Nguyễn Thị Hoài (right) introduces her products to a potential customer in Khánh Nhạc Commune, Ninh Bình Province. — VNA/VNS Photos Thùy Dung

NINH BÌNH — An increasing number of young people are boldly choosing to start businesses by harnessing the indigenous resources of their hometown in the northern province of Ninh Bình, pursuing new directions that both generate income and protect the environment.

Nguyễn Thị Hoài from Khánh Nhạc Commune began nurturing her entrepreneurial ambitions after attending a seminar on climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in 2017.

Born and raised in the predominantly agricultural commune, Hoài has a deep understanding of the hardships associated with traditional farming.

After many years working in the fields, she witnessed first-hand how arable land had become increasingly degraded and eroded, while the costs of fertilisers and crop protection chemicals continued to rise, yielding returns that failed to justify the effort invested.

These realities prompted her to seek a new path, one that could provide a stable income while safeguarding the environment in the long term.

At the seminar, she was introduced to vetiver grass, a plant with a deep and dense root system capable of stabilising soil, preventing erosion, filtering water and improving the quality of the environment.

Beyond its role in land preservation, vetiver can also be processed into essential oils, medicinal products and a range of eco-friendly goods.

Recognising its considerable potential, Hoài began developing an idea for a start-up.

Beginning with small experimental plots along field embankments, she independently researched and learned techniques for vetiver propagation, cultivation, harvesting and processing.

The entrepreneurial journey was far from smooth.

There were times when crops failed to meet expectations, products lacked stable market outlets and losses were unavoidable.

Nevertheless, driven by her belief in the model, she persevered with the green agricultural approach.

After years of accumulated experience, Hoài has gradually built a closed-loop model for cultivating and processing vetiver.

In addition to supplying vetiver plants for environmental protection and erosion control projects, she has invested in research and the production of value-added goods, including vetiver essential oils, scented sachets and health care products.

Thanks to environmentally friendly and safe production processes, her products have increasingly gained market acceptance.

Hoài’s model provides a stable income for her family and has created both permanent and seasonal employment for many local workers, particularly middle-aged women.

With a production scale of around 150sq.m, her operation now generates annual revenues of approximately VNĐ1.7 billion (US$65,000), employing dozens of female workers with steady incomes.

Today, many households in Khánh Nhạc Commune have partnered with her facility to cultivate vetiver, forming a stable raw material zone.

Once dismissed as a worthless grass, vetiver has become a new source of livelihood for local residents.

Hoài’s start-up model not only contributes to rural economic development, but also promotes environmentally friendly agricultural thinking in line with the locality’s sustainable development goals.

In 2024, she was awarded the Women’s Entrepreneurship for the Environment prize by the Việt Nam Women’s Academy in collaboration with the US Embassy.

Handicrafts made from locally sourced sedge fibre in Quang Thiện Commune in the northern province of Ninh Bình.

Elevating sedge craftsmanship

Trần Thùy Nhi, from Quang Thiện Commune, chose to launch her business in 2015 using sedge, a plant long associated with the province’s traditional craft villages.

Rather than producing conventional handicrafts, she focused on researching, designing and developing sedge-based products in a modern, eco-friendly direction, gradually enhancing the value of this local material.

Nhi recognised that green consumption is a growing trend, with natural and sustainable products increasingly favoured, particularly in major cities and export markets.

Sedge in her hometown was largely sold in raw form or made into traditional products with low added value, leaving artisans struggling to make a living.

In the project's early stages, she devoted significant time to studying the material’s properties and experimenting with treatment methods to improve durability and reduce mould, while combining sedge with other eco-friendly materials to create products suited to modern tastes.

From these initial efforts, she developed a diverse range of products, including fashion accessories, household items, interior décor and eco-friendly gifts.

Her designs are minimalist and practical, preserving the rustic charm of the countryside while meeting contemporary aesthetic demands.

Starting a business in a traditional craft village proved challenging.

Nhi faced difficulties in securing investment, accessing markets and, notably, changing the small-scale production habits of local workers.

To address these issues, she became directly involved in training artisans, standardising production processes and paying close attention to every stage, from material treatment and shaping to finishing.

At the same time, she invested in brand-building, promoted products through trade fairs and online sales channels, and connected with OCOP (One Commune, One Product) outlets and tourism sites.

Thanks to her persistence and systematic approach, Nhi’s sedge products have gained increasing market recognition and are now available in many tourist gift shops both within and beyond the province.

Her production model not only provides a stable income for herself, but also creates regular employment for rural workers, helping improve the livelihoods of those engaged in the craft.

According to Vice Chairman of the commune People’s Committee Nguyễn Văn Sướng, Nhi’s start-up model is well suited to local conditions.

It enhances the value of traditional materials and also creates jobs, preserves sedge craft and promotes sustainable economic development.

Local authorities will continue to facilitate the model’s expansion and wider adoption within the community.

Nhi’s venture is currently regarded as a standout example in the movement to develop the local economy based on indigenous resources.

By utilising natural materials and limiting the use of plastics and chemicals, the model aligns with green consumption and circular economy trends while opening up new prospects for Ninh Bình’s traditional sedge craft. — VNS