Green shoots sprout from the countryside.

QTO - She used to be a factory worker, and she also left her hometown. In her memories are the exhausting nights of overtime, the months spent carefully saving every penny to send back home, and the tearful afternoons of homesickness. The dream of a garment factory in her hometown, where poor women could earn a living near their children and elderly parents, was kindled in her during those years away from home. And then one day, Dai Song Tien Garment Import-Export Co., Ltd., a name meaning "Together we take big steps forward," with its spacious factory rising amidst the fields, is like a small, bright dot in this purely agricultural countryside.

Báo Quảng Trị•21/12/2025

The path is right beneath my feet.

Is it difficult to realize a dream?...Yes, it is! To have a garment factory in Dai Hao village today is the result of a relentless journey of effort by this petite woman. "I started my dream with small things, then gradually worked hard every day. I carry within me the aspiration to build up my homeland, so that no one has to leave the place where they were born because of poverty," said Tran Thi My Ngoc (44 years old), from Dai Hao village, Trieu Binh commune, with a determined voice.

Ms. Ngoc recounted: “I left my hometown and went to Ho Chi Minh City to work as a factory worker at the age of 18. But even as a factory worker, I always tried my best. In my sewing team at that time, I was always the one sewing the most orders, with the most neat and beautiful stitches. That's why, after only one year of working, I was promoted to manager of nearly 300 workers.” In 2004, Ms. Ngoc returned to her hometown to get married and worked as a manager at Hoa Tho Garment Factory (Nam Dong Ha Industrial Park) for 10 years. During those years, she learned many things, from how to manage personnel to negotiation skills with partners. Deep in Ms. Ngoc's heart, the idea of a small garment factory in her hometown, where a woman could both work and take care of her children, still burned brightly.

The fruits of Ms. Tran Thi My Ngoc's labor - Photo: K.L

The "sweet fruits" of Ms. Tran Thi My Ngoc's labor - Photo: KL

To realize her dream of "keeping people in the village," Ms. Ngoc spent many years preparing. She said that, firstly, she needed capital; secondly, a reliable source of goods; and thirdly, skilled personnel. Once everything was ready, in 2019 she opened a family-run sewing workshop. Starting with 10 sewing machines, she later expanded to 20. With increasing orders, she leased land near her home and established Dai Song Tien Garment Import-Export Co., Ltd. Now, the company has 50 sewing machines, providing jobs for over 50 workers in her hometown.

There was a time when difficulties came crashing down like waves. The company had only been operating for a short time when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. Then, in 2020, the entire village faced a historic flood. The flood submerged machinery and goods, and all of Ms. Ngoc's hard work went down the drain. She stared blankly at the business she had built, tears streaming down her face. “During that time, I couldn't sleep many nights. Everything was my property, my dreams, my life's destiny. It seemed like a dead end, but I kept telling myself that the way forward was right beneath my feet. Then, I decided to persevere through the difficult period and try to rebuild,” Ms. Ngoc recalled.

Heaven did not disappoint her; after the losses, new hope took root in the unwavering faith and aspirations of this small woman. Now, Dai Song Tien Garment Import-Export Co., Ltd. is thriving. Each year, the company produces approximately 25,000 orders, mainly for export to Taiwan and Europe, ensuring stable income for its local workers.

The needle connects lives

Ms. Ngoc's company has become a haven for poor women, some of whom work in the fields and sew at the same time, some are single mothers, and others take their children to school in the morning and then return home at noon to work at their sewing machines. The hours are flexible; those with household chores can take time off. Ms. Ngoc only requires: "Work with heart!" This seemingly simple way of operating has created a rare and humane model.

From the early days, when the company first started operating, many women in the village sought out Ms. Ngoc. They knew nothing about sewing, so she guided them meticulously. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue (33 years old), from Dai Hao village, confided: “When I applied for a job at the company, I was quite worried because I had no skills. Ms. Ngoc taught me everything from the simplest things. There were days when I struggled to do something, so Ms. Ngoc lent me her sewing machine to practice at home. I am grateful to her for such simple but warm things.” Ms. Hue's circumstances are very difficult. She is divorced, raising a young child and an elderly mother alone, and is the sole breadwinner for the family. Fortunately, she was hired by the company, which eased some of her worries. Every day, she is given the opportunity to come in late and leave early to pick up her child, care for her mother, and take time off when her child is sick.

Ms. Ngoc (on the left) possesses the will and aspiration to build her homeland - Photo: KL

More specifically, in the company, there are several workers who are deaf and mute from birth, and Ms. Ngoc is the only one who can communicate with them using sign language. She directly talks to, guides, and assigns tasks to these individuals; she even acts as an interpreter whenever they want to communicate with others. Ms. Ngoc says she learned sign language thanks to her years working far from home, where she met and worked with a deaf and mute person. This compassion has made Ms. Ngoc's company a shared home for many disadvantaged people. Here, anyone facing difficulties receives support and understanding.

Amidst the bustling sounds of sewing machines, I clearly saw radiant faces—women who were once frail, now strong and resilient. Each stitch they made seemed to be mending their own lives, transforming fragments of hardship into a solid fabric of hope. In the company, Ms. Ngoc is not only the director but also the elder sister of the extended family. On busy days, she sits down at her sewing machine, helping the workers cut fabric, iron clothes, and assist with the sewing process. The petite figure of this woman in her forties, her nimble hands guiding the fabric through the needle, her rhythmic foot pedaling the machine, warms the hearts of all who see her.

“I’ve always hoped that my garment factory would not only provide vocational training but also nurture dreams. When a woman has a job and an income, she can take control of her life and be able to care for her family,” Ms. Ngoc emphasized, her eyes filled with confidence. Here, workers earn between 5 and 10 million VND per month. Lunch is subsidized at 18,000 VND per meal. During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), everyone receives gifts and bonuses.

Mr. Tran Van Nhuan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Trieu Binh commune, said: "Ms. Ngoc's Dai Song Tien Garment Import-Export Company Limited is an efficient business, creating jobs and stable income for local workers. At the same time, it inspires many disadvantaged women to strive for a better life and contribute to the development of their homeland. In addition, the company regularly supports social activities, charitable programs for the poor, and cultural and artistic movements in Trieu Binh commune."

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