Upholding the spirit of "Older people set bright example for others to follow", the Da Nang Older People’s Association has actively participated in the emulation movement called "Elderly people do good business" which has been launched by the Viet Nam Association of Elderly. Older adults bring their experience, intelligence, and enthusiasm to production and business, contributing to driving the city's growth.

According to the Da Nang Older People’s Association, its members have actively engaged in the above-mentioned emulation movement, and shining examples of doing good business have been developed during this movement, thereby contributing to improving their quality of life, and set a bright example for their children and grandchildren to follow.

Many older people become rich as a business owner, and they have an active role in giving back to their communities through providing support to the poor, including  children, in order to help them overcome difficulties in their life, as well as help poor children pursue their academic dreams, contributing to ensuring universal access to comprehensive and adequate social protection for all.

Da Nang now has 25,000 elderly people who directly get involved in production and business in all economic sectors. In detail, there are 1,707 businesses and 3,042 non-agricultural businesses run by older adults. These businesses have together generated a total revenue of more than VND 46,000 billion over the past 5 years, contributing to creating employment opportunities for more than 49,000 people.

Mr. Tran Doan, a resident of Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, is about to turn 70, still tries to keep his dual roles as CEO and Director of the Da Nang Support Services Cooperative for Freight and Tourist Vehicles while many friends who are the same age as him enjoyed their retirement. Till date, the cooperative has operated a total of 173 vehicles with total capital of VND 63.9 billion. It has an average annual revenue of more than VND 14 billion, and has 89 employees with an average monthly salary of VND 8.5 million per person.

Under the leadership of Mr. Tran Doan, the Da Nang Support Services Cooperative for Freight and Tourist Vehicles has continually grown and evolved, and attracted new shareholders in order to increase its capital. The Cooperative has seen significant increase in its revenue and its employees’ income year over year with an average of VND 750 million contributed to the State budget every year. Besides, Mr. Tran Doan has been active in helping others and giving back through charitable activities. Included were lending a helping hand to build houses for social policy beneficiaries, providing support to poor unfortunate children, victims of Agent Orange and the needy, plus helping the city’s ‘Gratitude Fund’ with cash donations. Mr. Tran Doan has been awarded certificates of merit by the Da Nang People's Committee, national and municipal Unions of Cooperatives in recognition of his dedication and commitment to the development of his cooperative over the past 45 years.

Mrs Trinh Thi Hong, 58, a resident of Hoa Minh Ward, Lien Chieu District, who is the Director of the Minh Hong Biotechnology Joint Stock Company still strives to make her company more productive and profitable while improving staff benefits. In 2012, Mrs. Hong successfully converted organic waste into household cleaning products.

Mrs. Hong came up with the idea of creating shampoo, shower gel, dish-washing and floor cleaning liquid from food waste such as fruit peels and vegetable scraps when the neighbourhood's garbage truck encountered a problem, making the odour of the accumulating garbage very unpleasant. In addition, she knows that due to the urbanization process, the local farmers do not have productive land, along with old age, it was difficult for them to get a job in industrial zones. Moreover, she also realized that toxic chemicals in essential products such as dishwashing and home cleaning liquid can be absorbed through the skin, affecting users’ health.

She spent more than three years researching, doing experiments, developing formulas and improving her products so that they can meet the standard of quality-methodology authority. One of her products is dish soap made from vegetable and fruits peels containing enzymes. When used, this enzyme removes odour in the air and its residues purify water in rivers or seas.

With Mrs. Hong's process, poor women process about 109 tonnes of waste to produce 50,000 – 51,000 liters of products a month. She has created jobs for a large number of female workers from poor families. Besides, she plays an active role in helping others through providing support and giving gifts to disadvantaged people and children in the city. She has been honoured with certificates of merit from the Da Nang People's Committee, ministries and national agencies in recognition for her dedication to her communities.

Furthermore, there are many good examples of successful business among older people. Included are Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, 65, the Director of the Tan Long Packaging Production Company Limited with an annual revenue of more than VND 100 billion, creating jobs for 200 people, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Nhi, 70, a resident of Hoa Tien Commune, Hoa Vang District,  the Director of the Tien Thang Garment Company with revenue of VND 25 billion in 2022, spending nearly VND 150 million VND in giving gifts to the poor and helping them every year, Mr. Phan Van Huong, 59, the Director of the Dai Ngan Green Tree One Member Limited Liability Company with a revenue of VND 31 billion in 2022.

According to the Da Nang Older People’s Association, the emulation movement "The elderly do good business" contributes to encouraging older adults to uphold their enthusiasm to do business in order to get rich. This movement and other patriotic movements also contribute to affirm the role and position of the elderly in the society in a bid to promote the spirit of "Older people set bright example for others to follow", thereby playing their part to drive the city’s growth.

Reporting by XUAN HONG – translating by H.L