LHU Alumna Wins First Prize at the 2021 Women’s Startup Idea/Project Competition.

Challenges Faced by Women When Starting a Business

If starting a business or pursuing innovative entrepreneurship is difficult for men, it is many times more challenging for women. First and foremost are limitations in social, family, and personal perceptions regarding women’s opportunities to engage in business. Women also face shortages in business knowledge and skills; difficulties in accessing finance and science and technology; and limited information about markets and opportunities to enhance knowledge and participate in trade promotion activities to develop enterprises and cooperatives. In addition, due to gender-related constraints, women often lack information as well as the ability to build networks and expand relationships. Therefore, they encounter significant difficulties in turning business ideas into reality.

These are objective challenges when women engage in entrepreneurship and innovative startups. What about subjective factors? They lie in the strong spirit and willpower within Vietnamese women. Society is no longer unjust toward women, and equality in rights and opportunities allows everyone to build and develop a fulfilling life for themselves. Beneath a gentle and graceful appearance lies silent sacrifice. It must be acknowledged that women often sacrifice, serving as a strong support system for men and as mothers and grandmothers devoted to their families, with noble and sacred dedication. For these reasons, women seek to affirm their roles and positions, to share responsibilities and family burdens. Determination, aspiration, and passion have awakened resilient “steel roses,” radiant yet strong and steadfast.

Today, as society develops, women choosing entrepreneurship may still hesitate, questioning whether they can balance work and family, as family responsibilities are often perceived as inherently belonging to women.

The Author of the Project “Van Huong Herbal Clean Incense” Takes Initial Steps in Entrepreneurship

Le Thi Cam Van, author of the project “Van Huong Herbal Clean Incense,” has just won First Prize at the 2021 Women’s Startup Idea/Project Competition organized by the Dong Nai Women’s Union on 4 November 2021. This was her first time participating in such a competition, with the desire for customers to recognize her product and to bring the brand of herbal clean incense to a wider audience, earning trust and long-term use.

She is an alumna of Lac Hong University, having studied in Class 08KT111, Faculty of Finance and Accounting, and graduated in 2012. After graduation, she worked for a German company located in Bien Hoa Industrial Park 2 for one year before joining her family’s building materials business. While working from home, starting in December 2020, she began researching and learning about incense, gradually developing a passion and deciding to start her entrepreneurial journey with the “Van Huong Herbal Clean Incense” project. Passionate about innovative entrepreneurship and determined to surpass herself, she transformed from a slender, gentle young woman who once considered herself shy and lacking confidence into someone courageous enough to express herself. The book “On the Runway” published by Tre Publishing House (Tony Buoi Sang) served as inspiration and motivation for her journey.

Her project originated from her passion and from the demand for incense use in households, especially families with young children. When she began researching incense production, she felt concerned about the potential harms associated with incense manufacturing and, particularly, its impact on consumers’ health. By placing her sincerity and conscience into every product, she realized that true value lies in earning customers’ trust, ensuring safe use, and protecting health. Although profit margins may not be high, this is the core criterion of “Van Huong Herbal Clean Incense.” She researched plants that are easy to cultivate, readily available, short-growing, non-destructive to forests, capable of sustainable growth, and beneficial to air quality. She selected herbs with pleasant aromas at reasonable costs. In the early stages, sourcing materials was difficult; she personally collected and purchased raw materials in Tan Trieu and processed them at home. The rainy season made procurement especially challenging. In March 2021, she established Vfarm Trading and Service Co., Ltd., specializing in incense production and agricultural products.

Resilience and Aspiration for Success

Ms. Cam Van shared:

“Participating in the competition, I did not expect anything more than the opportunity to experience, learn, and exchange knowledge with other project participants, broaden my understanding, share experiences, and introduce my products and brand.” With the slogan “Herbal Incense – Blessings of Health,” people often think that burning incense is for praying for wealth and blessings from above. However, according to Ms. Cam Van, everyone has their own beliefs and religious respect. She believes in the law of cause and effect and views incense burning as a way to calm the mind and promote well-being, as well as to create warmth and prosperity within the family. Here, “blessings” mean health. Before seeking blessings from above, one should consider personal health, as long-term exposure can accumulate and affect well-being. Choosing paper packaging instead of cheaper plastic packaging reflects her environmental commitment, as plastic causes pollution and is difficult to decompose. She believes in herself and in her product, considering “Van Huong Herbal Clean Incense” her spiritual child and devoted creation. She favors social enterprise models and projects that do not harm the environment, where profit serves a broader purpose.

Although clean incense products are not new, she has infused her heart and spirit into the product, adding humanistic value and aiming toward community benefit. In the future, when profits are generated, she plans to allocate 30% to support orphans and to assist women entrepreneurs who lack capital. Additionally, the project can help address employment issues for raw material suppliers and create income opportunities for poor farmers.

Students Should Dare to Dream and Take Action

Young people should not live passively or spend excessive time on social media. They should nurture dreams and ambitions and take action, as only through practice can dreams become reality. If failure occurs, consider it an experience. Youth and health are assets—dare to step forward and do not fear failure. No one is inherently excellent; and importantly, if one wishes to start a business, passion must come first. Clearly define the purpose of entrepreneurship. Continuous effort and perseverance are essential to truly appreciate the value of what one has achieved and experienced.