Desire on Flower Mountain

Amidst the mist on Pu Lau peak, Dang Hanh Dung, the first Dao ethnic man in Phieng Phang village, Thuong Minh commune (Thai Nguyen province), brought the cold waterfall back, building a billion-dollar business with a model of raising sturgeon and salmon. From that model, he not only enriched his family but also lit the fire of entrepreneurship, writing a new story for the poor village.

Sturgeon and salmon farm of Mr. Dang Hanh Dung, in Phieng Phang village, Thuong Minh commune.

Start a business on the mountain top

Born in 1996, graduated from medical school and then joined the People's Police for 3 years, Mr. Dang Hanh Dung returned to his hometown with a different dream of building an economic model right on Phieng Phang land, Thuong Minh commune.

Explaining his choice, Dung said that during a conversation with a friend, he accidentally learned that sturgeon and salmon are "noble fish" of cold water, so he began to learn about the economic value and conditions for raising sturgeon and salmon.

After researching many models, he realized that Phieng Phang, where he lives at the foot of Phja Bjooc mountain (Pu Lau peak area), has clean water sources and a cool climate all year round, which are ideal factors for raising cold-water fish. Therefore, he decided to choose the sturgeon and salmon model to start his business in 2020 with an initial capital of more than 500 million VND, borrowing from policy banks and mobilizing relatives and family members.

He said: The journey was not easy at first, the road to the village was narrow, materials had to be pulled by winch, each piece of wood, each stone to the top of the mountain. At that time, many people told me to take a risk, what could I raise on the mountain. But I thought, if I didn't try, I would remain poor all my life.

To start a successful business, Mr. Dung packed his bags and went to Sa Pa to learn salmon and sturgeon farming techniques, "eating and sleeping with the fish" to master the water treatment process and tank renovation. Returning to Phieng Phang, he designed the tank himself, leading water from the source to the farming system. The first batch of nearly 2,000 fish was the biggest challenge. Difficulties could not overcome the perseverance and enthusiasm of the young man and especially the support from his family and villagers.

Talking about Dung's business start-up, his family members are very proud. Mr. Dang Hai Phuc, Dung's father, said: Back then, Dung went up to the mountain to come up with the idea of designing the fish tank, then came back to discuss it with his family. His family supported him, and everyone in Phieng Phang village was his brother, so when they saw Dung starting a business, the old and the young helped to transport materials to build the tank. Everyone wished the model a successful development.

Starting with a model of only about 300m2 with a few experimental tanks. Up to now, the farm has expanded to nearly 5,000m2², more than 25 tanks, applying a circulating water system. Stable output of 15-20 tons of fish per year, revenue of 1.5-2 billion VND, profit of about 1 billion VND.

The model also creates regular jobs for 8 workers, including 3 workers from poor and near-poor households, with an income of 5-6 million VND/month. From the initial success, Dung has linked production and consumption of products to Hanoi, Bac Giang , Thai Nguyen and promoted the development of experiential tourism.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu, owner of Tuan Thu fish farm, where Mr. Dung's fish products are regularly consumed in Hanoi, shared more: Sturgeon and salmon in Phieng Phang have firm, sweet meat, and the quality is not inferior to Sa Pa.

Many of our gourmet customers order Dung's fish specifically because they trust the clean water source and farming process. In addition, Dung also connects with Dao community members who raise sturgeon and salmon to create a stable fish supply.

Turn production into experiential tourism

Tourists visit Mr. Dang Hanh Dung's sturgeon and salmon farming model.

Realizing the potential for tourism development, Dung not only raised fish but also built more dining facilities, resting places, and check-in places for tourists to experience.

He introduced the fish farming process to visitors, allowing them to directly choose and buy fresh fish right at the tank, or enjoy fish dishes prepared on the spot. Dung has “anticipated”, carefully studied the needs of tourists and built quality services to “please visitors”.

Not stopping at raising sturgeon and salmon on a small scale, Dung and local young people have established a salmon and sturgeon farming cooperative with a scale of 5,000m2 and nearly 50 tanks, of which he is the director.

From the success of Dung's sturgeon and salmon farming model, many Dao people in Na Dong, Na Vien, Vang Kheo villages and Phieng Phang have learned, taking advantage of the cool spring water from the top of Phja Bjoóc, proactively contributing labor and money to open roads and build sturgeon and salmon farming tanks associated with eco-tourism development.

Up to now, the whole Thuong Minh commune has 3 cooperatives developing fish farming models associated with experiential tourism.

Talking about the fish farming model, Mr. Dang Khai Cuong, Secretary of the Party Cell of Phieng Phang village, was excited: Since the cooperative was established, the village has changed completely. Young people no longer leave the village to work for hire but focus on local economic development. Mr. Dung has opened a new direction in the community. I myself have also invested in raising sturgeon and salmon combined with developing experiential tourism. Because Phieng Phang, in addition to Pu Lau waterfall, specialty sticky rice, beautiful scenery of Pu Lau bamboo forest... also has the cultural identity of the Dao people preserved in every house here.

From the first fish tank on the mountain top to the community-scale cooperative, Dang Hanh Dung's journey is a beautiful story about the will and sharing of a highland boy. From the corn field on the mountain, it has now become sturgeon and salmon tanks associated with experiential tourism products, opening up a new direction for the highland village. Dung and the young people of Phieng Phang are nurturing many aspirations to help Phieng Phang rise up and become rich with the value that the great forest brings.

In 2022, Dang Hanh Dung won the First Prize of the Youth Innovation and Startup Project Competition in Bac Kan Province. In 2023, Dang Hanh Dung was one of 42 outstanding rural youth nationwide to receive the Luong Dinh Cua Award. In 2024, he was a typical example participating in the Ho Chi Minh - Journey of Aspiration program.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/kinh-te/202507/khat-vong-tren-nui-hoa-38227dd/