Young Entrepreneur Builds Start-up from Canned Farm Produce

Inside a 1,000 m² factory in Ninh Gia Commune, neatly stacked cans of straw mushrooms await shipment to the U.S. “I want customers in Australia, the U.S. or Italy to still taste the full, authentic flavor of our local produce when they open these cans,” said Han.

From hardship to entrepreneurship

Growing up in a farming community, Han witnessed countless cycles of “bumper harvests, crashing prices,” when produce was often discarded due to oversupply. That reality sparked his idea: process and preserve farm products in cans so they last longer and reach farther.

Raised in a modest family, Han chose to study at a vocational college instead of a university to ease the financial burden on his mother. While majoring in Electrical Engineering at Da Lat College, he worked part-time and joined community activities. After graduation, he returned home to work for a local manufacturing company, where he gained valuable business experience and recognized the untapped potential of local produce.

Building with global standards

In early 2025, Han and his partners founded Gaco Greenfoods JSC, specializing in canned agricultural exports. From the outset, he insisted on global-standard processes—from sourcing clean produce to preservation, processing, and packaging.

Within months, Gaco Greenfoods earned BRC (British Retail Consortium) certification, one of the highest global food safety and quality benchmarks, often seen as a “passport” into demanding markets like the EU and U.S. The company’s first shipment—over 16,000 cans of straw mushrooms—made its way to America. Today, Gaco Greenfoods products have reached over 100,000 units across the U.S., Italy, Australia, and Hong Kong.

Beyond mushrooms, Han is expanding into canned baby corn and asparagus, with plans to invest in modern machinery to boost productivity and quality.

Learning and giving back

While running his company, Han also completed a bachelor’s degree with honors. “Only by constantly learning can I have the strength to lead the business further and more sustainably,” he said.

A dynamic youth leader, Han has also been active in community service. He received a Central Youth Union award for his contributions to the Green Summer Volunteer Campaign, joined frontline volunteer teams during the Covid-19 pandemic, and frequently supports humanitarian activities for the underprivileged and orphans. Notably, he has donated blood 18 times, inspiring many young people to follow his example.

A 24-year-old with big dreams

At just 24, Le Huu Han is not only proving that Vietnamese agricultural products can go global but also embodying the image of a passionate young leader—daring to dream, daring to do, and determined to see it through.