Artisan Vang Thi Mai introduces international tourists to traditional linen products and Mong culture.
Helping Compatriots Escape Poverty
Artisan Vang Thi Mai from Lung Tam Commune was the first to bring traditional Mong linen products to the international stage. In 2001, recognizing the risk of this craft fading away, she mobilized local women to establish the Lung Tam Linen Cooperative with a modest starting capital of 13 million VND (about USD 510) and 10 members.
Driven by conviction and persistence, Ms. Mai worked tirelessly to preserve the craft, encouraged design innovation, and personally promoted the products across the country. From its humble beginnings, the cooperative has grown to nine production groups, earning around 1.5 billion VND (about USD 59,000) in annual revenue and creating stable jobs for nearly 200 women, with monthly incomes ranging from 6 to 7 million VND.
The cooperative’s linen fabrics, embroidered bags, and scarves featuring Mong motifs have reached over 20 countries, including demanding markets like the EU and the US. Beyond preserving the craft, Ms. Mai has turned the flax plant into a “key to gender equality,” engaging poor women, orphans, and elderly artisans in production. A portion of every product’s proceeds is dedicated to compensating artisans who train younger generations to keep the craft alive. For her enduring contributions, Ms. Vang Thi Mai was honored by Forbes Vietnam as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in Vietnam in 2017.
Many ethnic minority women have likewise asserted themselves through determination and innovation, not only enriching their communities but also inspiring others to dream and act. The story of Ms. Luu Thi Hoa from the Co Lao ethnic group is one such example. Recognizing that the climate and soil of the rocky plateau were ideal for specialty crops and fruits popular with tourists, she established the Po My Cooperative, which links local farmers to markets by producing and distributing indigenous products such as pears, plums, and yam beans.
Its flagship product, Wild Mint Flower Honey, has become a regional brand. The cooperative collaborates with nearly 200 households to build a stable raw material area, ensuring quality and brand reputation. Each year, Po My supplies the market with about 4,000 liters of honey and tens of tons of agricultural products, creating stable jobs and income for hundreds of highland women.
Ms. Lo Thi Phuong, Head of Lang Un Village in Kien Thiet Commune, is affectionately called a “rare flower” in the mountains. Originally a Thai ethnic woman from Dien Bien province, she was trusted by locals to lead the village. Lang Un has 92 households, over 70% of whom are Mong people relying mainly on forestry and fruit cultivation. Facing low yields and market challenges, Ms. Phuong introduced science, technology, and digital tools to the community. She guided villagers on cultivation techniques, created a Zalo group named "People of Un Village", and taught them to livestream and market products online.
Thanks to this initiative, many households have become digital citizens of the highlands, earning between 200 and 300 million VND annually (USD 7,900–11,800) and enjoying a better quality of life.
Ms. Luu Thi Hoa shares techniques for planting, caring for, and harvesting yam beans with local residents.
Kindness for the Community
Amid the fast-paced market economy, there are still women who choose to spread love through quiet, consistent acts of charity. Among them, Ms. Bui Thi Thuy, Director of Sao Viet Co., Ltd., stands out. Successful in business, she dedicates substantial time and resources to community causes. Each year, she donates hundreds of millions of VND (tens of thousands of USD) to the Fund for the Poor and the Provincial Humanitarian Fund, supports the construction of homes for disadvantaged women, and participates in programs aiding poor households, orphaned children, and vulnerable groups in remote villages.
Notably, she and other benefactors have maintained a “humanitarian porridge kitchen” at the Provincial General Hospital for many years, offering warmth and compassion to poor patients.
Ms. Thuy shared: “After nearly 20 years of building my career, I’ve always believed that true success lies in spreading human values. Philanthropy is part of our company’s sustainable development strategy, where success is measured by the ability to share love. Helping the less fortunate is my way of contributing to a better society.”
For nearly 30 years, Ms. Pham Thi Huong has been the devoted caretaker and “mother” to more than 60 disadvantaged children at the Ha Giang Social Work Center in Tuyen Quang province. Together with 14 other foster mothers, she provides daily care and education for children who are abandoned, orphaned, or sick. For her, this is not merely a job but the happiness of motherhood.
Every day, she patiently nurtures and guides the children, teaching them communication, behavior, and independence. Thanks to her love and dedication, many children who were once withdrawn have become confident and sociable.
Ms. Huong said emotionally: “Every child here has a different story — some were abandoned, others orphaned or born ill. We just want to give them the sincerest affection possible. Though the work is hard, seeing them grow up healthy and kind makes everything worthwhile.”
Today, the province has nearly 207,000 members of the Women’s Union, 73% of whom are from ethnic minority groups. Across every sector, these women uphold the fine traditions of Vietnamese womanhood — being proactive, creative, and courageous. Through practical action, compassion, and community service, they continue to illuminate the spirit of kindness, spread love, and foster solidarity — truly deserving the title of “flowers amidst everyday life.”
Nguyen Thanh Hieu
Vietnamese data source on Tuyenquangonline
