Young entrepreneurs head for the hills

SÔN LA — Entering ‘Mama’s homestay’ founded by Leâ Hoàng Thaiù , many tourists are wowed by the lovely wooden houses on a hill and their cheerful young owner.

Thaùi, 27, from the northern province of Höng Yeân, said the homestay model brought him more stable income than the administrative work he had done before.

He dreams to set up a series of homestays.

A graduate from the Academy of Journalism and Communication, Thaùi has worked up and down the country. On a trip to Moäc Chaâu District, in northern Sôn La Province, Thaùi had an idea to plant clean vegetables here.

“My parents opposed me violently as they thought that I should do administrative work after graduating from university, not work as a farmer,” he said.

After researching, Thaùi decided to set up homestay instead of agricultural work.

He persuaded his parents and bought a 2,000-sq.m piece of land near the Baûn AÙng pine forest, which attracted a lot of tourists.

“At that time very few homestays were here. Moreover, expenses to set up a homestay are less than a hotel, and young people like being in nature,” said Thaùi.

To set up the homestay, Thaùi researched models from Thailand and then built houses under the tree shade.

Thaùi’s first customers visited at the end of last year.

Thaùi himself clean the rooms, cooks meals and welcomes the customers, though he has hired some employees.

Now, Thaùi’s income is about VNÑ180 million (US$8,000) a month.

Clean agriculture

Thaùi is not the only example of young entrepreneurs in Mocä Chauâ District.

After studying planting strawberries in Ñaø Laït City, the Central Highlands province of Laâm Ñoàng, Vuõ Vaên Löïc in 2015 decided to plant the tree in Moäc Chaâu District.

Together with several friends, he founded a model of clean agriculture combining with tourism and named it ‘Chimi’.

Löïc, 28, said that he realised that strawberries suit the climate in Moäc Chaâu District.

Starting with a 1,000-sq.m garden, now Löïc and his friends have a 5,000-sq.m garden.

Ñaøo Troïng Huøng, 26, cofounder of Chimi, said clean agriculture combined with tourism was attractive for tourists.

“Strawberry is a new plant here, so most tourists hope to see the plant,” said Huøng.

Huøng said that the best advantage of the area was that the Baûn AnÙ g pine forest was a famous tourist site in the district.

Tourists visiting the forest also go to Chimi.

Löïc, Huøng and their group opened the strawberry garden, which also has many flowers, for tourists to visit free of charge. More jobs for youth

Huøng said the biggest problem was to persuade their parents their work was a prudent move.

“Six months after founding the model, I invited my parents to Moäc Chaâu District. Seeing my good work, my parents do not oppose it anymore,” said Huøng.

“The weather here is wonderful, and I can meet many people, I find my life happier,” he said.

At present, with a 5,000sq.m piece of land, Huøng’s group has 30 employees. In harvest season, nearly 50 workers are employed.

They also process different goods from strawberries. They intend to expand the model to other districts in Sôn La and other provinces. — VNS

A view of Chimi Farm. — Photo chimi.com.vn