A steadfast commitment to cinnamon trees.

Born in 1972 into a farming family in Hamlet 5, Thanh Thinh Commune (formerly Dao Thinh Commune), Ms. Huan was familiar with the rhythm of life in the fields and on the hillsides from a young age. After finishing high school, she stayed in her hometown and followed her husband to build a family life. In the early years of their lives, she and her husband toiled away cultivating rice, cassava, corn, and planting trees… but poverty still clung to them, leaving them with meals one day and hunger the next.

Like many farmers at that time, her only assets were her hands, hard work, and a burning desire to escape poverty. In 2000, after much discussion with her husband and research into effective production models, she considered cinnamon – a crop that had established itself and held significant economic value in many localities within the province. At that time, the local authorities had just begun encouraging people to convert unproductive hillside land to cinnamon cultivation. Not only did she learn through books, newspapers, and television, but she also directly met with officials from the commune's Farmers' Association to seek advice on planting and caring for cinnamon trees.

For Ms. Huan, "If you don't know, ask; if you're not sure, learn; if you haven't done it, try it" is the motto that started her journey in developing forest-based economic activities. Initially, she boldly planted 2 hectares of cinnamon trees. Although she was still unfamiliar with the process and lacked systematic care techniques, her diligence and eagerness to learn helped her family quickly grasp the characteristics of this crop. Cinnamon trees grow quickly, are suitable for the soil and climate, and are resistant to pests and diseases. Seeing the positive results, she continued to expand the area planted with cinnamon trees.

To date, after more than 20 years of perseverance, her family's cinnamon forest area has reached over 15 hectares. Not content with simply planting and selling raw materials like many other households, Ms. Huan has always been concerned with how to increase the economic value of cinnamon trees, helping her family escape poverty sustainably while creating jobs for local laborers.

In 2010, she decided to invest in opening a cinnamon processing workshop at home, focusing on processing raw cinnamon products such as cinnamon bark slices, cinnamon sticks, and cinnamon bars to sell to large businesses such as Son Ha Company and O Lam Company in Van Yen district.

Starting with just a few workers and a few hundred kilograms of cinnamon per day, her cinnamon processing factory has now grown significantly, with a capacity of approximately 800 tons per year, including cinnamon harvested by her family and purchased from local farmers. Income from processing and selling cinnamon brings her family around 400-500 million VND per year – a dream figure for many farming households.

Beyond its economic value, her cinnamon workshop provides stable employment for approximately 15 local workers, with an income of 7-8 million VND per person per month. This is not just a number, but also a testament to sharing and the compassion of someone who cares about providing food and clothing for others. In addition to cinnamon, she also raises pigs and chickens, cultivates fish ponds, and grows rice to generate additional income and leverage the strengths of diversified production in rural areas. The once barren, rocky land has now become a prosperous, lush, and fragrant farm.

Not only is she a successful businesswoman, Ms. Huan also lives harmoniously and is closely connected to the community. She always actively contributes to social activities, from building rural roads, supporting funds to eliminate dilapidated houses, assisting poor members lacking production resources, to activities of the Fatherland Front and local organizations. During campaigns to donate land for road construction, her family readily takes the lead, contributing money and labor without regard for time. "If the road is wide, then vehicles can access the factory, goods can circulate, and our people will have better conditions for trade," Ms. Huan said simply, reflecting her way of life and work over the years.

Mr. Vu Viet Dong, Chairman of the Farmers' Association of Thanh Thinh commune, commented: "Ms. Tran Thi Huan is a typical example of a farmer who dares to think, dares to act, and boldly switches to crops that bring high economic efficiency. Not only has she enriched herself, but she has also made many positive contributions to the community and the local farmers' movement. Her efforts have contributed to building the image of a dynamic, creative, and responsible farmer."

Before parting ways, Ms. Huan took us for a walk around the cinnamon plantations, which were in the midst of harvest. The scent of cinnamon wafted gently in the breeze, imbued with the sweet essence of the earth, the sky, and above all, the sweat, hard work, and aspirations of this woman. Each cinnamon tree held a story, a testament to the resilience and the spirit of overcoming difficulties of a simple yet extraordinary farmer. Tran Thi Huan – a name now associated not only with the Tran Yen cinnamon brand but also as a symbol of a new generation of farmers: Confident – Creative – Persistent – Compassionate.

With tireless efforts over more than two decades, in 2022, Ms. Tran Thi Huan was honored with the title "Outstanding Vietnamese Farmer" by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Farmers' Association (VFA). In addition, she has received numerous commendations from the VFA of the province, Tran Yen district, and Thanh Thinh commune for her achievements in labor, production, economic development, and rural development. For her, the greatest reward is the stability and harmony in her small family. Her two sons are now grown up, have stable jobs, and are a great source of emotional support, helping her to move forward on the path she has chosen.

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