When the first drops of essence from the pot of herbs from her hometown were created, Luong Anh Thu did not expect that it would be the beginning of a journey of entrepreneurship that evokes memories and nostalgia. Since childhood, her grandmother and mother have taken care of her health with folk remedies and pots of herbal water with the flavor of her hometown.
That memory became the inspiration that led Anh Thu to embark on a creative path with herbal health care products. In 2017, Anh Thu started making soap from betel leaves, Cyperus rotundus, cinnamon bark, coconut oil, sesame oil, tamanu oil and cereal powder from various seeds.
Ms. Thu has diligently researched dozens of formulas to create convenient soaps with scents that evoke memories of the past. In 2020, she officially named her products Hiyou Farm and chose the criteria of "living clean, living green" as her business philosophy, in line with the aspiration that Da Nang city pursues: A livable city.
Products such as scented candles, shampoos, roll-ons, essential oils... continue to be developed by Ms. Anh Thu and her team, upgrading them to become OCOP products, "Typical rural industry" products participating in many domestic and international fairs.
According to Ms. Anh Thu, Hiyou Farm's success was marked by the first prize of the "Women's Entrepreneurship Ideas" contest in Da Nang city in 2021. This contest opened a new "door", "giving wings" to her startup project.
Training, coaching, networking and startup consulting courses have helped her better define her development strategy, how to bring products to market, thereby expanding scale and aiming for sustainability.
Ms. Luong Anh Thu (left) introduces Hiyou Farm products in Korea.
"I think that start-up projects not only need recognition but also need accompanying policies. The activities supporting women's start-ups by the Women's Union at all levels have given me strength on my start-up journey," said Ms. Thu.
Not everyone can start a business smoothly with large capital and proper startup knowledge. I, like many other women, started from nothing and from the desire to do good things for life.
Ms. Luong Anh Thu
Looking back on her entrepreneurial journey, Ms. Anh Thu has drawn three lessons that women entrepreneurs need to have in their entrepreneurial journey. The first is to understand yourself and appreciate the values you are pursuing and creating.
For Ms. Thu, each soap bar is made not only to bring profit but also to convey a message about pure Vietnamese beauty. It is a product that goes from memory to touch emotions.
The second is to constantly learn and not be afraid of change. From a single handicraft producer, she has created a solid foundation for herself through continuous learning: studying to get a pharmacy degree, participating in training programs organized by the City Women's Union at all levels to equip herself with knowledge and skills in business operation, product marketing, packaging improvement, and access to modern distribution channels...
Hiyou Farm products are made from a variety of homegrown herbs.
"Starting a business is not just about making products, but also about learning how to maintain yourself and create a solid foundation of personal value in a fiercely competitive market," she said.
The third is "connecting right, spreading true". Ms. Anh Thu does not go alone on the entrepreneurial journey. From participating in competitions for women entrepreneurs, participating in product introductions at fairs, Ms. Thu has the opportunity to connect with many partners, support farmers in growing medicinal herbs, promote the use of local materials to both enrich herself and preserve identity.
"My dream of starting a business has the smell of mugwort, the pot of water my grandmother boiled, and the eyes of satisfied consumers. I believe that from leaves, we can build our own home," Ms. Anh Thu shared.
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/uoc-mo-khoi-nghiep-uom-mui-thao-moc-20250425145408909.htm
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