The sweetness of the homeland and the journey of a young man escaping poverty from the ancestral land.

TPO - Leaving Hanoi with a bachelor's degree in hand, Hoang Trung Thang (born in 1994, Phu Khe commune, Phu Tho province) chose to return to his hometown to start a business. Starting from nothing, the young man successfully built a model for producing male papaya flower tea, creating jobs and spreading inspiration for sustainable wealth creation to people in the midland region.

Products from Thanh Lam Cooperative are displayed at product fairs.

The young graduate's "counter-trend" decision

On a chilly morning in the midland region of Phu Tho, the small road leading to Trung Thuan 2 area, Phu Khe commune, still carried the scent of early morning mist. Inside the spacious and airy factory, workers were busily packaging bags of male papaya flower tea – a product that has become the signature of Thanh Lam Agricultural and Food Cooperative. Amidst this bustling activity, Mr. Hoang Trung Thang, the Cooperative's Director, poured a cup of tea for his guest. The tea, golden in color, had a slightly bitter taste on the tip of the tongue that gradually softened in the throat, much like the arduous yet ultimately rewarding entrepreneurial journey of this young man.

Hoang Trung Thang shared that, born and raised in the simple, rustic countryside of Phu Khe commune, his childhood was filled with rice fields, fish ponds, and humble meals. These hardships became the motivation for him to study hard, with the hope of one day being able to repay his parents' kindness.

In 2017, Thang graduated with honors from the Faculty of Business Administration, Hanoi University of Industry. While many of his peers chose to stay in the capital and seek jobs in the city, Thang made a decision that surprised many: to return to his poor hometown to start a career.

"At that time, I thought simply, 'I can't stay away forever.' Returning home, though difficult, would allow me time to take care of my family and work on my own land," Thang shared.

Returning to his hometown, Thang started with familiar farming tasks: growing vegetables, raising fish, keeping ducks, brewing rượu (rice wine), and producing bottled water. He worked during the day and thought about it at night, doing whatever brought in money, but his income remained unstable and he never had much left over. There were times when he felt tired and discouraged, but seeing his parents and grandparents growing older and weaker, Thang told himself he had to keep trying.

"I worked hard but remained poor, and I was very worried. At that time, I just thought, if I continue doing things haphazardly like this, I can't get ahead. I have to find a new, more systematic approach with long-term value," Thang recalled.

The male papaya field of Thanh Lam Cooperative

During his visits to the market and interactions with traders and people in the highlands, Thang realized that papaya flowers, especially male papaya flowers, were highly sought after and commanded quite high prices, but were mostly sold in their raw, unprocessed form. Meanwhile, according to folklore and some documents, male papaya flowers have many beneficial uses for health.

The idea of ​​making tea from male papaya flowers began to take shape from there. In 2020, after a long period of research on the internet, learning from practical experience, and accumulating knowledge, Thang decided to establish the Thanh Lam Phu Tho Agricultural and Food Cooperative, with 14 initial members, all from the same village and sharing the same vision. This was a major turning point, marking Thang's systematic and professional entrepreneurial journey.

To secure a stable supply of raw materials, Thang boldly invested in purchasing male papaya seedlings and organized organic farming on an initial area of ​​5 hectares. Simultaneously, the cooperative invested in a factory, machinery, and established a process for processing and packaging the product.

“The hardest part was the beginning, lacking both capital and experience. There were times when I created a product but didn't know who to sell it to or how to sell it,” Thang recounted. But with the management knowledge he had learned, coupled with perseverance, he gradually perfected the product, from quality and design to brand building.

Male papaya flower tea: "Sweet taste" from the homeland.

The first cups of male papaya flower tea – purple black sesame – were created amidst anticipation and excitement. The product has a characteristic mild bitterness and herbal aroma, aligning with the consumer trend of seeking natural, health-beneficial products.

Hoang Trung Thang was awarded the Luong Dinh Cua Prize by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Gradually, the male papaya flower tea from Thanh Lam Cooperative gained market acceptance. The product is sold at specialty stores, OCOP (One Commune One Product) points, tourist areas, and is also distributed through e-commerce platforms and social media.

In 2022, the product "Thanh Lam Male Papaya Flower and Purple Black Galingale Tea" was recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. This is well-deserved recognition for the tireless efforts of the cooperative and Thang personally.

"Since the introduction of OCOP products, customer trust has increased significantly. At times, we couldn't produce enough to meet demand," Thang said with a gentle smile.

Not only did Thang aim to enrich himself, but he also wanted to create sustainable livelihoods for the people of his hometown. The Thanh Lam Cooperative currently attracts 32 households, with a total raw material area of ​​over 7 hectares and a harvest of over 15 tons of fresh flowers each year.

The cooperative organizes linkages, guarantees product sales, and guides people in planting and caring for crops according to established procedures, ensuring quality. As a result, many households have stable incomes and their living standards are gradually improving.

Currently, Thanh Lam Cooperative achieves an annual revenue of 1.5 - 2 billion VND, providing regular employment for approximately 20 local workers with an income of 6 - 8 million VND per person per month. Such results are a dream come true for an agricultural startup model that started from scratch in a rural, mountainous area.

Sitting and enjoying tea in the peaceful countryside, watching the workers diligently in the factory, one can clearly see that Hoang Trung Thang's journey to success is not just a story of personal enrichment, but also a vivid testament to the spirit of young people who dare to start businesses, dare to change, and dare to get rich on their own homeland.

Starting from nothing, with willpower, knowledge, and perseverance, this young man from Phu Tho has written an inspiring story, giving hope to many rural people on their path to economic development and building a more prosperous and beautiful homeland.

For his contributions to local production, business, and economic development, Thang has received numerous awards, including: Outstanding Household in Production and Business; the Luong Dinh Cua Award from the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; Certificates of Merit from the People's Committee of Phu Tho province and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance. But for Thang, the greatest reward remains the trust of the people and the sustainable development of the cooperative.

"I just hope that my products will get better and better, and that the people participating in the cooperative will have a stable income and won't have to leave their hometowns to work far away," he confided.

Hoang Trung Thang was awarded a Certificate of Commendation by the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance.

Ms. Ha Bich Phuong, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Khe commune, said that Hoang Trung Thang's success is a testament to the pioneering spirit and willingness to think outside the box of rural youth. During his entrepreneurial journey, Thang faced many difficulties, but he persevered and succeeded with his product, male papaya flower tea – purple black sesame, which has been recognized as an OCOP 3 product. This is a typical production model of local youth, helping people have a stable market and higher income.

"The success of Thanh Lam Cooperative is not only measured by revenue or the number of products sold, but also by the fact that many people in the hometown have gained more jobs, more income, and more confidence to stay committed to farming. From this model, a sustainable development direction is gradually taking shape in Phu Tho province. In particular, Mr. Thang's model has inspired many young people in the commune to start their own businesses in their hometown," Ms. Phuong said.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/vi-ngot-tu-dat-que-va-hanh-trinh-thoat-ngheo-cua-chang-thanh-nien-dat-to-post1806001.tpo