Entrepreneurial aspirations

QTO - Along with a shift in production mindset, many young people in Truong Phu commune have dared to think big, dared to act, and boldly returned to their hometown to invest in economic development. New economic models have been and are being implemented, not only creating stable income for families but also opening up promising directions for local economic development.

Starting a business from the waters of An Ma Lake.

In the morning, on the vast An Ma irrigation lake in Kim Ngan commune, fish cages rise above the clear blue water. The sound of boat engines mingles with the splashing of fish, creating a vibrant scene of labor. This is where Mr. Do Thai Ky (born in 1988), from Viet Xo village, Truong Phu commune, is diligently caring for his family's fish farm, which numbers in the tens of thousands.

Few people know that before becoming the owner of his large-scale fish farming business, Mr. Ky had spent a long time working in land administration in a southern province. The job was stable, but his concern for his homeland and his desire to prosper on the land where he was born always motivated him.

In 2022, after numerous surveys of natural conditions, water sources, legal procedures, and research into effective cage fish farming models in various localities, he decided to start a cage fish farming business on An Ma Lake. This was not an easy decision because the initial investment capital was very large, approximately 1 billion VND.

Mr. Do Thai Ky takes care of his family's school of hundreds of thousands of fish - Photo: NH

“I decided that if I was going to do something, I had to do it properly. At that time, many people were worried about me because of the large investment, but I believed that the water in An Ma Lake was clean, the surface area was large, and there was still a lot of room for market growth. Later, with loans from banks and support funds, I started my business…,” Mr. Ky shared.

Initially, Mr. Ky only released a few fish species into the pond as a trial, such as red tilapia, grass carp, and catfish. To date, the model has expanded to 12 cages with economically valuable fish species such as grass carp, tilapia, eels, and snakehead fish… Currently, the total number of fish in the cages reaches approximately 100,000. To minimize risks, he regularly monitors water quality and adjusts the amount of feed according to each stage of the fish's growth. In addition, he proactively learns from successful models inside and outside the province to apply to his production.

“After more than 3 years of development, the model has shown clear effectiveness. Each year, after deducting investment costs, feed, breeding stock, and labor, my family earns a profit of about 500-600 million VND. Many people in the area have come to visit and learn from our experience. In the future, I will continue to expand the scale of production; at the same time, I will research linking product consumption in a more stable and sustainable way…,” Mr. Ky said.

A new direction from deer farming.

While Mr. Do Thai Ky found opportunities in the An Ma irrigation lake, Mr. Phan Van Phong (born in 1989), from Viet Xo village, Truong Phu commune, chose a completely different path with a model of raising spotted deer for antlers and supplying breeding stock to the people.

Previously, Mr. Phong lived and worked in the southern provinces for many years. Afterward, he went to Japan to work under contract. His time working abroad helped him accumulate a certain amount of capital; at the same time, he learned a lot about production thinking and economic development.

Upon returning to his hometown, he spent a lot of time researching new, economically valuable livestock farming models. Through research and direct visits to successful farms in Huong Son, Ha Tinh province, considered the "deer capital" of the country, he realized that this animal was well-suited to the local natural conditions.

According to Tran Cong Sau, Chairman of the Truong Phu Commune Farmers' Association, Do Thai Ky and Phan Van Phong, who studied and worked far from their hometowns before returning to establish their businesses, are contributing to breathing new life into the Truong Phu countryside. Each has chosen a different path, but they share a common spirit of daring to think and act, and a desire to prosper in their own homeland. These new models are pioneering steps, opening up many new opportunities and contributing to the further development of Truong Phu's rural economy…

In June 2025, after careful consideration, he decided to invest approximately 800 million VND to purchase 40 breeding spotted deer from Huong Son and raise them in Truong Phu. In the early days of implementing the model, he faced many difficulties. From building enclosures and selecting feed sources to caring for and preventing diseases in the deer herd, he had to research and learn everything himself.

“I realized that to succeed, you have to master the techniques. Almost every week I contact experienced deer farmers in Ha Tinh to exchange experiences. Each stage of deer development has its own requirements, so you have to be very careful…,” Phong said.

To ensure a steady food supply, he planned and planted over 12 acres of grass for livestock. In addition, he utilized various types of natural leaves to supplement the deer's nutrition. Thanks to proper care, the deer herd thrived and adapted quickly to the local climate. This is a positive sign, encouraging him to continue investing in expanding the scale of his operation in the future.

Not content with just developing his family's economy, Mr. Phong established the Phan Gia Investment and Development Cooperative with the desire to build a production chain and gradually form a concentrated deer farming area in the locality. According to the plan, in the coming years, the cooperative will continue to expand the herd to approximately 200 deer; and at the same time develop products from deer antlers and other distinctive products to enhance economic value.

N. Hai

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/kinh-te/202606/khat-vong-khoi-nghiep-eef2a79/