Viglacera’s Imprint at the Exhibition on the History of the Construction Industry’s Achievements

In the spirit of celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day, the Exhibition of the Construction Industry’s Achievements, themed “Creation – Connection – Rising Forward”, was part of the nationwide exhibition titled “80 Years of the Journey of Independence – Freedom – Happiness”. Within this event, there was a dedicated section called “The Glory of Vietnam’s Building Materials Industry”, reaffirming the role and positive contributions of the building materials sector to the cause of national construction and development.

The Construction Industry & 80 Years of “Creation – Connection – Rising Forward”

This was the first large-scale exhibition gathering ministries, sectors, and localities to participate since the major nationwide merger. The subsection showcasing the development achievements of building materials was set within the Exhibition of Construction Industry Achievements “Creation – Connection – Rising Forward”. It was one of six specialized display spaces, logically arranged by sector to comprehensively reflect the industry’s achievements:

Achievements in transportation infrastructure and construction: Showcasing outstanding projects in transportation, roads, and notable constructions.

Achievements in planning, architecture, and urban-housing development: Introducing urban planning models, modern architecture, and sustainable housing solutions.

Achievements in state management and digital transformation: Presenting progress in institutional and policy development, along with digital transformation applications in construction management.

Construction technology: Demonstrating advanced technologies that modernize construction processes and project management.

Achievements in building materials: A space where Viglacera and other leading enterprises such as Vietnam Cement Corporation (VICEM), Vicostone, and Xuan Mai Concrete represented the building materials sector, showcasing new products that meet green and sustainable standards. Above all, this was a celebration of the outstanding achievements of state management in building materials and the contributions of hundreds of enterprises that have followed Uncle Ho’s teachings for decades.

Digital experience and application zone: An interactive space applying digital technology for experiencing advanced construction solutions.

The Building Materials Industry: A Journey of Following Uncle Ho’s Teachings

The Building Materials section not only recreated a historical journey of creative labor closely tied to President Ho Chi Minh’s instructions, but also highlighted the achievements of applying modern science and technology in production and development investment.

The story began with Uncle Ho’s advice during his visit to Hai Phong Cement Plant in 1957: “Comrades, try to produce as much cement as possible for the Fatherland.” At that time, the nation’s industrial production was still extremely underdeveloped, with low output and quality. Black-and-white documentary photos displayed on panels evoked memories of the arduous period in the cement and brick-tile industry, when most stages relied heavily on manual labor. This was only two years after the resistance war against French colonialists. The country was in ruins, facing an urgent need for reconstruction from the ashes of war. Thus, Uncle Ho’s instruction was not only the aspiration of the Party and the Government for Hai Phong Cement Plant but also a call that fueled a series of actions across the entire building materials sector for decades to come.

During the resistance war against the US – when the entire industry followed Uncle Ho’s directive of “producing while fighting” – handmade bricks, tiles, and earthenware sanitary products were basic materials. Precast concrete was limited to small-sized components. Meanwhile, Hai Phong Cement Plant could only meet 25% of the nation’s construction demand.

After national reunification, the spirit of “building our country more dignified, bigger, and more beautiful” as Uncle Ho once taught spread powerfully. Especially with the Đổi mới policy initiated at the 6th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the building materials sector continuously applied modern scientific and technological advances among the world’s leading. This allowed the sector not only to “produce more” as Uncle Ho wished but also to create products of world-class quality, bringing “Glory to Vietnam’s Building Materials Industry.”

The building materials sector directly contributed to the construction of transportation, urban and rural infrastructure, housing, civil and industrial works, and disaster prevention projects, supporting national security and defense. The industry’s total production capacity reached 125 million tons of cement, 150 million m³ of concrete, 23.3 million tons of construction steel, over 830 million m² of tiles, and 330 million m² of construction glass. Vietnam’s cement and tile production ranked among the world’s leaders. The industry’s total revenue was about USD 50 billion annually, accounting for 11–12% of national GDP and creating jobs for over 5 million workers. Products were exported to 50 countries and territories. Enterprises mastered leading global production technology, pioneered the application of information technology, robotics, and automation, and spearheaded the development of new, green, energy-saving materials that protect the environment and enhance consumer health.

Viglacera – A Golden Mark in Common Achievements

In this shared achievement, Viglacera stood out as a pioneering enterprise, being the first in Vietnam to simultaneously fulfill leading missions across multiple product categories: tunnel-fired bricks and tiles on a single integrated channel, construction glass, sanitary ware, tiles, energy-saving glass, and autoclaved aerated concrete. Globally, Viglacera ranked among the Top 20 largest tile manufacturers and the Top 30 largest sanitary ware manufacturers, along with many other achievements in sustainable development that meet the standards of the new era. At the exhibition, Viglacera’s products drew great interest from visitors.

Simple yet sincere words displayed on the building materials exhibition panels carried significant weight when viewed in the broader context of the industry’s achievements – affirming Viglacera’s pioneering role throughout the decades. Viglacera has not only served national livelihood and prosperity but also helped drive construction investment activities, lifting the country out of poverty and dependence, and enabling it to stand strong and develop with self-reliance.

The Building Materials section, along with the Construction Industry Achievements Exhibition, was not only evidence of the stature and position of the industry after 80 years but also a strong affirmation of the entire construction industry – opening a new journey of relentless striving, creating momentum, foundation, and strength for the industry as it enters a new era of national development.

The exhibition took place from August 28, 2025, to September 5, 2025.