Startups Driven by Local Advantages
Across the familiar landscapes of Lam Dong, a new generation of young people is creating new value through knowledge, technology and the courage to take action. Their choices are bringing fresh momentum to local agriculture while showing that their homeland can become the starting point for ambitious entrepreneurial journeys.
Young Entrepreneurs Building on Local Advantages
For Tran Van Than, born in 1992 and from Dam Rong 1 Commune, his entrepreneurial journey began with coffee and a desire to increase the value of local agricultural products through knowledge and technology.
“If we only sell raw coffee, its value remains limited. I want to produce clean, pure coffee under my own brand,” Than said.
Starting with roasted and ground coffee, Than expanded his market, established links with coffee-growing households and sought ways to increase the value of locally sourced materials.
In 2024, he invested in a freeze-drying machine to explore a new processing direction. After numerous adjustments, he completed a freeze-dried coffee production process.
By the end of 2025, his facility was supplying around 9–10 tonnes of coffee powder annually while partnering with local growers and providing guaranteed outlets for their coffee. Than has also been developing a raw-material area capable of supplying around 20 tonnes of coffee a year, connecting the products with distributors in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
In Da Teh Commune, meanwhile, Le Tien Dung, born in 1992 and Secretary of the Youth Union branch in Hamlet 4D, chose a distinctive chili variety to pursue his own entrepreneurial path.
Starting with the idea of organically growing Carolina Reaper, one of the world's hottest chili varieties, Dung gradually developed a model covering 125 square meters of production facilities and about 3,000 square meters of raw-material cultivation.
Alongside fresh chilies, he has developed products including Carolina Reaper chili sauce, chili salt, chili powder and dried chilies. His Carolina Reaper chili sauce was recognized as a three-star OCOP product in 2024.
The product development process led Dung to adopt a new approach to the market. He studied the characteristics of the chili variety, refined cultivation, harvesting and processing techniques, and used digital platforms to promote products and connect with customers.
The model currently generates average annual revenue of about VND 600 million, creating jobs for young people, seasonal workers and linked farming households in the locality.
For young entrepreneur Nguyen Huu Nhon in Duc Linh Commune, the path to success has come from tapping local potential through a black apple snail farming model combined with agricultural tourism experiences.
“The model creates jobs for many local residents. Women take part in processing, young people work as experience-tour guides, while older residents take care of the ponds and handle harvesting. Every month, thousands of visitors from inside and outside the province come to experience the model and purchase specialties made from snails,” Nhon said.
“I hope every young person in Lam Dong will nurture big ambitions, start with concrete actions and use their knowledge and youthful energy to create new values, contributing to a dynamic, vibrant Lam Dong that can reach further in the future.”
H'Hong, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Youth Federation in Lam Dong
Nhon has actively shared his experience and provided technical advice on snail farming to young people eager to learn and pursue entrepreneurship.
To date, 50 households in Lam Dong, including many young people in Duc Linh and Hoai Duc communes, have taken the lead in converting farmland to black apple snail farming under Nhon's guidance. The models have generated relatively good incomes in rural areas.
Nhon's model has won awards for entrepreneurship and innovation at both the national and local levels.
“For me, the awards at the national and provincial levels are not only an honor but also a reminder of the responsibility to turn ideas into action and projects into real value for people's lives. Commercial snail farming shows young people that in the farmland along the La Nga River, where generations have made their living, it is still possible to start a business and build sustainable prosperity,” Huu Nhon said.
Supporting Young People on Their Entrepreneurial Journey
Since the beginning of the year, Youth Union organizations at all levels across Lam Dong have organized 70 activities on entrepreneurship and innovation, attracting 600 youth union members and young people.
They have also carried out 33 activities to support access to capital, helping 220 young people secure more than VND 9.5 billion in loans to develop their businesses.
In addition, Youth Union organizations have supported the implementation of 45 youth ideas and initiatives and effectively launched three innovative start-up projects with support for market access and product outlets.
According to H'Hong, Deputy Secretary of the Lam Dong Provincial Youth Union and Chairwoman of the Vietnam Youth Federation in Lam Dong, start-up models built around local agricultural products demonstrate the creativity, commitment and value-creating capacity of young people at the grassroots level.
In the province's new development space, Youth Union and Youth Federation organizations will continue to accompany young people, providing better conditions for entrepreneurship and innovation, helping them master technology and reach broader markets.