Your Vietnam

In Vietnam, it is difficult to earn a living in the countryside

Published

10 months ago

November 14, 2022

There are more and more young people who want to leave the city behind and move to the countryside to live and work, which nowadays is considered by many to be more comfortable and peaceful. However, on the way to realizing this dream, many of them face a life that is not as rosy as they imagined with a variety of obstacles that challenge their dreams of living and working in the countryside.

In 2017, Hoang Truong Quan, 30, a young man from Gia Lai Province in the Central Highlands, decided to spend an extended period of time in Da Lat City in Lam Dong Province.

He came to this decision after traveling all over the country.

Although he had a good job in Ho Chi Minh City at that time, Quan applied for his resignation and arranged everything for three months before moving to Da Lat to start a new chapter in his life.

Returning to the city after two years

With his business experience, Quan rented a house located deep in a valley about three kilometers from Da Lat market to run a homestay and do gardening on a small scale.

“I used to work with a computer keyboard, but back then I had to dig up the land, haul stuff, make furniture by myself, mix concrete…” he recalls.

“I got used to the new life very quickly and was proud of myself for making it on my own,” Quan added.

Still, Quan is beginning to understand that for anyone like him who intends to do business and live permanently in Da Lat, it is not easy.

One of the biggest obstacles Quan and other young people often face in realizing their dream is the difficulty of securing a stable property due to the ever-fluctuating real estate prices.

In Quan’s case, the owner decided to sell the house after just over a year of the lease. Although Quan was compensated for the contract, it was not worth what he had invested in the deal.

“At that time, my homestay service started to attract many visitors after a period of renovation, marketing, and loss in the early days,” Quan said.

“However, I had to accept the reality of running my business alone in a place with too much instability,” he added.

Quan returned to Ho Chi Minh City after running a homestay in Da Lat for two years.

After returning to the dynamic city with vivid memories of the city nicknamed “Paradise of Thousand Flowers,” Quan cannot forget his homestay with rooms called “Autumn Room” and “Room Enjoying Sunlight.”

Although he is not successful in business, Quan has gained so many meaningful experiences and enriched his love for nature and mountains.

In Quan’s opinion, if someone comes to Da Lat only with the aim of making money, he would be disappointed.

Currently, the man not only leads a stable life in Ho Chi Minh City but also considers the city in the Central Highlands as his second hometown, to which he will eventually return.

Nguyen Van Nhan (right) is content with life on his farm in central Quang Nam Province.

Dividing time to keep dream alive

In September 2015, 31-year-old Huynh Tho from Cu M’gar District in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak returned to his hometown from Buon Ma Thuot City after graduating from the university’s agriculture department.

Huynh Tho was born into a family engaged in agriculture. He took advantage of the family’s existing land and decided to run a four-hectare farm where he grows coffee, durian, avocado, and pepper.

Although he did not have to pay rent for the land, Tho had great difficulty setting up the farm.

Having just graduated from college, he did not have much financial capability or practical experience.

The disappointment was not far off.

“I did not have much experience in farming at the time, and I did not know what to prepare, how to set up and maintain the farm,” Tho recalled.

“There were some consultants who told me how they had done it, but I could not replicate it because we are in different situations,” he added.

“At that time, the income from coffee sales was just enough to invest in fertilizers, and pesticides and hire workers. So that means I did not make a profit and have to suffer for two seasons,” said Tho.

In addition, his durian and pepper trees died en masse and Tho also had to cut the avocado trees.

Eventually, Tho ran out of capital and was hopelessly sad in the face of the first defeat of his life.

After a year and a half in agriculture, Tho returned to Buon Ma Thuot town, about 50 kilometers from his home, to work as a technical employee for the power company.

Along the way, he continued his studies to gain more knowledge about agriculture.

After working for another three years and becoming more confident, Tho is now ready to start a business in his hometown for the second time.

“During the COVID-19 period last year, my company had to cut the number of working hours and salary, and then went into a three-month lockdown period (from May to August),” recalled Tho.

“In a situation like that, I would like to give myself a second chance.

“By then, I had gained a wealth of experience. And since I learned a lot in the three years I worked in the city, I am not afraid of failing too much.

“So, I was determined to return to the city if I did not succeed this time,” the young man added.

In his second attempt at farming, Tho decided not to leave the city behind altogether. Instead, he works there two or three days a week and spends the three days, including weekends, tending to the durian garden, which was replanted in 2018.

Tho hires some workers and asks his relatives to take care of the farm while he returns to the city to work. Since last year, he has invested nearly VND200 million (US$8,041) in his farm, which has around 600 durian trees.

“Last year, the durian trees bore their first fruits, which are enough to offset the cost of fertilizer and pesticides. Next year, I will be able to harvest a full season of fruit. Although I cannot get the original capital at the moment, I still feel very secured,” Tho said.

Huynh Tho (pictured) works as an employee in Buon Me Thuot City on weekdays and returns to his durian farm on weekends.

Patiently pursuing the dream

Although some young people give up on the dream of a career in the countryside, there are also some who show their determination to keep the dream alive.

In order to have photos of a beautiful life in the mountains, young people have to overcome many obstacles without getting any return.

Like Quan, Vinh Tran also decided to leave Ho Chi Minh City and move to Da Lat City after getting rid of his high-income job.

In 2014, Vinh Tran bought a one-hectare plot of land near a spring and about 20 kilometers from Da Lat City center with the aim of running a small restaurant in the forest.

When he started to implement the plan, Vinh Tran was a bit worried because the land was not only dry and prone to flooding, but also not legal.

Nevertheless, Vinh Tran was lucky that he was able to cancel the contract to buy another plot of land and start a life as a farmer.

At the end of 2015, when the flow of money dried up while the construction of the farm was still ongoing, Vinh Tran had to find another solution.

He rented a kiosk in downtown Da Lat to sell frozen meat and then opened a small restaurant serving dishes made from imported beef.

After seven years of struggling with challenges, the sweetest fruit Tran Vinh has received is a well-known large restaurant in the city.

Similarly, Nguyen Van Nhan, 30, quit his job in the central city of Da Nang in 2017 and returned to his hometown in Dien Ban Commune, Quang Nam Province, to lease land to expand farming and livestock.

He said that he encountered so many obstacles. When the land owner reclaimed the land three years ago, Nhan had to find another piece of land of 3.5 hectares to farm.

In the last hurricane, his farm was hit, and many banana trees fell down during the natural disaster because they were not well prepared for the storm.

As a trained engineer who turned to farming, Nhan did not have much experience in the early days.

While implementing the plan, he gained more knowledge by learning from some foreign role models and spending time traveling to other places where there were potential role models that sparked his ideas for agriculture itself.

“I learned from my friends to sell agricultural products myself. I became more experienced in convincing customers and found a partner who bought our products,” he recalls.

A long period of tireless effort has paid off: Nhan’s farm generates hundreds of millions of dongs every year while creating many jobs for local people

Currently, his family leads a stable and peaceful life and is happy with the decision to leave the city for the mountains.

It is really necessary to prepare thoroughly

From his own experience, Hoang Truong Quan advises young people who pursue the dream of building their own career in the mountains or in the countryside to prepare everything well, especially a stable source of finance and a good orientation suitable for a new environment.

Besides, Nguyen Van Nhan said, young people need to be clear about the direction they want to take their life because it is not easy to choose a career in the countryside.

In fact, life in the countryside is not just about working on the farm, as many young people might imagine.

“You must prepare everything to live a stable life here because it is easily prone to disappointment and confusion,” Nhan said.

“You do not need to rush to leave the city. Instead, you can visit some places to gain more knowledge and experience before opening your business in the countryside,” he added.

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/features/20221113/it-is-difficult-to-earn-a-living-in-the-countryside/69940.html

Your Vietnam

Art club members showcase new ceramic sculptures

Published

2 months ago

August 8, 2023

TienphongNews

LOCAL ART: A corner of the exhibition titled ‘Gốm Mỹ Thuật Sài Gòn 2023’ (Sài Gòn Artistic Ceramics 2023) which is opening at the HCM City Fine Arts Association. Photo courtesy of the association

HCM CITY Members of the Sài Gòn Ceramic Art Club are presenting their latest works at a sculpture exhibition at the HCM City Fine Arts Association.

The exhibition titled “Gốm Mỹ Thuật Sài Gòn 2023” (Sài Gòn Artistic Ceramics 2023) displays 135 sculptures created by 58 artists, featuring various styles, topics and languages.

The artists’ works tell different stories about Vietnamese culture, heritage, religion and environment. Themes of life, love, and motherhood are also included.

The exhibition’s highlight is a group of sculptures named Tiếng Vọng (The Echo) by 80-year-old painter-sculptor Lê Triều Điển.

The self-taught artist is known for paintings and ceramic sculptures about the people, culture, and lands of his homeland, the south-western region. He has participated in numerous exhibitions at home and abroad — Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, China, and France.

The showcase also includes works by sculptors such as Huỳnh Thanh Phú and Nguyễn Văn Trung.

Phú brought to the exhibition a sculpture named Sinh (Childbirth), reflecting his sense of the world and life.

BUDDHIST INSPIRATION: Sculptor Nguyễn Văn Trung presents statues of Bodhidharma at the exhibition. Photo courtesy of the association

Meanwhile, Trung introduced his statues of Bodhidharma in different sizes and styles.

Trung said he has a strong passion for Buddhist art, particularly sculpting Buddhist statues. He spent six years researching and making the Bodhidharma statues.

According to Nguyễn Xuân Tiên, chairman of the city’s Fine Arts Association, all the works in the exhibition were created during the sculpture symposium held in Bình Dương Province in June. The symposium is the association’s annual activity to encourage artists to find inspiration, meet and share their experiences, as well as to promote ceramic art in HCM City and neighbouring provinces.

The exhibition remains open until August 5 at 218A Pasteur Street in District 3. — VNS

Source: http://ovietnam.vn/events/art-club-members-showcase-new-ceramic-sculptures_346863.html

Your Vietnam

Young artists honour traditional crafts of Mekong Delta on YouTube show

Published

2 months ago

August 8, 2023

TienphongNews

Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyễn Thúc Thuỳ Tiên collects ‘cỏ bàng’ (Lepironia), a kind of sedge, in the first episode of the YouTube show called ‘Nông Dân’ (The Apprentice Farmer) to honour the traditional crafts and culture of the Mekong River Delta. Photo courtesy of the producer

HCM CITY — Young Vietnamese artists are presenting a YouTube show highlighting the culture and traditional crafts of the Mekong River Delta.

The show, entitled Nông Dân (The Apprentice Farmer), consists of six episodes, featuring the journey of Miss Grand International 2021 Nguyễn Thúc Thuỳ Tiên, singer Đức Phúc, and streamer MisThy as they discover the daily life of people in the region and how they preserve local traditional crafts.

The show also highlights the beauty of the region with green rice paddles, beautiful lotus ponds, and peaceful rivers, along with specialties such as bánh xèo (sizzling rice pancakes), and bánh tráng sữa (milk rice paper).

According to Tiên, Nông Dân reflects their love of the agricultural culture, the beauty of work, and the magnificence of nature. It is also a bridge to connect young people like them to the traditional cultural values of the country.

In the first episode released on July 27, the artists travelled to Tân Phước, a rural district of Tiền Giang Province, to learn about turning cỏ bàng (Lepironia), a kind of sedge, into beautiful traditional handicraft products such as bags, hats, and sleeping mats.

They spent two days collecting and processing sedge, and learning weaving with skilled craftswomen in Phú Mỹ Village, one of the oldest cỏ bàng weaving villages in the region.

Tiên said, “The job is really too hard. It requires strength, patience, sharp eyes, and caution.”

The first episode has received good comments from audiences, earning more than 307,000 views in the two days after its release.

Trần Hoài Anh of Đồng Nai Province said that “the show is funny and meaningful. It provides useful information on Vietnamese traditional crafts and life in the Mekong Delta to the community, particularly young people like me. It also reminds us of our responsibility in preserving and promoting the country’s culture.”

The show is broadcast at 8pm every Thursday on Nong Tiên Official’s YouTube channel. – VNS

Source: http://ovietnam.vn/events/young-artists-honour-traditional-crafts-of-mekong-delta-on-youtube-show_346687.html

Your Vietnam

Morocco & Việt Nam: Strengthening Bonds and Fostering Collaboration

Published

2 months ago

August 8, 2023

TienphongNews

Moroccan ambassador Jamale Chouaibi wrote to Việt Nam News on Moroccan Throne Day (July 30)

The annual celebration of Throne Day in the Kingdom of Morocco on July 30 is a commemoration of the enthronement of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 1999.

It serves as an opportunity for Moroccans to express their loyalty and devotion to the monarchy, as the King is revered as the Commander of the Faithful and a symbol of unity in the country.

During his reign of 24 years, Morocco has undergone significant political, economic, and social reforms under the guidance of His Majesty. These reforms have been carried out through an inclusive and participative approach, leading to impressive achievements that have positioned Morocco as a leading country in its region in terms of stability, poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and investment inflow.

One notable accomplishment is the country’s transformation into a manufacturing hub, attracting international companies in the automotive and aircraft industries. Morocco has also been recognised, alongside Việt Nam, as one of the 25 countries that successfully halved multidimensional poverty in the past 15 years, as reported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Presentation to King Mohammed VI of the first Moroccan consumer car brand and the prototype of a Moroccan-initiated hydrogen vehicle. Photo Maghreb Arab Press

Furthermore, Morocco is making significant progress in meeting its target of increasing the share of renewables in its electricity mix to 52 per cent by 2030.

The country currently ranks as the first African country and 24th worldwide in terms of maritime connectivity.

In recent years, Morocco has also undertaken mega infrastructure projects, solidifying its position as the top country in Africa in terms of infrastructure quality.

Additionally, it boasts the best financial centre on the continent.

Morocco continues to fulfill its role as a committed and responsible actor on the international, continental, and regional stages. The country has hosted numerous high-level international and regional meetings, showcasing its unwavering commitment to multilateralism, South-South cooperation, and addressing common challenges such as peace and security, migration, counterterrorism, and climate change.

The celebration of the 24th anniversary of His Majesty’s enthronement coincides with the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Morocco and Việt Nam.

I would like to extend my congratulations to Việt Nam for its exceptional economic performance and resilience in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has garnered global acclaim.

I am pleased to note that the two countries maintain close coordination and mutual support in international organisations and multilateral forums. Despite virtual interactions over the past two years due to the pandemic, the first meeting of the subcommittee on trade and industrial cooperation was held in Rabat in June 2022. During this meeting, both sides identified strategic cooperation areas in trade of agricultural products, energy, textiles, chemicals, fertilizer production, mining, and mineral processing.

The visit of the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Việt Nam to Morocco has further enhanced our cooperation, expanding it into new fields.

The appointment of an Honorary Consul in Hồ Chí Minh City by the Kingdom of Morocco exemplifies the commitment of both countries to further enhance and expand their bilateral partnership.

In the coming years, our Embassy, together with the Honorary Consul, will focus on facilitating direct interaction between Vietnamese and Moroccan economic stakeholders.

Port of Tanger Med, North Morocco. Photo Maghreb Arab Press

This approach aims to achieve more substantial results in terms of trade exchange and the consolidation of our economic partnership. It is also a priority to encourage the establishment of joint ventures between leading corporations in each country, such as the OCP Group and Petro Vietnam Fertilizers and Chemical Corporation.

Another priority is to enhance cooperation, partnership, and the exchange of experiences and expertise in areas where each country holds comparative advantages, such as manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, and renewable energy.

Given Việt Nam’s emphasis on developing economic cooperation with Africa, Morocco can serve as a bridge between Việt Nam and the continent.

Morocco has a substantial presence in Africa in sectors like banking, insurance, energy, and telecommunications, making it the top investor in West Africa and the second investor at the continental level.

Morocco seeks to further develop ties with ASEAN and has already acceded to the TAC treaty, MRC as a partner, and AIPA observer status.

In this pursuit, Morocco counts on the invaluable support of Việt Nam to gain more access to the promising regional market where Việt Nam plays a pivotal role. Morocco’s aspiration is to obtain SDP status, and it hopes for Việt Nam’s support during the next ASEAN Summit in September to confirm the agreement in principle given to its candidacy.

With our shared strong political will, I am confident that the partnership between Morocco and Việt Nam will continue to strengthen and gain momentum in the coming years. VNS

Source: http://ovietnam.vn/events/morocco-viet-nam-strengthening-bonds-and-fostering-collaboration_346667.html