A solid foundation for the entrepreneurial journey of a female director from the land of Bach Ngoc

Director of Hang Moon Herbal Import-Export Company Nguyen Thi Hang is one of the delegates attending the Provincial Women's Union Congress, representing a "block" of businesses that have had many successes on their entrepreneurial journey. Reporters of Nghe An Newspaper and Radio and Television had a quick talk with the businesswoman from Bach Ngoc land about the "support" of women's unions at all levels for the entrepreneurial activities of grassroots members.

Reporter: Not only are you a typical representative of the "business community" of women at the grassroots level who have had many successes with the grassroots start-up model attending the Congress of Delegates of the Women 's Union of Nghe An province , you are also one of the three representatives of Nghe An in the start-up movement invited to attend and honored by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union at the end of November 2025. Can you summarize some of the successes that you and the Company have achieved in the past time ?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang: These days, being able to attend and share at the Nghe An Provincial Women's Congress is a great honor for me. Behind every success is the responsible companionship of the Women's Union at all levels, the support of the Party Committee, the government and the encouragement of those who have trusted and supported us. It is that support that has helped me and many other women confidently move forward, dare to dream further and turn dreams into reality.

On the morning of November 25, the 17th Congress of Women's Delegates of Nghe An province, term 2025-2030, solemnly opened with the participation of 300 official delegates representing all classes of women in the whole province. Photo: Pham Bang

Choosing to start a business from my hometown's agricultural products, from the first drops of essential oils in my small kitchen, I was determined to choose a direction that would contribute to preserving the value of my hometown's herbs. From a 150m² production workshop, Hang Moon now has a second workshop of nearly 1,000m², producing cosmetics and body care products, with 10 products achieving 3-star OCOP and 4 products in the process of competing for 4-star OCOP. After more than 3 years of development, under the guidance and support of authorities at all levels, departments, branches, especially the Women's Union, I and the company have boldly participated in many competitions and were lucky to win some awards such as: Top 5 of the Nghe An Province Women's Startup Competition (2022); Encouragement Prize of the "Nghe An Province Open Innovation" Competition (2022); Third prize in the Central region of the competition "Women starting a business to promote local resources" (2023); National Encouragement Prize in the competition "Women starting a business to promote local resources" (2023).

Reporter : So it can be seen that, from the idea to your entrepreneurial journey, you have received great support from all levels of the Women's Union. Can you elaborate on this?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang: I was born in the sunny and windy countryside of Nghe An, where herbs such as perilla, basil, ginger, lemongrass, grapefruit... have been associated with people's lives for generations. My simple dream is to turn the precious values ​​of my hometown herbs into clean, safe products, bearing the mark of Vietnamese culture and able to reach far. That dream only really has a chance to take shape when the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union strongly implements the policy of supporting women in economic development, especially Project 939 - Supporting women in starting a business .

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang (right) and representative of Do Luong District Labor Federation signed a commitment to union members' welfare on cooperation to support planting and consumption of agricultural products. Photo: HT

In the early days of struggling with a series of questions such as: How to bring products to customers? How can a rural woman be confident enough to enter the market? How to build a sustainable business model? At that time, I was approached with the most important support, which was Project 939 "Supporting women to start a business in the period 2017 - 2025" which was also the breakthrough of the 16th Congress of Women's Delegates of Nghe An province.

The project has oriented to help women strongly shift from small-scale economic thinking to startup and innovation thinking; from manual production to value chain production; from traditional sales methods to accessing modern markets, especially through digital transformation. Thanks to those correct orientations, I understand that a rural woman can still step into the big market, do business, build a brand and bring traditional products far and wide.

Through start-up competitions from provincial to national level, the Association has created an environment for female businesses to compete, learn, connect with experts, investors, access capital and trade promotion programs. From these opportunities, I am more convinced that Vietnamese women can do anything, just need to be given the opportunity. A small business like Hang Moon is no longer "stuck at home", but is confident enough to step into the big market and affirm its direction.

Reporter: The connection of the Provincial Women's Union has helped bring policies to each specific model and timely support individuals and groups to start businesses and develop the economy. For Hang Moon Herbal Import-Export Company, what is that specific support?

Currently, Hang Moon Herbal Import-Export Company has 10 products that meet 3-star OCOP standards. Photo: HT

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang: Reality shows that, With the timely support and companionship of the Women's Union at all levels, Hang Moon has been able to stand firm and develop as it is today. The Women's Union at all levels were the first to believe in Hang Moon's herbal products. When the business was still small, lacking trust and recognition , the Association was the first place to listen, share and support me through the most difficult period. Special, The Association always stands side by side in connecting consumption and promoting products, helping the model gradually stabilize and develop.

The Association also helps businesses gradually professionalize by connecting businesses with the government and specialized sectors to complete legal documents and quality standards; support participation in building products that meet OCOP standards, participate in trade promotion conferences... Thanks to that, Hang Moon products are not only "clean - safe" but also meet standards, gradually "strong enough" to enter the large market.

In addition, the Women's Union at all levels is also a "teacher" in the journey of digital transformation and creating sustainable livelihoods. Through training courses such as business planning, livestream sales, digital marketing, e-commerce, etc., I have been able to access and develop skills in applying technology to business, and develop many online sales channels.

The association, in coordination with local authorities, has supported the expansion of perilla, purple basil, and lemongrass growing areas; connected grapefruit and ginger raw material areas in Nghia Dan and the old Ky Son; and linked with disadvantaged women to create stable jobs, contributing to creating sustainable livelihoods for many local women.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang was honored at the 5th Conference to honor advanced models of the Nghe An Provincial Women's Union, period 2020 - 2025. Photo: HT

It is the close guidance, persistent companionship and deep understanding of the Association at all levels that has motivated me, from a teacher, to boldly change direction to herbal medicine, to persevere on the path of green entrepreneurship and to spread the values ​​that I pursue.

Reporter: So the development process of enterprises is a vivid proof of the effectiveness of the policy ?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang: That's right. Entering a new phase, businesses like us determine to develop businesses not only for economic goals, but also for the responsibility to accompany the policies of the Party, the State, the orientation of Nghe An province, and the Association. The Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress for the term 2025 - 2030 orients to promote digital transformation, develop clean agriculture - green economy. Along with that, the Project to Support Women's Start-ups 2026 - 2035 opens up many new opportunities for the female business community. As a member and an enterprise that has grown from the Association's policies, I wish to continue to accompany the Nghe An Provincial Women's Union in 4 orientations. These are : Comprehensive digital transformation; developing a green - circular economy; Expand the market and spread the entrepreneurial spirit to women.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hang delivered a speech at the 17th Congress of Women Delegates of Nghe An province, term 2025-2030. Photo: PV

Looking back on the past, I realize that there is no success of a women's business without the mark of the Women's Union at all levels. From the Central Women's Startup Support Project to the close guidance, connection and companionship of the Nghe An Provincial Women's Union, it has become a bridge - a launching pad - a fulcrum for more than 1,000 women startups in the province in the past term. Hope that the Provincial Women's Union continues is a center for connecting resources, promoting digital skills training, accompanying Nghe An women's products to reach national and international markets; building a friendly, open and sustainable startup environment for women.

Reporter: Thank you for this interview!

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Source: https://baonghean.vn/be-do-vung-chac-cho-hanh-trinh-khoi-nghiep-cua-nu-giam-doc-xu-bach-ngoc-10312574.html