Sharing about her entrepreneurial journey, Bui Thi Thuy said: "Before starting my own business, I had experienced many jobs. Since I was a child, I always dreamed of having a job that could accompany me for many years and that I had to love. After doing many different jobs such as opening a sewing factory, selling clothes, raising livestock... I still haven't found a job that suits me.

In 2019, my two sisters and I founded Lá Farm, making herbal shampoos and herbal soaps. I want to bring herbs to more people and have a job to support myself, while having more time to spend with my children."

PV: What opportunity brought you to the medicinal herb business model Vuon La?

Ms. Bui Thi Thuy : It is the desire to have a career that has accompanied me for many years, that career must support myself and my family, and help many other people, so I have tried many jobs, trying my best with each job to know which career is suitable or not suitable for me.

One day, I found my path. Although the path was still unclear at that time, I knew this was the path I had been looking for for a long time. Partly because I love plants and wanted to make healthy products for consumers. To start, I opened a company in Ho Chi Minh City. Then, I established the Vuon La Cooperative for the production and trading of medicinal herbs in Dong Nai.

PV: When you first started your business, what difficulties did you encounter and how did you overcome them?

Ms. Bui Thi Thuy: Not only me, but many people have to face difficulties when starting a business. For me, the difficulties were multiplied many times because I did not go to university, had no money and at that time, I had 3 small children. To have a place to make soap, I had to cut bamboo to block the walls.

On rainy days, I stretched tarps to cover the herbs so they wouldn’t get wet. I worked hard to improve the soil but the plants wouldn’t grow. I had no experience in marketing, didn’t know how to sell, didn’t know how to make videos, build a community…

At first, I had no customers, my sister's family supported me for 2 years. However, I persevered every day, made mistakes and corrected them. On that journey, I met many people who helped, encouraged and supported me, so every day I got a little better.

Currently, I still have difficulties, but 4 years of starting a business has given me the spirit to try every day. There is always more than one way to solve a problem, so I always keep in mind that everything has a solution, I need to be calm in everything.

PV: How is the cooperative model developing now? How do you plan to develop this model in the future?

Ms. Bui Thi Thuy : Currently, the products of Vuon La Cooperative are being distributed in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Soc Trang, Binh Duong, Dong Nai... Besides, Vuon La is in the process of completing an in-depth class on soap to guide those who love herbs and like to make herbal soap.

Vuon La wants to take advantage of local agricultural resources to make soap. We open soap making classes to guide women to have a job to support themselves and their families.

PV: Thank you for sharing!