A family with thousands of children built on barren land.
Despite being honored nationally twice, this farmer quietly remains attached to his land and forest, continuing to sow seeds of change in this challenging region. Without a grand house in the city, Hoang Van Liem's journey to wealth began on a vacant plot of land on a hillside in Yen Thanh commune, Lao Cai province. Returning after years of working far from home, this man, born in 1986, decided to choose the difficult path, starting his business right in his impoverished homeland.
Mr. Hoang Van Liem, Director of Thien An General Service Cooperative (standing in the middle, wearing a white shirt), has developed livestock farming on a scale of over 1,500 buffaloes and cows. Photo: Thanh Nga.
“The trees lack water, people lack food, but we cannot remain poor forever,” Hoang Van Liem recalled his determination in the early days of his career. Recognizing that his homeland had vast grasslands and a climate favorable for raising large livestock, he decided to establish the Thien An General Service Cooperative, focusing on developing a model for breeding and fattening cattle and buffalo.
Initially, he only dared to raise a few dozen animals, personally tending to their meals and vaccinations. But step by step, his herd of buffalo and cattle grew, overcoming diseases and hardships.
Currently, the Thien An General Service Cooperative, headed by Mr. Hoang Van Liem, has expanded to a scale of over 1,500 buffaloes and cows. No longer a small-scale livestock farm as it was in the beginning, the cooperative has now become a professional, well-organized, and scientific operating system. From selecting breeding stock, quarantine, and vaccination to the sales process, everything is closely monitored and controlled, ensuring efficiency and safety in livestock farming.
Yen Thanh commune is a land with vast grasslands and a climate favorable for raising large livestock. Photo: Thanh Nga.
Mr. Liem shared: “We pay special attention to the breeding stock procurement process. First, we select healthy animals that eat well. After bringing them in, we administer all three doses of vaccine. The breeding stock is separated into individual pens and kept in isolation for 21 days for monitoring. Only when all conditions are met and there are no signs of disease do we supply them to national target programs and projects.”
The dedication of the livestock farmers, combined with the vision of the leaders, has enabled Thien An General Service Cooperative to continuously expand its reach. The cooperative's products are not only in high demand within the province but also in many neighboring provinces. Each year, the cooperative achieves revenue of approximately 25 billion VND, with profits consistently at 2.5 billion VND – an impressive figure in a region still facing many challenges in Lao Cai province.
Helping many households escape poverty.
More important than the revenue and profit figures is the stable livelihood that the livestock farming model provides for the local people. Currently, Thien An General Service Cooperative is creating regular jobs for more than 30 local workers, with an average income of 8.5 million VND/month. This is considered a significant turning point for a rural area that once faced livelihood difficulties year after year.
Ms. Do Thi Anh, a member of Thien An General Service Cooperative, shared: “Previously, my family was classified as a poor household. Since joining the cooperative run by Mr. Liem, we have received support in terms of livestock and feed. Thanks to this, our family's economy has gradually stabilized and we have risen out of poverty.”
The cooperative has created jobs for many local workers, helping them escape poverty. Photo: Thanh Nga.
Beyond simply caring for his livestock, Mr. Hoang Van Liem has also dedicated himself to planting 10 hectares of forest. The forests he has established not only help conserve soil and green the hills, but also serve as a sustainable asset for the future. His agricultural philosophy is not limited to short-term gains, but aims for sustainable development, harmonizing economic goals with the protection of the natural environment.
Mr. Vu Quoc Hieu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Yen Thanh commune, Lao Cai province, said: Thien An General Service Cooperative is currently the largest-scale livestock farming model in the commune. Not only is it outstanding in its economic development achievements, but Mr. Hoang Van Liem, the cooperative's director, also actively supports poor households, creates stable jobs for many local workers, and makes a significant contribution to the new rural development program. Thanks to its effective model, systematic economic thinking, and strong community ties, many delegations from within and outside the province have visited the cooperative to observe and learn from its experience.
The success of Thien An General Service Cooperative is not only measured by revenue or the ever-increasing number of buffalo and cattle, but also by the way ethnic minority farmers from a region where it would be difficult to build and operate a systematic and scientific economic model.
Starting from nothing, Mr. Hoang Van Liem not only rose to achieve legitimate wealth for himself but also inspired and empowered many households to overcome difficulties, gradually transforming the economic landscape of the entire community. This is the sustainable value that this model brings, an economic model linked to the spirit of sharing and the aspiration to rise up from the humble farmers themselves.
Mr. Hoang Van Liem has been recognized twice in the "Proud Vietnamese Farmers" program, receiving the "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer" award in 2021 and 2025.
Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/anh-nong-dan-tay-bien-bai-dat-hoang-thanh-co-nghiep-tien-ty-d784040.html
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