Creative ideas using the familiar chili pepper.

Coming from a farming family in Go Noi (Dien Phong commune, Da Nang city), Ms. Vo Thi Le (born in 1986), Director of Dien Phong Commune Agricultural Cooperative, chose to start a business from the familiar red chili. With her passion and specialized knowledge in food technology, she gradually brought the stewed chili sauce product to the market.

From home kitchen to e-commerce platform

Ms. Vo Thi Le was born and raised in Go Noi, a fertile alluvial land nourished by the Thu Bon River. Chili is a crop that has been associated with the people here for generations, but most of it is sold raw, with unstable prices. Ms. Le always wondered: Why can't we do more for the chili plants and the farmers?

Graduated in food technology, with nearly 20 years of experience in the business field, Ms. Le wants to use her knowledge to do agriculture but it must be in-depth, valuable and sustainable agriculture.

Starting with simmered chili sauce, a seemingly simple product, Ms. Le determined a separate direction for Dien Phong Cooperative: Not chasing quantity but choosing quality, sustainability and local identity. From the chili raw material area grown according to VietGAP standards to the clean production process, without using preservatives, all were carefully built step by step by her and her colleagues.

At first, everything was difficult: limited capital, manual techniques, lack of equipment, and the workforce was mostly elderly. Cooperative Director Vo Thi Le worked, studied, and guided the cooperative members to apply food hygiene and safety procedures. Each failed batch of soy sauce, each failed preservation… became a lesson for her to learn from and improve.

Support from the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) program, from the Women's Union at all levels of Da Nang city... has given her more motivation to expand production scale, design packaging, and build brands.

Ms. Vo Thi Le and the products of Dien Phong Commune Agricultural Cooperative.

In particular, the award from the provincial startup competition helped her invest in more drying, packaging, and vacuuming machines, gradually bringing products from her kitchen to e-commerce platforms, supermarkets, and experiential tourism channels.

What makes Dien Phong chili sauce different is not only the spicy aroma of Go Noi chili but also the processing method that preserves the traditional flavor: simmered with firewood, preserved with traditional peanut oil that the locals themselves pressed and sterilized. That layer of oil not only prevents air from contacting but also preserves the flavor of the chili.

The cooperative's chili sauce, salted chili, and chili powder products have achieved OCOP certification, HACCP certification, and meet food hygiene and safety standards.

Not stopping at spices, Ms. Le is researching and expanding into fermented chili sauce products, chili oil and applying capsaicin (the spicy active ingredient in chili) to functional foods, cosmetics, and traditional medicine. "Even chili seeds, which are considered waste, I do not throw away. They are resources that can be extracted, increasing value while reducing waste, moving towards circular production," Ms. Le shared.

Towards a green economy

For Ms. Le, success is not only about profits or awards but also about a change in mindset. There are many startup ideas from agriculture and rural areas, but women in this area lack the conditions to implement them.

With this chili grinder, Ms. Le and her colleagues have created many products from chili peppers.

If given the opportunity to access knowledge and receive proper guidance, they can become the "keepers of the flame" for sustainable agricultural economics. Therefore, Cooperative Director Vo Thi Le proactively participates in and connects with women's groups, organizes experience-sharing sessions, encourages farmers to plant chili peppers on abandoned land, and encourages children to return to their hometowns after completing their studies to contribute to the community.

Dien Phong Cooperative is not only a production site but also a place where many elderly women learn new skills and young people are inspired to start their own businesses.

After winning the first prize in the "Creative Startup Ideas and Projects Competition in Quang Nam Province" in 2025 (now Da Nang City), Ms. Le continued to plan to expand the factory and build a nationwide distribution system. The goal of the Cooperative in the next 6 months is to "cover" supermarkets, clean food stores, regional gift systems and tourist destinations.

Products of Dien Phong Commune Agricultural Cooperative

Sharing her experience with women who are dreaming of starting a business, Ms. Vo Thi Le said: "Dare to ask, dare to think and start from what is most familiar. If you are not clear about your direction, connect with the local Women's Union for advice and support."

The Director of Dien Phong Commune Agricultural Cooperative believes that starting a business does not need to be from something too big, sometimes just from a jar of soy sauce, a bunch of vegetables or a bowl of fish sauce is enough to create value, if done properly.

Ms. Vo Thi Le's entrepreneurial journey is not just about chili and soy sauce... but also a journey to promote her own inner strength and the value of local resources.

Readers interested in the product can contact Ms. Vo Thi Le, Dien Phong Agricultural Cooperative, address: Tan Thanh Village, Dien Phong Commune, Da Nang City; Phone: 0905.471.846; Website: https://www.htxnndienphong.com

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/sang-tao-tu-trai-ot-quen-thuoc-20250730110635908.htm