Hmong youth escape poverty through clean agriculture.

The will and the desire to escape poverty.

In 2017, he passed the entrance exam to Hanoi University of Interior Affairs. During his first few years away from home, the high cost of tuition forced Ly to work various jobs, from serving in restaurants and washing dishes to assisting in construction. Student life was extremely difficult, but these experiences also fueled his determination to succeed and his desire to take control of his own life.

While struggling to make ends meet and pay for his studies, Ly noticed many agricultural products from the highlands being sold in Hanoi. He wondered, "Why can others get rich from their ethnic products, while my people can't, remaining trapped in poverty?" This very concern motivated Ly to start his own business while still a student.

He established a club for ethnic Hmong students to start businesses in Hanoi, along with 12 young people from mountainous areas, selling rice, honey, vegetables, wild apples, etc., at the Agricultural Exhibition Center. Although the profit was not much, only a few million dong per month, these were the first steps on their journey to escape poverty using the products of their homeland.

Undeterred, Ly participated in the competition to find startup ideas among ethnic minorities and won first prize with her project "Custom-driven agricultural production." This success not only secured funding but also affirmed that ethnic minority youth can absolutely build sustainable careers with their own hands and minds.

Products from Mr. Vu Pat Ly's organic farm.

From hardship to the aspiration for sustainable development.

In 2021, after graduating from university, while many of his friends chose stable administrative jobs, Vu Pat Ly returned to Son La to start his own business. He rented 5000m2 of land in Van Ho commune (Son La province) to build a greenhouse, install a drip irrigation system, and begin growing organic vegetables. Initially, he faced countless challenges: no market for his produce, many harvests resulted in losses, and he even lost everything due to hailstorms...

But with unwavering determination, he gradually overcame the difficulties. After nearly four years, the production area expanded to 30 hectares, forming the Van Ho Retreat Cooperative and the Hang Trung Organic Vegetable Production Cooperative. More than 20 local workers have regular jobs with incomes of 7-10 million VND per month.

Vu Pat Ly inspects carrots before selling them.

Each year, the cooperative supplies approximately 100 tons of organic vegetables to supermarkets and organic produce stores in Hanoi. Step by step, the "Pat Ly Organics" brand is establishing its position in the market, becoming clear evidence that ethnic minority youth can sustainably escape poverty through clean agriculture.

Beyond just production, Ly has transformed his farm into a green space for visitors, spreading the model of "farming combined with experience and education." He utilizes digital platforms like YouTube and TikTok to introduce his products, share his entrepreneurial story, and promote the beautiful image of the Hmong people.

From a poor young man in the highlands, Vu Pat Ly has proven that with willpower, determination, and creativity, young people can rise up and become wealthy right in their homeland, contributing to building a sustainable organic agriculture for Son La.

At the Conference summarizing the National Target Program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the period 2021-2025, Vu Pat Ly, a young Mong man representing Son La province, had the honor of presenting a paper. He expressed his pride in not only representing the Mong youth but also speaking on behalf of the younger generation of ethnic minorities, sharing their aspirations for a better life. “We don’t want to remain merely beneficiaries of policies; we want to become the driving force in economic development and preserving our homeland’s identity,” Ly shared.

Vừ Pát Ly tặng Thủ tướng Chính Phủ Phạm Minh Chính sản phẩm rau hữu cơ của mình — Vu Pat Ly presented Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh with his organic vegetable products.

Having the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, he was deeply moved and expressed his gratitude for the constant attention, listening, and opportunities created for ethnic minority youth to confidently start businesses and rise out of poverty. He affirmed that the National Target Program is the driving force and "lever" that helps young people boldly establish businesses right in their homeland.

Vu Pat Ly overcame difficulties to fulfill his dream. His success inspires young people from ethnic minority groups to start businesses and escape poverty sustainably.

After presenting the Prime Minister and delegates with bundles of organic vegetables – products of the cooperative he founded – Pat Ly said: "It's a simple gift, but it contains the dedication and aspirations of young people in the highlands to build their homeland."