Entering the elevator business for more than 20 years, witnessing longtime loyal people, succeeding in the profession by distributing to foreign manufacturers but finally being pushed into the position by those same manufacturers with nothing but accumulated amount. All the enthusiasm, customer relationships, etc. are all lost and must be transferred to the manufacturer when they officially establish a business in Vietnam. 

As for the domestic elevator manufacturers who were once enthusiastic about “Made in Vietnam” product, with “Vietnamese people give priority to using Vietnamese goods”, they struggled, trampled on each other day by day to give up all aspirations and enthusiasm to buy from abroad to sell quickly, putting all the designs of many years of in the trash. 

Is it possible to just endure like that in the land of my birth? What is the way for Vietnam’s elevator industry to move forward? The only way is to work together, work together, government and the people work together, create self-reliance so that we have to be masters of their country. 

Therefore, the Vietnam Elevator Association was born with the desire to gather, starting with the introduction of standards and regulations as a premise for the development of the industry. Everything is almost from zero. That’s not to mention the suspicion of some people in the profession when they think we are manipulating the market, squeezing other businesses to make a living, etc. No problem, no one does anything that is carefree and pure! I strive to establish the Vietnam Elevator Association also has its own purpose, a purpose that may not be understood by everyone. 

Founding Congress of Vietnam Elevator Association 

The path of the Association has gone through countless difficulties, there is no model, no one teaches, just groping to do, groping to go, play it by ear. True to the saying of Lu Xun: “For actually the earth had no roads to begin with, but when many men pass one way, a road is made”, so poignant with these hard days. 

Difficult to choose the path for Elevator Magazine… 

We wonder how to promote the role of the Association, so that the mission is understood, the community joins together? Then there must be an official communication channel, the association’s media agency. That’s how “Elevator Magazine” was born, after days of trying to complete the application form and submit it to the competent authorities for review and approval. 

One difficulty has passed, another has come. I, myself have never written, never worked as a journalist, now I have to pay more attention to every word I said because this profession is “a miss is as good as mile” – while expressing the right guiding ideology of the Party and government, while providing useful and quality information that shows the spirit of contribution and construction to the industry and society. 

How will Elevator Magazine evolve to make a truly different magazine? 

… 27 days to publish the first issue… 

Hundreds of things are scattered among a group of people who mostly do not have much journalistic experience, the biggest assets are enthusiasm, passion and aspirational eyes. So again, I sat down to analyze SWOT (method of analyzing strengths – weaknesses – opportunities – threats), set up strategies, orientations, and encourage staff to stick to the criteria and principles set by the Magazine from the beginning to be consistent with the goal. 

The days of drawing topics, writing, reviewing content, checking over and over again, people are confused, some people are inevitably tired, some people think that it is impossible and give up. But in the end, all did not give up, but were forced to achieve strict standards, so that they could be different. And thankfully, those days weren’t long. The piles of manuscripts are thick, because they have to be printed many times and are getting less and less each day. 

The first issue published, we took “The Story of a Century of Art” as the main theme. This is also a perspective that affirms that the elevator is not only a lifeless iron and steel, not only a moving device, but also a part of architecture, a part of art, a part of life can completely bring “a story of its own art”. 

Launching Ceremony of Elevator Magazine with the first publication titled “The Story of Century of Art“ 

… 489 days marked in the newspaperdom 

Up to now, after 5 issues of Elevator Magazine in print and hundreds of articles in electronic magazines, the difficulties have not been completely solved, there are still concerns. However, we have started with a firm belief to lay the foundation for the long journey ahead. 

When becoming an official member of the Vietnam Journalists Association, listening to comments and suggestions from professional managers, or when organizing conferences on urgent issues of the elevator industry such as personne, standardization, we listen to opinions from regulatory agencies, listen to the voices of businesses, training units and even consumers, we know we are on the right track. 

“In Germany, we have a lot of elevator businesses, but I have not seen a specialized magazine on this field. Your Elevator magazine is bilingual, including English, so I can read it too, which is great.” – shared by a German who visited at the National Press Festival recently, this comment further strengthens my belief that a specialized magazine is really necessary, and that the Journal’s publication according to both print and electronic magazine formats, two languages ​​Vietnamese and English, are also completely consistent with the original wishes, goals and trends of the times. 

Visitors to the Elevator Magazine exhibition booth at the 2023 National Press Festival 

As a specialized magazine, frankly a narrow industry, Elevator Magazine cannot have strong resources and the ability to attract a wide audience like other news channels, but based on SWOT analysis, I have faith in Elevator Magazine: specialized information from elevator technical experts, useful and reliable common sense with the market, articles aimed at exactly “pain” – urgent issues of the industry in detail and specific construction directions from people with expertise, experience, … 

Although it is a narrow niche, when focusing on quality and determined to become a reliable source of information in the field of elevators, really useful, bringing practical value, it will definitely become an important source of information in the near future. becoming a bridge between the elevator industry community not only in Vietnam but also reaching out to the world, a useful information channel for consumers and a witness to the strong development of the Vietnamese elevator industry in the new age. 

Then there will not only be the development path of Elevator Magazine facing difficulties, but also the Vietnam Institute of Lift Engineering Application with the desire to carry out in-depth research in the field of elevators, Elevator emergency rescue center to support emergency rescue, Trade Promotion Center with activities of organizing exhibitions, promoting domestic and foreign trade cooperation, Technicality and Service Support and consulting center… 

Difficulties will follow difficulties, there is no road full of roses waiting ahead. However, I know exactly what our goal is, both the Vietnam Elevator Association and Elevator Magazine, or other functional units of the Association. 

On the future path of Elevator Magazine, there has been, is and will be a lot of attention and cooperation from all of you, our readers, which is what we cherish the most. There will be many challenges ahead, but Elevator Magazine’s path is definitely the right path according to the set goals, dedicated and serious with the desire to make a small contribution to the achievement of the goal. “Building a professional, humane and modern journalism and communication system”.