A Trailblazer in the Field of Auditing in Vietnam

She also is a member in the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform of the Prime Minister.

With her courage and unwavering determination as a trailblazer, the “female captain” Ha Thi Thu Thanh steered Deloitte Vietnam to become the top consulting and auditing company in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region.

One of the notable events during the early days of Vietnam opening up and calling for foreign investment was the establishment of the independent auditing sector in Vietnam. This was marked by Decision No. 165 dated May 13, 1991, issued by the Minister of Finance, which paved the way for the founding of Vietnam's first auditing company – Vietnam Audit Company (VACO), the predecessor of today's Deloitte Vietnam.

The 30-year journey of development and success for Deloitte Vietnam has also been synonymous with the advancement of the independent auditing industry in Vietnam. Consequently, Ha Thi Thu Thanh is acclaimed as the "iron lady" of Vietnam's auditing industry due to her significant contributions and leadership in this field.

Many decades ago, Thanh was the first Vietnamese person in the accounting and auditing field to be sent to the United States to study. It was during this period that she underwent personal development, shaping her into a resilient, proficient, and decisive figure.

Throughout the 30-year journey of independent auditing development in Vietnam, Deloitte Vietnam has consistently stood out as a beacon, leading the way. Presently, Deloitte Vietnam boasts a substantial team of over 1,000 well-trained professionals, experts, and staff equipped with international capabilities, understanding Vietnam's culture and laws.

For over 30 years, working on financial reports and consulting projects, Ha Thi Thu Thanh has maintained an unwavering passion and love for Deloitte. 

During her leadership at Deloitte Vietnam, Thu Thanh made the pivotal decision to send the company's employees abroad, particularly to the United States, for educational purposes, aiming to internationalize the team. Even though the cost of sending someone abroad for education was substantial at that time, Thanh still managed to persuade the leadership with her own strong personal commitment. After several years of development, it is evident that Thu Thanh's decision was entirely correct and visionary.

For over 30 years devoted to financial reports and seemingly rigid consulting projects, Thanh has preserved her unwavering passion and love for Deloitte, akin to her early days entering the profession. This aspect is what many find admirable in a woman who possesses a remarkable and enduring energy.

In 2021, during Deloitte Vietnam's 30th anniversary celebration, its pioneering role persisted with the official launch of a specialized service segment: Deloitte Private, focusing primarily on the core program of fostering the best-managed private enterprises in Vietnam.

With the purpose of enhancing the role of the private sector in the economy, Thanh aims for Deloitte to offer more extensive support to various groups, including family-owned businesses, family entrepreneurs and high-networth individuals.

This aligns with the Vietnam’s Best Managed Companies program, designed to recognize and honor outstanding private enterprises nationwide. "All these efforts are aimed at supporting the development of Vietnam's private sector," emphasized Thanh.

Thanh's appointment as the sole female member in the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform of the Prime Minister (Council IV) reaffirms her efforts in elevating the role of women entrepreneurs within economic and financial councils.

One of Thanh's sources of pride is that Deloitte Vietnam is recognized for carrying a "local imprint," inheriting the essence of Deloitte's 175-year global legacy. Deloitte Vietnam adeptly merges creativity with the nation's traditional identity and pure Vietnamese values, thereby crafting distinctive and unique values specific to Deloitte Vietnam.

This pioneering spirit is the approach through which Deloitte Vietnam continues in creating influential values, sharing and spreading positive values within the community. It also embodies the aspirations of “female captain” Thu Thanh, who is dedicated to the development of the Vietnamese business community.

As a strong advocate for women's rights, Ms. Ha Thi Thu Thanh has played pivotal roles in various organizations, associations, and networks dedicated to achieving gender equality in the workplace and advancing women's empowerment in Vietnam.

Story: Thao Vy    Photos: Cong Dat/VNP   Translated by Nguyen Tuoi