Our Founder & CEO

I AM AIDEN TONG

I was born and raised in a family of traditional sweet makers in a poor rural area of Quang Ngai, a province in central Vietnam, where I experienced a life of very little, hardship, and struggle. Because of this, my parents would always remind me at every meal, “Study hard, my child, so you can find an easier job—unlike the tough life your father and I have been enduring.”

My childhood was filled with happiness, but it always go hand in hand with sorrow. What stayed with me the most were the times when I saw my parents arguing over money. In those moments, all I could do was just to stand quietly in a corner, watching, unable to do anything else. The only thought in my mind was, “I need to work hard to help my family and study well so I can support my parents in the future.”

With that thought in mind, I was always trying with helping my family whenever I wasn’t studying—doing housework, working in the fields, or assisting with making sweets. Whenever I had free time, my brother and I would go out to the fields to pick vegetables and sell them for extra money. I remember the times my family grew cucumbers and beans. Mornings were for school, and every afternoon for months on end, we would be out in the fields pulling weeds, picking cucumbers, and harvesting beans, working constantly with not a single day for rest.

I was skinny, and my hands were always dark with sap stains. I would never forget a day when it was pouring rain, I had to carry a 50-kilogram (110 lbs) sack of cucumbers home on an old bicycle. The path was slippery, and both the bike and I tumbled uncontrollably into a newly planted rice field. I tried with all my strength to lift the bike off the field, helplessly. The rain kept pouring down, and darkness was falling. I was in total despair, a hard feeling was overwhelming my soul. Thankfully, a neighbor returning from work saw me struggling and helped me out of that miserable situation.

Even that was not the worst thing yet. The busiest time of the year was during Tet (Vietnam’s Lunar New Year). Almost everyone in my hometown took the opportunity to earn money, including me, trying to sell vegetable peelers and chopping boards at the market for people to prepare pickled Chinese onions (ironically, it is a traditional Vietnamese dish) for the festival. I would approach anyone, asking, “Auntie, please buy a peeler from me,” “Please buy a board from me.” Yet, for some reason, I was the worst seller in the market.

Everyone else sold more than I did; other kids teased me, laughed at me. In one morning, I reach another state of helplessness after failing to sell even a single item, hearing “I already bought from someone else,” or “I’m not buying, kid” or “Stop bothering us!”. I would walk, with a heavy heart, back to my mother’s stall in the market and cried out loud. People told me, “You’re not good at selling,” “You can’t do business,” “Don’t try to sell anymore.” I was only 10 years old, and these words would haunt me for the next 16 years, making me fear anything related to sales or business. I had been constantly haunted by the fear of it.

“During Tet, when I saw my friends my age having fun, I would envy them so much. Instead of enjoying the Lunar New Year freely, I had to spend that time picking chili peppers. Many times, tears would run down my face as I picked the fresh, red peppers. I felt so sad. But work still had to be done. Poverty would not take a break from getting us, so we chose not to stop for anything, Tet was no exception even when it should have been such one.

Fortunately, I wasn’t bad at school. The day I received my acceptance letter to Danang University of Science and Technology, my parents were filled with joy and pride. I was the only one in the village to pass, and it was a top university. My father and I packed for Danang City. Then began my five years of university. I majored in bridge and road construction (I’m sure you understand why I avoided anything related to economics, business, or commerce). However, my university journey ended up disappointing my parents.

I finished my 4th year knowing that a late graduation was destined because I couldn’t meet the school’s graduation requirements. In the end, it took me 6 years to get my degree. My parents didn’t say it out, but I knew they were very sad about it. They had worked extra hard, as well as borrowing money to support my studies, and couldn’t avoid this from happening. Later, my mom told me, when they had found out I would graduate late, they were both very sad but at the same time concerned a lot for my emotional status, they were afraid that I might drop out and get involved in social vices: drinking, gambling, drugs, just to name a few. Thus, they would keep encouraging and supporting me through the time, and never once blamed me. Honestly, I had thought about quitting school at that time.

Those two years of trouble at university helped me wake up a lot. I had been too proud, thinking I had a gift. I had lived without discipline, played more than studied, and finally realized that I had nothing special—no skills, no knowledge which could count.

So, I started taking part-time jobs. I worked at restaurants, at a photocopy shop, as a construction worker, worked on painting walls, and then at construction companies, doing internships and odd jobs. In the evenings, I went to English classes. There was one time back then, my cousin from my hometown referred me to a construction job. That morning, I put on my best clothes, dressed nicely, and wore leather shoes to work, thinking I would be working in an office. I even brought my laptop, but when I arrived, I didn’t see an office, just a building under construction with two floors.

I thought I had come to the wrong place, so I called my cousin to confirm, just to hear him told me it was the right address. I stood still for 30 seconds, then walked in, put my bag in a corner, took off my nice clothes, borrowed an old, dirty hat that someone had left on a pile of bricks, and started drilling into concrete. That night, my hands were swollen and painful. I laid in my room, staring at the ceiling, and I told myself at that moment, I needed money to take care of myself. My parents had already suffered so much for me.

During those two years, I completely became a different person: hardworking and determined. Proof of that is I got a TOEIC English certificate with a score of 735—an achievement that many of my friends in the construction field would dream of. I also painted and repaired my parents’ house by myself in 20 days in 2016.

The day of my bachelor’s thesis defense finally came, and I finished my studies. That same afternoon, I packed my bags, moved out of the house where I had stayed for six years, and said goodbye to my friends and the neighbors to pursue a new life. I am grateful to Danang for raising me up and giving me a pkatform to unforgettable experiences. But I knew I needed something new—a stronger, more dynamic environment. So, I chose to go to Ho Chi Minh City (the biggest city in Vietnam) to start my career.

Before heading to Ho Chi Minh City, I went home to visit my parents and also stopped by to see my 12th-grade homeroom teacher, who was also responsible for our math lessons back then. I remember drinking quite a lot of beer that night with some of his friends and former students. We talked late into the night. I shared my plans and dreams for Saigon with him. He didn’t say much, but he quietly slipped 364,000 VND ($15) into my pocket and said, ‘Go for Saigon, my boy!’ Before I could refuse, he added, ‘Use it to buy your bus ticket. Come back when you’ve made it.’ I was so touched, I didn’t know what to say. And so, I left for Saigon.

A NEW CHAPTER

On Friday, June 16, 2017, I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, carrying hopes and dreams but also a lot of worries and uncertainty about the future. I didn’t know what job I would do, so I started with my ‘specialty’—working as a brick layer at my sister’s house, which was under construction. During that time, I submitted job applications to find work in my field.

My first days in Ho Chi Minh City felt strange. I didn’t know the streets, and I didn’t have a smartphone. I still remember my first job interview clearly. I was staying at my sister’s house in Go Vap and had to go to the interview on Truong Cong Dinh Street in Tan Binh District. I didn’t know the way and had no smartphone, so I drew a map on the palm of my hand. I followed the map carefully, but when I reached Nguyen Thai Son Street, the road was closed for construction. My hand-drawn map became useless. I wandered around for a while, then asked for directions from locals, and finally made it.

That interview was successful, and after more than half a month, I got my first job. I worked for a water supply and drainage company, spending my days on construction sites from morning until night. Sometimes, I had to work late into the night, returning home at 3 or 4 a.m.

The work was hard, the salary was low, and worst of all, I didn’t know what I could contribute to the company. So, after 1.5 months of working, I decided to meet my boss and ask him about resigning. I realized Ho Chi Minh City wasn’t as “fertile” as I had thought.

I kept searching for a new job and was hired by a company that designed construction projects for foreign countries. I really liked this job. My boss was kind to me, and my coworkers would train me with warm hearts and enthusiasm. This job indeed became the foundation for the idea of my future career. I stayed at the company for about 3 months, and then came the Lunar New Year – the Vietnamese’ Tet.

That Tet, I only had 5 million VND (200 USD) left in my account. I sent 1 million (50 USD) to my dad and 1 million (50 USD) to my mom, and realized after more than half a year in Ho Chi Minh City, I had exactly 3 million left. On the last working day of the year, I walked around the streets, feeling empty. I was disappointed, sad, and I thought a lot. I decided not to go back home to celebrate Tet with my family, something I had never done before. I could be sure my parents were really sad that year.

In more than a week of Tet holidays, I didn’t go anywhere. I stayed in my room, thinking about how to develop my career for the new year. If things would not change, Who knew when I would have enough money to help my parents like I dreamed of when I was a child? How about saving enough for a house, and a family? I shared my thoughts with my older sister, and she simply said, ‘Go study business!’ I was afraid of business, but I managed the best I could to summon enough courage to sign up for a course. Deep inside, I always longed for a better life. I wanted to make the dreams I had as a child come true.

I couldn’t believe it. That 3-hour class was a turning point in my life. I listened eagerly as the trainer taught about business and companies, met successful people, and realized that all these years, my fear of selling and business was a lie. I began to feel that a new mindset had entered my mind—the mindset of someone who has a strong desire for success.

I returned to work with a completely different mindset. I took all initiatives to absorb new knowledge, improve my expertise in construction design, and develop my work management and team leadership skills. As a result, I earned a higher income, received more opportunities, gained exposure to new experiences, and was selected by my company to attend a two-month short-term course in the United States.

During my time studying and working in California, USA, I discovered something important: there is a significant shortage of civil engineers in the United States. Hiring them takes a great deal of time and comes with substantial costs, including salaries, benefits, equipment, office space, and other expenses. Meanwhile, in Vietnam (my home country), there is an abundant supply of civil engineers proficient in English. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a way to help civil engineering businesses in the United States?”

That thought inn me grew stronger day by day. I dreamed of owning my own business, where I could freely innovate, improve, and create more values for others. I decided to quit my job. I knew my resignation surprised my boss—he was disappointed and indeed unhappy with my decision because things were going well, and the company needed me due to my contributions. Despite all of that, I had made up my mind that I could not stay, even though I was deeply grateful for all the support I had received. On my last day, everyone wished me good luck, and I hoped that one day, when we would meet again, I could express my sincere gratitude. I wanted to pursue my dream.

That day finally came. I founded my own company in October 2019 under the name Aidedo, specializing in providing outsourcing services for the construction industry globally, serving developed countries like the United States, England, Australia, Scotland, Ireland, and more.

I borrowed 20 million VND from my brother to buy a computer and started my business in a small room on the rooftop of his house. This room was previously used as a prayer room by the landlord. After my brother rented the place, he told me to use it as my workspace.

I struggled to get things off the ground, and nothing went as smoothly as I had imagined. I faced all kinds of challenges—from finding clients and managing projects to handling payments. In the first two years, I worked from 7 a.m. until midnight, sometimes even later, without taking weekends or holidays off. I did everything by myself—truly living the “three no’s”: no capital, no office, no staff, and one “yes”: yes there’s one person – me alone.

There was a time when I worked on a project continuously for two months, only for the client to refuse payment after receiving the complete project. I was left empty-handed, and at that time, the unpaid amount was a significant sum for me. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t ask for the payment to be made. I felt helpless and even regretted my decision to start my own business. But after that moment of despair, as well as the others, I would reflect on my dreams and find the determination to keep moving forward.

THE FIRST TEAMMATES

After a time fighting the battle alone, I began my journey to look for some teammates. Perhaps God heard my wishes, and the law of attraction brought Chien to me. He was introduced by a mutual friend who mentioned that Chien had been the class secretary throughout his four years at university. He had four years of experience in designing technical infrastructure projects, proficiency with software, and often mentored students and young engineers. I was impressed—he was clearly someone talented and reliable.

We arranged to meet at a garden café in the square area of Thu Duc. During that first meeting, I discovered something even more remarkable—we were from the same hometown, our houses were just a 10-minute drive apart. That day, I shared about the projects I had been working on, and Chien shared his. We dove deep into discussions comparing design practices in the West and in Vietnam. By the end of our conversation, we had become friends.

From then on, we frequently organized workshops with other design professionals, gathering over coffee to share technical knowledge and learn from each others.

After spending some time getting to know each other, I shared my plans and future vision for Aidedo with Chien and invited him to join me. At the time, I was anxious, afraid that he might turn down my offer, as the company was still in its early stages, with nothing solid yet, and the future remained uncertain.

But fortune smiled upon me. On March 20, 2020, Aidedo officially welcomed its first teammate, Chien (Henry Tran).

During this period, Aidedo received immense support from many members of the “SundayCoffee” engineering group. They helped us by sharing their knowledge, experience, and software skills. Friends like Kha, Quy, and Due contributed tremendously, and I am deeply grateful for their invaluable help.

Then came the turn of Nhan (Kelly) to join Aidedo, thanks to Chien’s reference. Nhan was a soldier who had just completed 24 months of military service. After graduating from university, almost everyone else chose to enter the workforce, but Nhan chose to serve in the military instead of trying to avoid it like many of his peers (including me and Chien). However, I don’t believe those two years of military service were a waste, because Nhan brought with him the discipline and work ethic of a soldier. He was always meticulous and held very high standards in his work. Nhan adapted to the job quickly and learned fast. Today, he is the role model of a department head, overseeing a branch and managing a team of nearly 20 people. Truly impressive.

I am deeply grateful to Chien and Nhan. Without their support, Aidedo wouldn’t be where it is today. I am thankful for these two amazing co-founders of Aidedo.

Next came Thinh (Timothy) , introduced to me by a trusted younger colleague in the design industry. I remember the day of the interview, I met him at a cafe (since the company was still operating on my brother’s rooftop). We chatted about the work, and Thinh gladly accepted the position. However, when it came time to leave the cafe, I realized I had forgotten my wallet. Luckiy me, Thinh kindly covered the bill. I thought I must have been the one and only in the world who had ever requested a candidate to pay for the coffee after an interview. Fortunately, Thinh was understanding and relaxed about it. Over time, until now, with his continued effort and determination, his work results has begun to take shape.

Then there was Nhut, Rin, and Long, who also joined the team. I was particularly impressed by Rin. During his interview, I asked, “How come you haven’t graduated yet?” Rin responded, “It’s because I’ve been too caught up in relationships.” He started working with us, and almost every day, he would show up late or sleep through his alarm. At one point, he even rented a place right next to the company, but still couldn’t make it on time. However, today, Rin has changed a lot and has gradually become a team leader, setting a great example in the company.

We ended 2020 with 6 team members and a new workplace, though it didn’t offer much in terms of amenities, just got more seating.

As we stepped into 2021, we were operating for just a few months when the pandemic hit. It was a huge hardship, however we had no choice but to adapt to remote work. Fortunately, we were still able to grow and continue thriving until today.