At the 11th National Emulation Congress (December 2025), when Mr. Vu Huu Le, Director of Hong Ha Mechanical and Construction Company Limited, stepped onto the stage, the entire hall erupted in admiration of his spirit and health.

Holding a small bag containing tools such as a mechanical measuring ruler, compass, set square, and blueprints for various machines, Mr. Le proudly recounted: "I've used these tools to build machines for the past 60 years. Thanks to inventing many machines for farmers, I've received more than 200 certificates and awards."

A machine building enthusiast

Engineer and Labor Hero Vu Huu Le was born in 1935 in Phu Tho province . Growing up, he attended a road and bridge construction course to serve the resistance war. In 1958, after completing a short-term training course in irrigation, he took up a position at the Irrigation Department of the former Hoang Lien Son province.

In 1963, he was awarded the Third-Class Labor Medal by President Ho Chi Minh for his outstanding achievements in irrigation work to combat drought and save rice crops. In 1964, he went to the Soviet Union to study at the Belarusian Agricultural Academy, specializing in agricultural machinery manufacturing, a field he had loved since childhood.

In 1971, he became Deputy Director and then Director of the Hoang Lien Son Mechanical Factory, retiring in 1990.

President Luong Cuong presented the title of Hero of Labor to Mr. Vu Huu Le.

For him, retirement doesn't mean quitting work, because he always keeps in mind President Ho Chi Minh's teaching: "Whatever is beneficial to the people, we must do our utmost to do; whatever is harmful to the people, we must do our utmost to avoid."

He embarked on a new journey with a strong desire to contribute and a high level of determination: to invent agricultural machinery to help farmers reduce their workload. Through his research in the northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam, a region rich in potential and possessing many valuable agricultural products such as tea, cinnamon, cassava, and medicinal herbs that need processing, he observed that the people lacked modern production tools and relied primarily on manual labor. From this, he resolved to establish a mechanical workshop to manufacture agricultural equipment.

"When I started my business, I only had one million dong and a Simson motorbike which I used to collect scrap metal, sell it for profit, and buy equipment for the workshop. Initially, the small workshop only produced rudimentary hand tools," Mr. Le shared.

As Vietnam's agriculture developed strongly, all industries in the localities expanded their production scale. To promptly meet the market demand for agricultural machinery, Mr. Le decided to establish Hong Ha Mechanical and Construction Company Limited in Nam Cuong ward, Lao Cai province, specializing in the production of machinery for agriculture. Thanks to the dynamism and creativity of director Vu Huu Le, the company consistently provides stable employment for more than 20 engineers and workers.

Mr. Le said: "For me, there is no greater joy than creating machines that work well, helping people reduce their hardships, and being loved by everyone I meet – that's the greatest happiness." The agricultural processing machines and construction equipment invented by Mr. Le not only help people save labor but also increase productivity, creating a significant shift in agricultural production and infrastructure development in the locality. These inventions, though simple, are rich in practical value.

Currently, tens of thousands of products bearing the "Mr. Le's machine" brand are trusted and used by farmers nationwide.

The farmer's inventor

Mr. Le recalled: “Previously, the provinces of Hoang Lien Son, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, and Ha Giang were key tea-growing regions in the country. Farmers only grew tea to sell fresh tea leaves to tea factories in Tran Phu, Nghia Lo, and Hoang Lien Son. Many wanted to process the tea into finished products but couldn't afford the machinery, as imported machines were very expensive.”

After conducting on-site research, Mr. Le realized that farmers desperately needed tea-processing machines, and this motivation ignited his will and desire to create machinery.

Hero of Labor Vu Huu Le.

With the knowledge he gained in the Soviet Union and practical experience, after many sleepless nights working on blueprints, and numerous failed experiments followed by more experiments... after two years, Mr. Le successfully manufactured the first tea-rolling machine with a capacity and quality equivalent to imported machines, but at a much lower cost, suitable for small-scale farming.

Mr. Le recounted: "When I took my tea-rolling machine to an exhibition in Lam Dong, people crowded around to see it, not believing that a machine made in Vietnam could do that. After the exhibition, my tea-rolling machine became famous and sold all over the country."

Mr. Le believed that if he stayed in a city office with air conditioning, how could he know what farmers needed? To make machines for them, he had to go down and live with them, listen to their complaints, only then could he come up with ideas.

"When I visited cooperatives, I saw how hard it was for people to manually press vermicelli, which gave me the idea and led to the successful creation of a 'cassava root grinding machine' and a 'cassava vermicelli pressing machine'. When I visited cinnamon-growing areas like Bao Thang (Lao Cai) and Bac Tra My (Quang Nam)... I saw how hard people worked harvesting cinnamon, and the yield was low. From that, I created a 'continuous cinnamon cutting and segmenting machine' and a 'cinnamon crushing machine,' which increased productivity six times compared to manual methods."

"When I visited Púng Luông commune (Lao Cai) and several other localities with large livestock and poultry farms, I saw that the people still followed the old method of chopping vegetables and fruits by hand. From that experience, I researched and developed a 'grass chopper' and a 'fruit slicing machine' that are very effective in use," Mr. Lê shared.

Coming from a rural background, Mr. Le understands the hardships and difficulties in agricultural production. Therefore, he considers farmers as the subjects of all his inventions, and each of his inventions is aimed at serving the farming community.

Therefore, the machines he created were based on three criteria: easy to operate, easy to repair, and inexpensive. Mr. Tang The Ton, a worker at the Au Lau Ward Vermicelli Production Cooperative (Lao Cai), said: “The machines Mr. Le created are trusted by our people because they are durable, easy to use, easy to repair, and inexpensive. He even lets those in need pay later without interest.”

Currently, agricultural machinery of various capacities and sizes is mass-produced by the company, selling out as soon as it's made, much to the delight of farmers. Thanks to this machinery, the added value generated annually for farmers nationwide amounts to tens of trillions of dong.

Sharing his thoughts on the profession, Mr. Le said: "Working in mechanics requires diligence, passion, and dedication. Every day I'm at the workshop from 5 a.m., and at night I sit and research, calculating, so that each year I invent 2-3 new types of machines." Thanks to this, a series of machinery products bearing the Hong Ha brand have been successively created and put into use.

Mr. Le affirmed: "My responsibility doesn't end after selling the machines. During the use of the machinery, if any problems or malfunctions occur, people can call and report it, and I will send someone to fix it immediately. If it's a major problem, no matter how far away, I will personally come to repair the machines for them."

A 90- year-old hero

The life of Engineer and Labor Hero Vu Huu Le is a testament to a journey of unwavering dedication.

Despite his advanced age, he hasn't allowed himself to rest. Instead, he chooses to enjoy an active and productive life, continuing to contribute his energy and intellect to society. Still constantly learning and expanding his knowledge in the digital age, Mr. Le shared: "With the development of science and technology, the government's encouragement, and my good health, there's no reason for me to retire."

He is considered the "igniter of innovation" in Vietnam's agricultural machinery industry. With over 10 innovative machine designs that have won top prizes at provincial and national technical innovation competitions, he is also the "father" of 11 types of agricultural and construction machinery, comprising more than 50 different machine models.

Of these, seven types of machines have been granted exclusive production protection by the Intellectual Property Office (Ministry of Science and Technology), becoming rural industrial products. The products he created are used on a scale ranging from households to large production facilities, with selling prices only 30-40% of imported machines.

Comrade Ta Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Cuong Ward, Lao Cai Province, said: "Mr. Vu Huu Le is a typical example in the locality. His wisdom grows with age, and he possesses a diligent and creative work ethic, constantly generating new ideas. Furthermore, he actively participates in patriotic emulation movements and charitable activities in the area."

Hero of Labor Vu Huu Le and the author.

In addition to his work in invention and company management, Mr. Vu Huu Le is also actively involved in charitable activities, having contributed over 500 million VND to charity since 2020.

As the company director, he implemented many preferential policies to support farmers, such as: selling machinery on deferred payment terms; reducing prices by 70-80% for disadvantaged households; organizing creative idea competitions for high school students in the area; and providing career guidance for young people...

Mr. Vu Huu Le dedicated his entire life to contributing to society through effective and practical actions.

In recognition of these achievements, he was awarded the Second and Third Class Labor Orders by the Party and the State; the title "Scientist for Farmers"; the title "National Outstanding Elderly Entrepreneur" for the fourth time (2018-2023); and in 2025, he was honored with the prestigious title "Hero of Labor".

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-17/anh-hung-tuoi-90-1026948