Resources from heaven, success from people

SOW PASSION, REAP SWEET FRUITS

In 2010, Ms. Le Thi Hang decided to leave her husband's hometown (Ninh Binh) to start a business in Binh Phuoc with 1.7 million VND in hand. In the early days in the new land, she and her husband had to stay at a relative's house. She worked hard in many jobs, from making noodles, selling fish, selling gasoline to selling fruit. Through hard work and saving, the couple was able to buy a piece of land to live on.

Ms. Le Thi Hang, one of two Vietnamese representatives attending the global bird's nest culinary event in Guangzhou (China) in 2024 and won the excellent style award.

During a working trip to Go Cong city, Tien Giang province in 2013, witnessing flocks of swiftlets flying around buildings planted the seeds of her passion for raising swiftlets. Upon returning, she realized that Binh Phuoc had many favorable conditions for developing the bird’s nest farming industry compared to other regions such as favorable climate, density of rivers, lakes, and many green trees, which are rich and diverse food sources for swiftlets to live.

Ms. Le Thi Hang prepares for the 2024 global bird's nest industry demo competition exhibition

Despite her family's objections to investing in the "birds and fish" industry, she was determined to build a house to raise swiftlets. At that time, the investment to build a swiftlet house was about 1 billion VND, while she and her husband only had more than 200 million VND. So she had to borrow money from the bank and friends. Her parents could not dissuade her, but because they loved their child, they had to mobilize relatives to help reduce labor costs. After her decision, she had to work very hard, resting only 2-3 hours a day to have money to "pay off her passion".

When the birdhouse was completed, many birds came, but then the sound engineering was not up to standard, so all the birds left. Despite their worries, the couple encouraged each other to persevere. When the technical problems were solved, the birds returned to help the family build the house successfully as it is today. Holding the first bird's nests, happiness exploded, and the couple's difficulties and hardships passed.

Ms. Le Thi Hang received the certificate of typical enterprise on traceability issued by the International Bird's Nest Alliance Association at the Conference on Developing a Healthy Bird's Nest Industry in Guangzhou (China) in 2024.

A resonance that urged Ms. Hang to stick with the bird's nest farming profession was the immense love of a mother. In 2015, Ms. Hang was pregnant with her second child. When she was more than 7 months pregnant, the baby was diagnosed with a risk of rubella infection. However, she was still determined to give birth. Later, she gave birth prematurely, the baby had lung disease, and had to stay in the hospital more than at home. Seeing that her child was weak, she used bird's nest to nourish her child. Gradually, the baby got healthier and was no longer hospitalized as often. Ms. Hang said: "Seeing my child grow up healthy, I became more confident in the prospects of the bird's nest farming profession. I am determined to learn, participate in events, seminars, workshops, and technical groups from small to large, from domestic to regional and international levels to accumulate solid experience and pursue my passion."

Ms. Le Thi Hang and the Vietnamese delegation attended the 2024 Global Bird's Nest Conference in Guangzhou (China)

The first orders from other provinces were introduced by friends and acquaintances. Further, the orders from abroad were also connected by friends. Gradually, due to the increasing demand for production and supply, she boldly established Le Hang TLC Bird's Nest Company.

DESIRE TO AFFIRM YEN BINH PHUOC'S POSITION

“Binh Phuoc is my second home and has nurtured my dreams. Therefore, each package of my bird’s nest products has the symbol of Thac Mo, a famous landmark of Binh Phuoc,” Ms. Hang shared.

With the mindset that to start a successful business, quality is the top factor, on the way to affirm the dream of conquering large markets, Le Hang TLC Bird's Nest continuously improves machinery and learns processing techniques from Malaysia to create high-quality bird's nest products. Currently, her company's products have been exported to the US, Taiwan (China) and are present in many provinces and cities in the country.

Ms. Le Thi Hang awarded scholarships to disadvantaged students at Nguyen Huu Canh High School, Hon Quan district.

Mr. Tran Hai Ha, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Hon Quan District said: “We highly appreciate the quality of bird’s nest products of Le Hang TLC Bird’s Nest Company, especially the criteria that have met the 4-star OCOP standards at the district level. This will motivate businesses to continue to increase product value, expand markets and contribute to the development of the local rural economy.”

Every year, Le Hang TLC Bird's Nest supplies the market with more than 300kg of bird's nest, creating jobs for 6 workers with an income of more than 6 million VND/person/month. Ms. Hang said: "In the international conferences I attended, the quality of Vietnamese bird's nest is always at the top. Up to now, Vietnam has had 10 companies granted official export codes, I hope that in the future, Vietnamese bird's nest can reach further to affirm its value."

With the motto "giving is forever", from 2020 to now, Ms. Hang has persistently contributed to the community through programs such as: giving Tet gifts, supporting exam season, supporting going to school, charity kitchen... She is currently a member of the Association for the Protection of the Disabled, Orphans and Poor Patients of the province and accompanies the humanitarian programs "Aspiration to Live", "Sharing the Pain", "Wings of Dreams" jointly organized by Radio - Television and Binh Phuoc Newspaper.

That is why, despite her busy work schedule and charitable journeys to the community, she still spends a lot of time participating in international events on the bird's nest industry. She was recently invited to attend a global conference in China and her company won the style award in the bird's nest culinary competition. She is also a representative of the origin of bird's nest at the 2024 Global Bird's Nest Industry Conference on Healthy Development.

The above sweet fruits are proof of the desire to bring Le Hang TLC bird's nest to reach far and affirm the position of Binh Phuoc bird's nest on the international map. Although she knows that "a small swallow does not make a spring", her efforts for the bird's nest industry have affirmed the position of Binh Phuoc bird's nest in the hearts of international friends. Along with that, her business culture of "living is giving" is marked through hundreds of volunteer events that she has contributed to in the past, writing a beautiful story about her aspiration, determination and dream in caring for people's health.

Source: https://baobinhphuoc.com.vn/news/4/166933/tai-nguyen-tu-troi-thanh-cong-tu-nguoi