In 2013, thanks to outstanding academic results, Cao Thi Lien from Hai Phong became the valedictorian of Hanoi Architecture University. The achievement opened up many opportunities for a stable career in her field at major cities, and even opportunities to study abroad.

As expected, after graduation, Lien worked in landscape architecture with a stable income that was enough to support her life. However, the somewhat suffocating pace of life in a large city eventually caused mental health challenges for her.

One day while reading a book, Lien came across the question: “What truly makes you happy? And by the age of 60, what will you regret not having done?”

“When I answered honestly, I realized that I loved rural life, nature, animals, and simple things like admiring a wildflower by the roadside. Being able to live close to the things I love is happiness to me.

“During my time working for a landscape architecture company, I had opportunities to see beautiful gardens and learn deeply about how people live harmoniously with nature. That made me love countryside life even more,” Lien shared.

On a day at the end of 2018, she decided without hesitation to leave the city and return home.

However, unwilling to abandon the field she had spent years studying, she chose to work remotely for a landscape architecture company while also joining her family in agricultural production.

Reviving the farm after setbacks

Back in her hometown, Lien’s parents operated a farm raising chickens, pigs, and shrimp. After returning, Lien became an assistant, helping introduce new ideas to develop the farm.

Only then did she realize that farming was far more difficult than she had imagined. Over the years, she and her family had to make enormous efforts to overcome crises caused by disease outbreaks and natural disasters.

In 2020, the African swine fever outbreak dealt a heavy blow to the family when they had to cull more than 100 pigs. With the large investment costs for barns and prolonged declines in pork prices, the family decided to stop pig farming.

Afterward, she and her parents tried fish farming. However, unstable demand and low prices meant the economic efficiency fell short of expectations. At one point, large tilapia sold for only around VND20,000 per kilogram, while smaller fish fetched just a few thousand dong per kilogram.

After many adjustments, the family decided to shift to freshwater shrimp farming combined with free-range chicken raising. Currently, the family’s shrimp pond covers around 6,000sqm, while their flock of 1,200-1,500 chickens provides stable income for the family.

In crop cultivation, major storms caused severe losses. Typhoon Yagi in 2024 destroyed nearly 500 jackfruit trees and many other fruit trees owned by the family. From that experience, the family switched to growing areca palms, which are more resistant to storms and better suited to the local environment.

Today, the family farm has gradually stabilized with shrimp ponds, free-range chickens, and rows of green areca palms, creating both livelihoods and a living space closely connected to nature.

Through many new yet difficult experiences, Lien realized that agriculture is a long journey with both success and unavoidable failures. Faith and lessons learned after each setback have become the motivation helping her grow stronger after every hardship.

“I receive so much love from my family and feel deeply connected to my hometown. That is also the biggest motivation for me to keep trying,” Lien said.

Besides the hardships, Lien has also gained many valuable things from her decision to “leave the city and return to the countryside.”

She treasures peaceful mornings, moments of relaxation while watching the wind ripple across the lake and through the green trees. For Lien, afternoons chatting with her mother beneath rows of areca palms or quietly watching windy sunsets are things she once dreamed of during years struggling in the city. Now, those simple dreams have become reality.

“The pressure from work has decreased significantly, and I now have more time and opportunities to stay close to my parents and relatives. That is the most precious gift I received from leaving the city for my hometown,” Lien said. 

Thanh Minh