Hue girl steps out of comfort zone, starts business in sexual health field

While many young people of her generation choose a safe career path, Phan Thi Khanh Ly (born 1995) decided to venture into a field that few people talk about: condoms and female sexual health.

Born into a traditional family in Hue , Phan Thi Khanh Ly clearly understands the invisible barriers that make Vietnamese women hesitant to talk about sex or the need to protect themselves. Therefore, she chose to confront and turn the "sensitive" issue into a healthy, civilized and humane dialogue, to dispel the initial awkward distances.

Used to be shy when talking about condoms

After graduating from the Foreign Trade University in Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Ly spent a long time as a manager at a multinational corporation specializing in fast-moving consumer goods. Her life was stable and her salary was good, but in her heart, she still had a question: Am I doing something truly meaningful for the community? That question led Khanh Ly to step out of her comfort zone to start a business in the field of sexual health - something that even her friends were surprised and curious about.

The initial idea came from the realization that the condom market in Vietnam is mostly international brands with quite high prices. But what really motivated Khanh Ly and her colleagues to "go all in" with the project called "PlayAh!" were the real numbers and stories about sexual health.

She herself, the only female member of the group of three, was really troubled when she met with obstetricians and witnessed too many cases of abortion among minors. Many young people avoid safety measures just because they are shy, embarrassed, or the products are too expensive.

Phan Khanh Ly overcomes obstacles to talk about sexual safety among young people, especially women.

"I want to convey a very clear message: Normalize the need for couples' health care. For women, no matter what age, I want them to feel confident in their right to choose. Condoms are no longer an item associated with the "prevention" aspect, but rather help women protect themselves. For the women themselves" - Khanh Ly shared.

Initially, when she carried out the condom project, she herself was shy, she said: "I cannot advise others to be bold, if I myself am still ashamed of the field I pursue. But fortunately, when I honestly shared with my parents about my work, I unexpectedly received full support. This helped me believe more that changing perceptions starts with frank dialogue."

For Khanh Ly, the problem is not the product but the way people talk about it. She wants everything to be natural and approachable - so that women can feel safe when buying, using and sharing.

The first months of her journey to create PlayAh! were challenging. The product was not well received, and many people were still hesitant. Some people advised her to "buy 5-star reviews" on social media to build credibility, but she firmly refused. She wanted to build trust through real quality, not through tricks.

She and her team chose to change perceptions by designing condoms that were playful and playful, like little toys rather than something to be hidden. This approach surprised many, and it was this difference that opened up a more open conversation about sexual health, especially with young women.

Inspiration from the community

For Khanh Ly, each product is not simply an object, but a symbol of initiative: the right to love, to be protected and to enjoy emotions without judgment. "I want Vietnamese women to consider taking care of their couple's health like taking care of their skin and mind. It is part of freedom and self-respect," she said.

Khanh Ly understands that to change social awareness, just talking is not enough. She chooses to spread the message through education and community, organizing talks on modern sexual health, collaborating with doctors and psychologists, and building an online platform where women can share their own stories at universities in Ho Chi Minh City.

Her goal is for every woman, regardless of age, to be able to confidently talk about her body and reproductive health, something that seems simple but has long been considered "sensitive".

Over the past 3 years, Khanh Ly has proven that her path is not "out of place". The project, which did not sell any orders for the first few months, now has a firm foothold on e-commerce platforms and is positively received by young users, with more than 3 million units sold each year.

But the revenue figure is not the proudest thing, what makes Ly happy is receiving messages from girls like: "Thanks to you, for the first time I dare to buy condoms without feeling embarrassed"...

Khanh Ly and her team of experts have had many sessions sharing with students about gender, reproductive health, and self-protection.

"Every year, the group and medical experts will increase the number of sharing sessions about gender and reproductive health with students, because I see that young people still lack information, are still hesitant and want to access it" - Khanh Ly informed.

Phan Thi Khanh Ly calls the journey she has taken "a journey of understanding". From a shy Hue girl when talking about things considered sensitive, she has now become an inspirational face for the message: Normalizing sexual health, for happiness, for self-control and for women themselves.

If today people still feel shy talking about sex, at least tomorrow they will be able to talk about health. And step by step, things that were once considered taboo will become normal - like the way we learn to talk about our minds and our emotions.

She also believes that young Vietnamese women are changing very quickly. Generation Z, with its confidence and understanding, is the driving force for messages about gender equality, health and the right to choose to spread more strongly.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/co-gai-hue-buoc-ra-khoi-vung-an-toan-khoi-nghiep-trong-linh-vuc-suc-khoe-tinh-duc-20251110112536793.htm