A Heartfelt Farewell Letter from the Daughter of the Owner of the Transport Company, Thanh Buoi: ‘As I grew older, I understood that I am your child, but your customers, cargo, and buses were your life.’

“I vividly remember my childhood, waiting every afternoon by the iron gate on Ham Nghi street, anticipating the car’s return and my parents’ homecoming.” These are the words of Mr. Thanh’s daughter in a farewell letter published on the Thanh Buoi car company’s Facebook page.

Prior to his passing on September 5th, Mr. Le Duc Thanh, the founder of the well-known car company, had been battling a severe illness in Ho Chi Minh City. He was 68 years old. Mr. Thanh was a former driver in the Truong Son army and later established the company, naming it after himself and his wife, Nguyen Thi Buoi, who became the legal representative in August 2024.

“Dad, you told me that you and mom would start a company in Saigon. You’d get back into passenger cars, pioneering long-distance, punctual services in the South, without picking up passengers along the way or overcrowding the vehicle,” recalls Mr. Thanh’s daughter in her letter. “I was only a teenager then, so I just listened and agreed, not fully grasping your business and operational plans.”

“Your mind was always brimming with ideas and plans. Before finishing one task, you’d already be thinking about the next. You were eager to learn, optimistic, and proactive. In my 40 years as your daughter, I never saw you discouraged or heard you complain about challenges, fatigue, or illness,” she adds.

“Mom and Dad married in 1983, and in 1987, they acquired their first 16-seater car. Back then, all our clients loved having Dad as their driver and being greeted by him. He treated their cargo as if it were his own,” she reminisces.

“When I was younger, I used to get annoyed because during meals, Dad would always talk about the car, the passengers, and the cargo. I once asked him to remove his phone number from the hotline and let the operators handle the calls. But he refused, insisting that he needed to hear customer feedback directly to address any issues promptly. He believed that if he relied solely on employees, he would be disconnected from the business and unaware of any problems,” she continues.

“Now that I’m older, I understand. I am your daughter, but your life revolved around your customers, their cargo, and your cars. They were your lifeblood, and without them, you would not have survived,” she reflects.

Mr. Thanh’s daughter also recalls his compassion for his employees and his generous, forgiving nature. Despite his busy schedule, he would visit acquaintances to deliver medicine if they were unwell. He always ate home-cooked meals, waited for his wife to join him for dinner, and taught his children how to do household chores and proper etiquette.

“I am proud of you, Dad. Our entire family is proud of you. Thank you for giving us life and for dedicating yours to doing good and beautiful things,” she concludes.