

Maybe the next 2 years will be Nam’s busiest so far.  At the end of this month, building work will start on the Ariyana Convention and Exhibition Centre project to the south of the Furama Villas.  This is being constructed to host the 25th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC 2017) Summit where many world leaders from the Asia Pacific Assembly of countries will be in attendance.  The construction will include a Grand Ballroom of 2.074m² with 2,500 seats, other meeting room space, and a 1,487m² foyer which is suitable for international conventions and exhibitions.  A very busy and exciting time ahead!     

It is so obvious that Nam loves his job, and is understandably proud of all that he has achieved.  One of his greatest moments came in 2014 when he was awarded the title of Manager of the Year by Furama’s Management Board.  His reward included a 3-day, all-expenses-paid, holiday at An Lam Ninh Van Bay Villas in Nha Trang for himself, his wife, and their 2 children.  For someone whose working day is a minimum of 10 hours (which can reach 20 hours for special events) this was a particularly memorable treat …

Nam (centre right) with his Manager of the Year Award in 2014

I wondered why, with all his skills, creative mind, and many years’ experience, he had not been persuaded to move to a different resort, perhaps for more money.  His answer was simple.  “Money isn’t important to me.  I work in a wonderful atmosphere with a loyal team, for a good management board that makes me feel valued, and I love my job.”

Finally, I asked Nam about his goals and dreams for the future.  “My goal is to continue to contribute to the Furama’s culinary development and outstanding reputation, and to ensure that our resort remains one of the best in the country.  On a personal level, I dream of owning my own villa”, he said, “and when I retire I would like to spend some of my time being a hotel and resort consultant, and the rest of it relaxing on Furama’s beach!”

I learned two very important things while speaking to Nam.  The first is that a job that you love, and one where you are appreciated, is much more important than money.  The second thing I learned?  Never put rice in your ear!!

Thank you for your time Nam – I hope all your goals and dreams come true!

(Written by Carole Kendal)