"Stay close to the land, stay close to the forest" for the development of medicinal plants.

"Staying rooted in the land and the forest" is a playful way the people of Yen Trach commune describe Nguyen Quoc Hoang, Director of Tien Phong Agricultural Cooperative, when referring to the entrepreneurial journey of this young man of the Tay ethnic group, born in 1991. Despite graduating from university with a degree in industry, Hoang chose to return to his hometown and dedicate himself to the family's traditional herbal medicine. For him, entrepreneurship begins with native plants on the very land where he was born.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoang, Director of Tien Phong Agricultural Cooperative, started his business with a model of growing and developing native medicinal plants.

Nguyen Quoc Hoang's childhood was filled with days spent accompanying his grandparents to the forest to gather medicinal leaves, dig up roots, and search for bamboo shoots. Thanks to this, he quickly learned the names of many plants, how to identify their medicinal properties, and how to process them using traditional methods. He believes that, if properly exploited, the forest plants of his homeland can provide sustainable economic value.

After working for a while to accumulate capital and experience, in 2015, Mr. Hoang decided to return to Yen Trach and start growing medicinal herbs. Initially, the area was only about 1 hectare, mainly planted with species familiar to the people in the mountainous region. Thanks to his perseverance and clear direction, the cultivation area has now expanded to 7 hectares, with plants such as wild bitter melon, velvet leaf, moneywort, rehmannia, and milk thistle.

In 2018, the Tien Phong Agricultural Cooperative was established with 15 members, 11 of whom were ethnic minorities. Transitioning from technical work to agricultural production, Hoang faced many difficulties due to a lack of practical experience, insufficient manpower, and the hesitation of the local people in adopting the new model. Undeterred, he proactively participated in training courses, taught himself techniques, and directly worked in the fields with the farmers to gradually perfect the production process.

Thanks to perseverance, the cooperative's model of growing and processing wild bitter melon organically has gradually stabilized. The production process is controlled from planting and harvesting to drying and packaging, ensuring the preservation of its medicinal properties and natural flavor.

In 2024, the wild bitter melon tea product of Tien Phong Cooperative was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product, marking an important step in building a brand for local medicinal herbs.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoang was honored to be recognized as an outstanding young person, a reputable figure and a successful entrepreneur in ethnic minority and mountainous regions in 2025.

Currently, the cooperative provides regular employment for over 10 workers, along with 20-30 seasonal workers; the average income reaches 6-8 million VND/person/month. The cooperative's annual revenue exceeds 1 billion VND and is steadily increasing each year. In addition to wild bitter melon tea, the cooperative has developed about 15 other products such as: herbal extracts, tea bags, health-supporting essences... all with traceability labels and food safety certifications.

Through production and consumption linkages, many households in the commune have boldly converted a portion of their land to growing medicinal plants, increasing their income by 60-80 million VND per year. Notably, the cooperative chose to grow medicinal plants under the forest canopy, utilizing suitable areas without disrupting the ecosystem. This approach contributes to biodiversity conservation while creating stable livelihoods for people living near the forest, aligning with the green economic development orientation.

According to Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoang, the goal of the startup is not only to develop the economy but also to preserve the traditional remedies of the Tay people. To expand the market, the cooperative needs to continue improving certifications such as VietGAP, organic, and a comprehensive quality management system. Therefore, sustainability is always prioritized, with controlled development and no sacrifice of the environment for profit.

The story of Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoang and the Tien Phong Agricultural Cooperative is proof of the right direction in promoting the value of native plants. From familiar mountain and forest species, with new thinking and systematic methods, a green economic model has been formed, contributing to increasing people's income and promoting local development.

At the end of November 2025, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoang was honored by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union as one of 36 outstanding ethnic minority youths with prestige and successful entrepreneurship in mountainous regions. Prior to that, he was awarded the title of Outstanding Thai Nguyen Farmer of 2025 by the Provincial Farmers' Association and received the Luong Dinh Cua Award in 2024.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202512/bam-dat-bam-rung-phat-trien-cay-duoc-lieu-6bd3352/