The difficult journey of starting a business

On a hot summer day, we went to Ha Nam ward, Ninh Binh province, where the company's three-wheeled vehicle manufacturing workshop, directed by Ms. Lam Thi Nga, was located. Inside the workshop, the sound of machinery was rumbling. In the middle of that space was the image of a woman sitting in a wheelchair, her eyes attentively following each action of the worker. Small, quiet but full of determination, that was our first impression of Ms. Nga.

Lam Thi Nga was born in 1982, the second child in a large family. At the age of 6, Nga suddenly lost feeling in her legs. Her family took her to many places for treatment but to no avail. By the age of 15, Nga's legs were completely paralyzed. "At that time, I was very sad, but I soon realized that if I did not improve myself, I would always be a burden to my family and society. I did not have the conditions to go to school, so I studied at home to learn how to read and write. After that, I went to vocational school, took on embroidery work, and finished products to support myself," Nga shared. Nga had to move around in a wheelchair, depending on relatives every time she went to pick up and return goods. From that inconvenience, she wanted to have her own vehicle, suitable for being proactive in life. However, the three-wheeled vehicles on the market at that time were all imported goods with high prices, beyond her financial capacity.

Without formal training in mechanics or design, through observation, thinking and her own experience, Ms. Nga imagined vehicle models suitable for many types of disabilities and the elderly. In 2016, the opportunity came when she met Mr. Vu Xuan Quang, a skilled mechanic. From Ms. Nga's idea and the hands of the mechanic, the first three-wheeled vehicles were born with a simple structure but suitable for users. Starting a business in a difficult situation, Ms. Nga only had 10 million VND in savings. She borrowed another 10 million VND and rented a small house to use as a workshop. She researched three-wheeled vehicle models, materials with reasonable prices and convenience, then redesigned them to be more suitable for users. Mr. Quang was in charge of the mechanical and assembly parts. “The first cars were cheap, I gave them to disabled people in difficult circumstances so they could experience them in real life. Then, they gave us feedback so we could gradually improve them,” Ms. Nga recalled.

Ms. Lam Thi Nga has designed dozens of tricycle models for the disabled. Photo provided by the character

Another car was designed by Ms. Lam Thi Nga specifically for a woman with spinal paralysis. At first, the car was not sturdy and did not guarantee aesthetics. Ms. Nga and Mr. Quang continued to research and adjust. Finally, the car was completed with a material cost of about 8 million VND. Ms. Nga shared: “She was very emotional when she received the car. Thanks to the car, she can work for hire and reintegrate into life”. Mr. Vu Xuan Quang expressed: “I have been a mechanic since I was young, I thought about giving up because it was very difficult at first, there were no orders, the income was not as good as working for hire. But Ms. Nga encouraged me, saying: “A disabled person like me can still try, why would you give up?” That sentence was like a dose of spiritual medicine that made me more determined, telling myself that I could not give up under any circumstances”. Not only did she explore and persevere to overcome difficulties, Ms. Lam Thi Nga also participated in training courses organized by the local women's union to expand her knowledge and find opportunities to expand production. In 2022, she participated in the women's startup competition organized by Ha Nam province (now Ninh Binh ) with the topic "Production of means and equipment for the disabled", winning second prize in the province. From there, she began to expand production, improve designs, and enhance product quality.

From a small factory that could only make one car per week, the capacity has now increased to 2-3 cars per week. The special thing is that the cars produced by Ms. Nga's company cost 13-14 million VND, much lower than imported cars, but the quality is still guaranteed and in many cases they are produced in a personalized way. The components are designed to be easily replaced, suitable for the conditions of use of people with disabilities. "I always ask the person ordering the car carefully about the type of disability, what their travel needs are, then design a suitable car model, using reasonable materials to reduce costs," said Ms. Nga. Ms. Nga also regularly cares about and actively recruits a number of people with disabilities to work at the factory. This not only creates a stable income but also helps them gradually integrate into the community. Ms. Nguyen Thi Tho, a disabled person working here, confided: “Since working at the factory, I feel more confident, communicate more, am happier and have an income to cover my living expenses. Ms. Nga is emotional, like an older sister in the family, and is an example for us to follow.”

Spread the good news

Not stopping at developing production, Ms. Lam Thi Nga also actively does charity work. When she has a stable income, she regularly allocates 2-3 million VND per month to do social work. The image of Ms. Nga riding a tricycle carrying necessities to the poor has become familiar to the people of Ha Nam ward. “Every Sunday, I go to the temple to distribute porridge or milk to poor patients. On International Children's Day, I give gifts and wheelchairs to children in special circumstances. I am sponsoring a child in Quang Ngai , the child of two visually impaired people who studied at the same vocational center as me. I have sponsored her since she was 6 years old, taking care of her studies, and every year she receives a certificate of merit for being an excellent student,” Ms. Nga said emotionally. Recently, Ms. Nga also contributed funds to build a shelter for Ms. Lam Thi Ty, a lonely elderly person in the ward. For her, helping the disadvantaged is not only a responsibility but also a way to feel that her life is more meaningful every day. “I hope to have more health and receive more orders to continue recruiting people with disabilities. Having a job will make them feel valuable, and I will have more opportunities to share with the community,” Ms. Nga shared.

With her tireless efforts and kindness, in 2025, Ms. Lam Thi Nga was awarded a certificate of merit by the Prime Minister. Previously, in 2024, she was one of the outstanding individuals honored in the program "Ho Chi Minh - Journey of Aspiration". Ms. Lam Thi Nga's story is a living testament to the will to rise up, overcome fate and the desire to live a decent life, to live for everyone.

NGUYEN VAN CONG

* Readers are invited to visit the Writing Contest section "Simple but noble examples" to see related news and articles.

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/nguoi-dung-doi-chan-cho-nguoi-khuet-tat-838125