Today we didn’t get to hang out with our friends from UEF as much which was unfortunate but our site visits more than made up for that! Our first stop was at the Cat Lai terminal where an unfathomable amount of cargo is loaded and shipped off all over the world. The sheer size of the terminal was hard to believe as I felt like I could walk around for hours and never be in the same place twice. I can’t imagine the work it took make all the logistics work to be able to handle so many ships so quickly. Seeing firsthand the effort it takes to put that plan into action was impressive. The weather was especially hot today and it was even hotter at the terminal due to carbon emissions by the machinery being used at all times throughout the day. They claimed they had a green barge area but traveling around the terminal, I didn’t get the impression that the place was very green or sustainable. They claimed they focused on efficiency and sustainability so I wondered which they prioritized more and was going to ask but then our guide told us that they had an equipped fleet of electric trucks but they still used trucks that ran on diesel which answered the question for me. We couldn’t see all the numbers about emissions and I’m sure they look better than it does actually at the port but there I find it hard to believe that any given part of that company is green. We were told they had plans to replace their diesel trucks by the end of next year but based on what I saw it does not seem likely they will be able to deliver on that promise. Another aspect that I questioned was the safety of the workers there. We were required to wear hi-vis vests and hard hats but the employees we saw weren’t. Many of them were just in their regular clothes and just kinda hanging out. I know they weren’t all over the place as we were but I feel like they should have had some safety rather than none. The heat was also a big concern of mine as the terminal was outside so no climate control and there were few if any fans to keep the workers cool. Our guide told us that everyone was trained in first aid and had medical assistance ready to go at any moment which I thought was good but it was only reactionary rather than preventive. I truly hope the employees are all safe while working as an accident while there could end with someone dead. When it comes to shipping efficiency is everything and Vietnam is one of the most important geographically important places when it comes to international shipping so I get that they would make sacrifices to be able to deliver cargo quickly and as cheap as possible but I hope it does not come at the cost of safety. Despite my qualms with the company, I did enjoy learning about how the naval shipping industry works and how Cat Lai is able to meet the ever growing demand for international shipping.
Our next visit was the Dan On Corporation which was also very interesting. I had never heard of it but they seem pretty popular globally as they have factories all over the world, including in the US. They mainly manufacture nuts and nuts products, such as peanut butter which I purchased (as seen above). The closest thing to this place in the US I can think of is Hershey which is a place I’ve never actually been. I have seen candy factories before but it was a while ago and I don’t really remember them so alas I cannot make a comparison. The factory was very fancy and even had us put on crocs to make sure we didn’t bring in any dirt from the outside. It has been the only place to do that but I’m fairly certain lots of places in Asia have inside shoes so in retrospect, it isn’t that strange. I could see why they had us change shoes when I got inside as the building was well kept and had the same feeling as the Park Hyatt. There was an enormous kitchen that had all sorts of food ready to be made but Dan On really only produces nut products so I was a bit thrown off. There were many benefits for employees that we saw such as a swimming pool and a gym. The place I work at over the summer also has benefits but nothing as useful as those so I was quite jealous. Hannah, our international coordinator, told me that it was a dream for many Vietnamese people to work for Dan On which I found surprising but it made sense after seeing the benefits. However, I’m sure there has to be a downside to those benefits as nothing is truly free. I wonder if employees have a lower salary or have to work longer shifts in order for the company to be able to afford those benefits. I am curious if the other locations around the world have similar benefits or if those are Vietnam exclusive. I would’ve liked to see more of the factory as I love seeing how things, especially food, are made. Growing up I loved watched the “Unwrapped” show where they filmed the process behind the production of candy and this visit reminded me of that. I understand why we didn’t as to prevent cross contamination but I still wish we could’ve gotten closer to the machines. Visiting the Dan On factory was a ton of fun and I definitely will keep my eyes peeled next time I’m in the grocery store to see if I can find any of their products.
