Xuan Son village, located in Son Dien commune of Quan Son District, Thanh Hoa Province, is a poor mountainous area where locals rely heavily on upland farming. Life here remains difficult. But Luong Thi Luc (born 1990), a Muong ethnic woman, persevered and was accepted into the Hanoi University of Physical Education.

In 2015, after graduation, Luc married Pham Ngoc Thanh (born 1989) from Yen Bai Province. Both studied physical education, but instead of pursuing teaching, they returned home to build a business.

Their first venture was a small factory producing chopsticks and toothpicks. However, inconsistent market demand and lack of buyers made the business financially unsustainable.

From mountain spring to fish farm

In 2020, during a casual outing to bathe in Sua stream, the couple noticed the stream’s cool, clean water flowing year-round. Thanh proposed trying sturgeon farming, inspired by relatives in Yen Bai who had succeeded with this model. Luc agreed immediately, and that very afternoon, the couple began planning their new business.

The next day, they surveyed the area, installed electricity and a gravity-fed water system, dug ponds, lined them with tarpaulin, and built concrete tanks.

They started small, raising just over 1,000 fish in four tanks. After 12 months, they harvested more than two tons of fish. Selling at an average price of $7 to $9 per kilogram, they cleared nearly $4,000 in profit after expenses.

Encouraged by the results, they expanded to raise 20,000 fish. In 2024, their sturgeon business generated nearly $80,000 in revenue, with a net profit exceeding $24,000.

The couple’s farm now employs five local workers full-time, with monthly salaries ranging from $235 to $315.

“Sturgeon are considered ‘noble’ fish because of their high economic value. They thrive only in clean water at temperatures between 18°C and 23°C. Without proper water quality, temperature, and food, they can easily die,” Luc explained.

Their sturgeon are widely sold to restaurants and tourism spots in Hai Phong, Hanoi, and Quang Ninh. Traders from these areas often visit the farm during harvest season to collect the fish.

To formalize and expand their operations, Luc and Thanh established Thanh Luc Agricultural and Aquaculture Cooperative. Their sturgeon products have been certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating.

They are now building an additional farming site upstream on the Sua stream and have released tens of thousands more sturgeon fry. This year, they expect to earn over $40,000 in profit from the new facility.

In 2024, Luc was honored by the Thanh Hoa Provincial Farmers’ Union as an outstanding, innovative farmer and startup entrepreneur in the ethnic minority region.

Most recently, on May 16, she received another award from the Thanh Hoa Women’s Union, recognizing her as an exemplary businesswoman for the 2020–2025 period.

Luong Van Chien, Vice Chairman of Son Dien Commune People's Committee, stated this was Quan Son District’s first sturgeon farming model. It has shown strong potential and could be expanded to three or four more sites within the commune.

“Luc’s family is eager to develop more sites in other parts of the commune. We are committed to supporting the expansion of this model to boost the local economy,” Chien affirmed.

Le Duong