73 years young, Vietnamese couple taste success with special bamboo shoots startup

Le Minh Hoang and his wife Nguyen Thi Sang, both 73, have launched a successful startup called "Ba Sang Dak Som four-season bamboo shoots" in Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Their project stood out among entries at the semifinal round of the 10th green startup project competition for sustainable development 2024, held at the World Coffee Museum in Buon Ma Thuot town, Dak Lak province.

Young entrepreneurs from 11 provinces and cities are taking part in the competition.

What makes the septuagenarian couple’s project stand out is that it has very special products and is both economically and environmentally sustainable.

The couple have dedicated themselves to cultivating a special variety of bamboo shoots that can be harvested year-round. After discovering this Taiwanese variety, they found a way to introduce it to Vietnam about seven years ago.

Sang said their bamboo shoot cultivation area spans approximately 40 hectares, 21 of which are certified under a growing area code. This does not include additional plots linked with farmers in 18 provinces across the country - from the north and central regions to the Mekong Delta.

From their four-season bamboo shoots, they have developed five product lines, including dried, steamed pickled bamboo shoots, kimchi and sweet and sour preparations.

Every month, they supply around 30 tons of bamboo shoots to the market, primarily selling through agents in the Central Highlands and the southern province of Dong Nai.

Many of their products are delivered to niche customers including small eateries, restaurants and hotels. They have even hand-carried dried bamboo shoots for export to India and Australia.

"Even with a monthly output of 30 tons, we can’t meet demand often, " Hoang said.

He also mentioned that they have transitioned from using firewood to electricity for heating in their production process and are preparing to install a solar energy system.

Sang added that they avoid using chemical fertilizers, relying instead on manure and microbial fertilizers tailored to the plant's growth stages.

Since bamboo shoots are harvested about four-six months after planting, the harvesting period can extend up to 10 months each year, making them available year-round.

“We have shared our techniques for variety propagation and care with many farmers, helping them boost their incomes," Hoang said.

Reflecting on their entrepreneurial journey, he said cultivating bamboo shoots has significantly improved the family's financial situation.

They had tried and failed with various crops, but now, in addition to profits from bamboo shoots products, they earn revenue from selling seedlings and sharing cultivation techniques with growers.

Moreover, every year, they repurpose old bamboo into building materials and handicraft items. Smaller branches are cut down and processed into raw materials for producing lingzhi mushrooms under the forest canopy.

The four-season bamboo variety not only has a stable market but is also adaptable to various soil types, including saline and alum soil in southern provinces like Long An and An Giang.

Hoang also emphasized the environmental benefits of bamboo cultivation, saying it helps reclaim barren land and hilly areas, prevents soil erosion and contributes to environmental sustainability.

“I’ve read that experts say bamboo planting significantly helps mitigate global warming, as one hectare of bamboo can store up to 600 tons of carbon," he said.