Leaving behind a stable job in the medical field, a woman from Can Tho returned home to launch a clean vegetable business. Starting from a small model, she boldly invested $41,000 to build a 2,000m² high-tech vegetable farm.
At the end of October, in Soc Trang ward (Can Tho City), Nguyen Thi Cam Nhung, 32, was busy tending to her lush vegetable and fruit garden spread over 2,000 square meters.
The only child of a family of business owners, Nhung studied medicine after graduating high school and worked at a local health station with a stable salary.
In 2019, while still working as a medical assistant, Nhung began researching hydroponic farming. Initially, she experimented with a 200m² plot of land, guided by an acquaintance who was an agricultural engineer.
Nhung stands in her lush 2,000m² vegetable garden. Photo: T.X
“At that time, I simply wanted to make sure the vegetables my family ate were truly clean and safe,” Nhung recalled.
Recognizing the growing demand for clean produce, she and her husband decided to expand their garden to 2,000m² with a planned investment of around $41,000. They built three net houses for hydroponic farming, combined with organic methods to grow squash, loofah, and gourd.
“I wanted to create my own career, so I quit my job to focus on the farm. I took it step by step, investing only what we could afford instead of pouring all the money in at once,” she said, adding that her family fully supported the decision.
In 2022, Nhung officially launched the Phuc Lam Vien vegetable brand. What sets her model apart is a smart hydroponic system connected to a mobile app, which automatically controls pH levels, nutrient concentrations, and watering schedules to suit each growth stage precisely.
“Before, I spent three hours a day managing nutrients. Now it only takes 20 minutes, saving time while ensuring quality,” she explained.
Seeds are germinated for about seven days, then transferred to hydroponic racks once the plants develop 3-4 leaves. After 25-45 days, the vegetables are ready for harvest. Nutrient flow is halted before harvest to achieve natural cleanliness.
Every day, she harvests 20-30 kg of vegetables for retail. Additionally, she supplies 80 kg weekly to a local school in Can Tho.
To cut costs, Nhung sells exclusively online. Through a group called “Homegrown Clean Vegetables” with over 600 members, she posts daily photos and product lists, harvesting only after receiving orders.
“Farming combined with e-commerce eliminates the worry about sales. The vegetables always reach customers fresh,” she said.
Beyond clean production, her farm also promotes environmental sustainability. She uses banana leaves for packaging and delivers produce in the morning to preserve freshness. Underneath the hydroponic racks, she grows aquatic plants like water mimosa, water lilies, and wild rice shoots to enhance the landscape and naturally treat wastewater.
Her farm currently provides stable jobs for five workers, each earning between $4.90 and $16.30 per day.
Nhung plans to further expand her operations by investing in a fully automated system capable of monitoring nutrients and weather conditions through electronic devices.
“Consumers today care more about their health. I believe digital agriculture is the long-term path, especially for young people wanting to grow clean food,” she shared.
Hydroponic vegetables are grown in a water circulation system powered by continuous pumps that deliver nutrient solutions directly to the roots via pipelines.
This method eliminates the need for traditional soil fertilizers. Instead, growers add macro and micronutrients directly to the water.
Vegetables are cultivated inside mesh houses, shielding them from unpredictable weather and minimizing pests. The closed environment also restricts insect intrusion, nearly eliminating the need for pesticides.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
