The women's startup movement has been spreading across Da Nang with a growing number of creative and highly feasible projects and ideas. Notable among them are startup projects involving the use of clean energy sources, and the clean and organic agricultural production associated with the trend of green and sustainable development.

Ms. Do Thi Thanh Thuy with her startup project "Guava Leaf Tea". Photo courtesy of the character

Ms. Do Thi Thanh Thuy, residing in Con Mong Village, Hoa Phuoc Commune, Hoa Vang District, started her own startup journey with the idea of ​​the "Guava leaf tea" product.

After realising the amazing health benefits of guava leaves, Ms. Thuy has developed a business idea from guava trees.

In late 2019, her "Thanh Thuy Guava Leaf Tea" facility was put into operation. Up to now, her product has had a stable consumption market in Da Nang, Quang Nam and other provinces in Central Viet Nam.

Besides the traditional business method, the woman promotes product consumption on e-commerce platforms and Facebook, Zalo social media platforms. Each month, the facility sells 600-700 boxes of guava leaf tea filter bags with a small box of 10 filter bags priced at VND40,000, and a large box of 30 bags at VND110,000. In addition, the facility creates stable jobs for three local women with an income of VND5 million/person/month.

Ms. Thuy shared “The advantage of this startup project is the use of locally available raw materials (natural guava leaves and intensively cultivated tea), thereby producing safe, high-quality products”.

Her facility has invested in an automatic irrigation system and taken care of plants according to strict procedures, from the source of chemical-free raw materials to the processing stage and the traceability for the product, she added.

“In the coming time, I will try to perfect the product to achieve OCOP product certification and optimise packaging and labels. At the same time, I plan to build a linked growing area with the involvement of households in the commune to stabilise the source of raw materials needed for production. The purpose is to bring economic value, create a stable source of income for workers, and spread the entrepreneurial spirit to many other women as well" Ms. Thuy informed.

As for Ms. Le Thi Kim Tram, a resident of Chinh Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District, her entrepreneurial journey began quite by chance.

She recalled that every time her child had a runny nose, a cold and cough, she was very worried because the abuse of antibiotics has become common nowadays.

In early 2020, from her family's knowledge of folk remedies, she began to research and successfully developed the product "Kha Tu Lemon Basil Syrup". This syrup is made from natural herbs and brown rock sugar, and does not contain any preservatives or additives.

Her product has received positive feedback from relatives and friends on social networks. From here, she started to bring the product to the market.

To have a stable source of raw materials, Ms. Tram encouraged and guided households to grow medicinal herbs in their home gardens in Da Nang. Also, she purchases raw materials in Duy Xuyen District, Quang Nam Province.

So far, Ms. Tram's facility named "SuNaMom" produces and distributes herbal products of natural origin specialising in treating cough and increasing resistance such as Kha Tu Lemon Basil Syrup, and Cherry lemon soaked in wild honey.

On average, 500-700 bottles of Kha Tu Lemon Basil Syrup are sold per month at the price of VND100,000 per bottle of 200ml.

“My project needs medicinal herbs, so local women have actively renovated wild gardens and mixed gardens to grow medicinal plants, thereby creating more jobs for local women and improving their lives. Currently, there are 6 female workers working in my facility with a stable income of VND5.5 million/person/month. Lemon basil syrup is not only a product, but also my big dream. This is a harmonious combination of folk knowledge and modern technology to bring health benefits to people, especially children and protect the environment” Ms. Tram stated.

In the coming time, she plans to establish a cooperative and invest in more qualified machinery and equipment so as to expand the production facility as well as the raw material growing area.

According to Vice President of the Da Nang Women's Union Nguyen Thi Huyen, in recent times, business households, cooperative groups, cooperatives and enterprises owned by women have had creative, highly feasible start-up projects and ideas, and have applied science and technology to change production methods.

In particular, the projects have used clean energy sources, renewable energy, and circular economy; as well as produced clean, organic agricultural and environmentally friendly products. These have significantly contributed to promoting green and sustainable development, and bringing job opportunities to the local community.

In the coming time, the municipal Women's Union will continue to support and create favourable conditions for its members with start-up ideas to realise their start-up projects and ideas; and discover new, positive factors to nurture them into typical examples of successful start-ups.

Reporting by TRAN TRUC - Translating by M.DUNG