Sand Village Businessman and the Dream of Conquering Cactus

With passion and dedication, Tran Van Vu gradually turned the plants growing on the sand in Dong Hoa town into valuable products.

 

Passionate about cactus

 

Tran Van Vu grew up in Hoa Hiep Nam Ward (Dong Hoa Town). This land is famous for its long sandy beaches and the image of cactus (local people call it dragon tongue - scientific name is Nopalea cochenillifera). Graduated from Ton Duc Thang University in 2011, with a major in construction engineering, Vu worked in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2013, through the media, Vu learned that this is a very valuable plant in the US, Mexico, India, but in Vietnam, very few people have researched in depth and invested to develop this plant into an economic commodity.

 

For many people in the coastal area of Phu Yen , cactus is associated with childhood memories. The plant can be used to make rustic dishes (grilled, boiled, cooked in soup...) and has the ability to treat some diseases very well. This is the basis for Vu's determination to pursue and conquer the cactus extraction project to create valuable products with the image of Phu Yen.

 

In 2018, Vu used all resources to build a raw material area. From an area of ^300m2 , Vu now owns 5 hectares of cactus in Dong Hoa Town and Tuy Hoa City. Along with that is the birth of Organic Nopal Vietnam Joint Stock Company in Phu Tho Quarter, Hoa Hiep Trung Ward, Dong Hoa Town.

 

However, the start-up journey of the 1986-born construction engineer has never been easy. Although cactus is easy to grow, the research process to produce the finished product is very difficult. This requires high costs and techniques, while Vu's first products were focused on food items such as vermicelli, pho, rice paper, etc.

 

Although highly appreciated for its quality, cactus products are difficult to access and compete with traditional products. Objectively speaking, that start for Vu was a failure.

 

Undaunted, Vu sought out experienced experts in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, and food technology such as Prof. Dr. Vo Vien, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Xuan Cuong, Dr. Le Xuan Son, Dr. Hoang Duc An, etc. for guidance. That was the basis for the creation of an advanced, environmentally friendly technology for extracting fresh cactus, and this was also an important factor for the creation of quality products.

 

“Vu has always been passionate about cactus and his career path is promising. We accompany, support and advise Vu to help him on his entrepreneurial journey. The methods that Vu’s company is applying not only preserve the vitamins, minerals and precious active ingredients in cactus leaves, creating products with high nutritional value and medicinal properties for the food and cosmetics industry, but are also very environmentally friendly,” said Dr. Le Xuan Son, Faculty of Aquaculture - Food, Phu Yen Vocational College.

With the support of experienced experts in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, and food, the value of cactus in Dong Hoa town will be promoted. Photo: NGO NHAT

 

Overcoming difficulties step by step, hoping to contribute to the homeland

 

Currently, Tran Van Vu is a businessman in Ho Chi Minh City and still arranges time to carry out his passionate project with cactus in Dong Hoa town. Vu confided that developing the cactus project is not a simple story, but he still wants to bring good things to his hometown Dong Hoa, where he was born and raised.

 

At first, many relatives discouraged Vu from researching and developing cactus because they did not believe that this plant could bring economic value. However, with determination, he gradually overcame the difficulties. Currently, Organic Nopal Vietnam Joint Stock Company has 2 production workshops in Dong Hoa Town. This is also the workplace of many local workers.

 

In the context of increasingly serious climate change, greening the sandy beaches in Dong Hoa town is considered one of the urgent solutions to protect the living environment. The cactus that Vu is pursuing is considered by environmental experts as one of the optimal solutions.

 

Tran Van Vu is currently a member of the Phu Yen Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City and the Phu Yen Business Connection Club. Participating in these organizations not only gives Vu the opportunity to promote his products, but also brings in many resources for his cactus project.

 

Mr. Tran Van Tri, Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Hiep Nam Ward, said: "Tran Van Vu's cactus growing model has been welcomed and expected by many people. Local people are proud of this because the plant that many people find ordinary has now been extracted into a high-quality product to serve consumers."

In early October, we met Vu in Dong Hoa Town. The businessman born in 1986 excitedly announced that his first batch of cosmetics had been accepted by the US market. If the negotiations are successful, this will be a potential market for products following the green production criteria - clean products from cactus that Vu pursues.

NHAT HUY

Source: https://baophuyen.vn/82/321762/doanh-nhan-lang-cat-va-giac-mo-chinh-phuc-cay-xuong-rong.html