Ly Tuong Tuan, the 36th generation of the Ly Long Tuong family.

Although born and raised in the Republic of Korea, Ly Tuong Tuan, the 36th generation of the Ly Long Tuong family, still keeps his Vietnamese origin in mind and always looks for opportunities to open long-term business in Viet Nam.

The President of the Golden Bridge financial group said he has always tried to cut his heavily-loaded agenda to have time to study his ethnic root and native land.

Tuan has made about 30 visits to Viet Nam since his first return visit in 2003.

"I felt warm at heart and like at home when I stepped down from the plane into Noi Bai international airport even during my first visit years ago and I could not resist an the design to come back frequently," said the financial tycoon.

He recalled the deep impression made by the annual ceremonies of his Ly family at the Dinh Bang community temple, northern Bac Ninh province, in the middle of the third lunar month.

I could not hold back tears at villagers' welcoming me like a son coming home after a long trip, the Vietnamese Korean confided.

Pride as a Vietnamese national and aspirations to contribute to the national development have pushed the Golden Bridge group CEO to decide on large-scaled investment in Viet Nam.

The RoK group inaugurated a representative office in Ha Noi in September, 2006 with a registered capital of over 1 million USD.

Tuan founded the Golden Bridge group in 2000, which now boasts an estimated 300 million USD in capital. The consortium runs 10 companies operating in financial leasing, investment fund management, stock trading and restructuring enterprises.

In regard to his long-term investment goal in Viet Nam, the tycoon said the Golden Bridge is working on projects for infrastructure construction, real estates development and education.

The business executive unveiled a plan to give financial support to Vietnamese students to study in the RoK as well as to fund promotion of Vietnamese images in his residential country.

"My childhood was lacking information about Viet Nam so I don't want my children to suffer what I suffered. They should know and have full knowledge of their ancestors and nativeland," said the Vietnamese-Korean.

He said he planned to send his youngest son Lee Roo Lee to Viet Nam for high school after graduating from the junior high school in the RoK.

My biggest dream is to live permanently in Viet Nam, said the Vietnamese-Korean, adding he planned to register for official residency in Ha Noi in 2010.

Source: VNA