Nguyen Thi Nga: The woman of steel waving a magic wand for Vietnamese cultural values

What motivates and encourage you to organise events like the Kimono - Ao dai Fashion Show on March 4?

It’s wonderful for me to have the honour to be part of this event, which is the first in a series of activities to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with Japan.

BRG Group is also honoured to be the co-organiser of the fashion show, and I think it is our duty to help people of the two countries get closer, today and over the next 50 years. The company is ceaselessly working with the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam to promote socioeconomic and cultural activities in Vietnam as a contribution to building and strengthening the valued Vietnam-Japan partnership.

The special fashion show reflects the specific and unique symbols of the two cultures, as created by Japanese designer Kobayashi Eiko. She bewitches people with her charming designs, honouring the beauty of both Vietnamese and Japanese women.

The event also attracts the performance of Japanese koto player Miwa Naitou, as well as top Japanese and Vietnamese models. We wish through the show to honour empowering women, from employees to leaders, from traditional craftswomen to modern artists.

Our women are often not as strong as men, but we are durable, patient, passionate, and sophisticated enough to gain achievements and successes in life.

What other activities are you involved in to promote traditional culture?

This year marks the 30th anniversary of BRG Group. During that time, we have focused on sustainable development and cultural promotion. This year, we will promote craft products from BRG and also other Vietnamese-made traditional craft products to the world, especially those related to women.

One particular craft product that I admire is the ancient Chu Dau pottery created by a female artisan Bui Thi Hy more than 500 years ago. The restoration of the Vietnamese art of pottery is now considered a precious and sophisticated item for collectors.

This year, we will organise a series of exhibitions showcasing Chu Dau pottery, its history, the restoration journey, and its authentic beauties. We have already hosted an exhibition in the US, and the pottery is currently on display at two museums in Japan, and our next destination will be in France. In fact, it has been displayed in 46 museums across 32 countries thus far.

Currently, we are working with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to turn Chu Dau village into a unique hot spot for both domestic and international tourists to exploring the wonderful resumption of an ancient craft village.

BRG Group covers a lot of ground, with activities in banking, real estate, hospitality, and golf. What do you believe are the strong points for the company?

Actually, most of our cultural projects are not large in scale, but require meticulousness and refinement. This is not only reflected in cultural products but also in construction projects, resorts, hotels, and the golf courses that we manage.

Each time we invest in a new project, we devote all our mind and heart to it as if we were building our own home and creating products for our family. All BRG designs aim to create new high-class living standards and also bring the best experiences for both residents and communities.

We have cooperated with various international hospitality management groups to enrich the Vietnamese tourism scene with high-end hotel and resort brands, including Sheraton Grand Danang Resort, InterContinental Hanoi Westlake, Hilton Hanoi Opera, Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi, and Sheraton Nha Trang Hotel & Spa, among others.

For golf development, many of BRG Group’s high-ranking courses have driven our rise, such as the golf resorts at BRG Kings Island, BRG Danang, BRG Legend Hill, and BRG Ruby Tree, all designed by Nicklaus Design.

Furthermore, in real estate, we aim to create unique and high-end properties and smart living spaces that satisfy the expectations of residents, investors, and communities while elevating living standards across Vietnam.