I had the opportunity to meet Ms. Bui Thi To Trinh, deputy general director of Suoi Tien Theme Park in Ho Chi Minh City, just as the park was gearing up for its 30th anniversary celebration.
During the meeting, she offered many genuine tales about her professional experience, as well as her love and passion for Suoi Tien.
Asked about how she has worked at Suoi Tien over the past 30 years, Trinh recalled the early days.
"Back then, the tourist area was not as large or modern as it is today," she said.
"Every day, we worked and saw each new wall and finished project.
"It felt like we were not just seeing, but also contributing each small brick to this shared vision.
"Initially, the labor was difficult.
"We welcomed tourists, assisted other departments, and occasionally helped sell tickets, taking care of every minor detail.
"During the Tet holiday season, the entire team worked virtually nonstop from early morning to dark, but everyone grinned since the guests were pleased and appreciated."
Suoi Tien has changed dramatically over the last 30 years, increasing its area, launching a number of new projects, and holding national-scale events, but Trinh believes the most significant shift has occurred within herself.
"I learned to see things in a broader context, recognizing that everything I do, no matter how minor, contributes to Suoi Tien's larger tale," she said.
Trinh recollected her initial impression of Suoi Tien when she started working there, "On the first day I arrived here, I felt as if I had entered the world of Vietnamese fairy tales. Everything reminded me of history and legends, but it was really appealing.
"If I were to describe Suoi Tien in simply three words, I would say: culture, creativity, and warmth.
"Culture is the foundation, creativity is the method to revitalize yourself, and warmth is the emotion that everyone who visits may experience, from the welcoming grin to every beautiful detail."
The most significant difference, she claimed, is that Suoi Tien keeps the Vietnamese 'soul' rather than blindly following trends.
Each project and activity is linked to a tale, ensuring that visitors not only have fun but also recall cultural memories.
"In today's setting of strong integration and development, Suoi Tien always prioritizes culture which the most fundamental element that we must conserve and promote," Trinh said, responding to a question on the theme park's way to maintain its cultural identity in this modern era.
"To do this, Suoi Tien always begins with the question: 'where is the park's traditional value and how can it adapt to changing times?"
Each new creation is inspired by Vietnam's traditional elements, such as architecture, colors, and the legends that surround them.
She referred to Tien Dong-Ngoc Nu Beach – a project that mixes a modern amusement park with the narrative of Lac Long Quan-Au Co – or the Long Hoa Thien Bao Pagoda project, which is linked to the establishment of humanistic philosophical principles in Buddhism.
"We want visitors to both be entertained and learn something about national culture," the deputy general director explained.
Those qualities are periodically imparted through the Southern Fruit Festival, which is designed to promote agricultural products, spread Mekong Delta lifestyle and cultural values, and re-enact the Son Tinh-Thuy Tinh legend.
Aside from her take on how Suoi Tien has worked to protect culture, Trinh also elaborated on other areas where the theme park has expanded in the last 30 years.
Suoi Tien has consistently extended its scale and field of business while keeping its cultural soul.
"I still recall that even after the difficult pandemic period, Suoi Tien Farm was still implemented on time," she recounted.
"This is a green agricultural model in the heart of the city, where people can both come and experience harvesting clean green fruits that meet Vietgap cultivation standards.
"Son Tien Eco-Tourism City in [neighboring] Dong Nai Province is a contemporary resort and leisure complex that also promotes nature protection."
Suoi Tien not only wants to promote Vietnamese culture domestically, but also around the world, by accepting overseas guests and conducting exchange programs.
She is most proud to know that she has had a small role in that journey.
"Every time I see a child passionately listening to a legend, or a foreign guest admiring our architecture, I feel that all the efforts are worthwhile," Trinh said.
Looking back on the past 30 years, Trinh considered herself fortunate to have worked with Suoi Tien and witnessed her development at every level.
"This location has not only improved its appearance, but it has also encouraged many individuals to feel proud of Vietnam," Trinh kindly stated.
Thirty years has gone by, serving as the foundation for a new adventure and ensuring that the dream of a 'Suoi Tien with a national image' is carried down from generation to generation.
As I left Suoi Tien in the late afternoon, I could still hear tourists' laughter mixed in with the frenetic music.
The talk with Trinh not only helped me learn more about Suoi Tien's 30-year journey of identity formation, but it also reminded me that, even in today's fast-paced world, there are still those who quietly conserve and breathe life into national cultural values.
And perhaps that is what has made Suoi Tien a destination containing many generations' memories and national dreams, where each construction and event retains the breath of the past while blending with the rhythm of modern life, so that the story of a Suoi Tien with a national shape is still being written every day.
Suoi Tien Theme Park
Address: 120 Hanoi Highway, Tang Nhon Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Hotline: 1900 636 787
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuoiTienThemePark/
Website: https://suoitien.com/
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