In Pang Cang village, nestled deep within the mountains of Van Chan commune in Lao Cai province, Sung A Henh has gradually risen to become a prosperous farmer. As a respected community figure, he has led fellow Hmong villagers in reshaping their mindset and building a new life together.

A quiet pillar of the village

Home to a predominantly Hmong population, Pang Cang lies quietly among towering mountain ranges. For local residents, Sung A Henh is more than a successful farmer - he is a trusted source of guidance.

His role as a respected community figure extends far beyond meetings. Each day, he works alongside village leaders, going door to door to encourage people to engage in productive labor, prevent social issues, and abandon outdated customs.

One of the most difficult challenges he has faced is early marriage, once a persistent issue in the area. Despite repeated visits to households to explain the consequences, some families continued to arrange marriages for underage children in secret.

Undeterred, Henh remained patient, relying on his credibility and sincerity to gradually change perceptions among both young people and parents. Today, early marriage has been eliminated in Pang Cang.

He also regularly attends training sessions to update his knowledge. Through newspapers such as Dan toc va Phat trien and provincial publications provided each month, he stays informed about Party and State policies, as well as practical lessons in household economic development, which he then shares with villagers.

Awakening the forest land

Before achieving his current success, Henh’s family endured years of hardship. The turning point came from a simple yet perceptive observation.

During tea delivery trips to Tap Lang - a forest hamlet about 8km from Pang Cang - he noticed that residents there enjoyed a far more stable life. When he discovered that cinnamon cultivation was the key, his determination to escape poverty took hold.

In 2013, he made a bold decision that would redefine his future. Starting with nothing, he borrowed VND50 million (US$2,000) from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to purchase seedlings. At the time, many neighbors doubted his plan, warning of uncertain market demand.

In response, he held firm to a simple belief: even if the products could not be sold, he would still contribute to reforesting barren hills.

To protect his young cinnamon forest, he imposed penalties on those who allowed livestock to damage the trees and hired up to 20 workers daily to tend the plantation in the absence of advanced technology.

His persistence paid off. The experimental forest began to yield results, and with sharp instincts, he expanded production. Today, his family owns 14 hectares of cinnamon, generating around VND200 million (US$8,200) per hectare.

Building a diversified livelihood

Beyond cinnamon, Henh has also preserved and developed traditional livelihoods. His family owns 2 hectares of ancient tea trees, providing a stable and significant income each year. He continues to follow traditional tea processing methods, maintaining the distinctive flavor of the Van Chan highlands.

In 2015, he demonstrated further foresight by becoming the first in Pang Cang to develop a homestay business. His family is now one of only two households in the village fully licensed to operate such services.

At the homestay, visitors can do more than simply rest. They are immersed in local culture - experiencing traditional tea processing firsthand, enjoying the sound of Hmong flutes and khen instruments in the mountains, and tasting dishes prepared by the host family.

Speaking about him, village head Vang A Ha expressed pride: “Henh is someone who not only succeeds economically but also leads by example. As our commune shifts its economic structure toward tea and cinnamon, his pioneering role has become a crucial driving force for the entire village.”

Henh’s success is not measured solely by his monthly income of around VND40 million (US$1,600) or his well-built home. His greatest achievement lies in inspiring a spirit of self-reliance within the community.

For Henh himself, the guiding principle remains simple: escaping poverty is not enough - he must help others do the same. Anyone in the village wishing to learn about seedling cultivation or cinnamon farming techniques is welcomed and guided with care. By hiring local workers for his plantations, he also creates stable jobs, helping fellow Hmong villagers improve their livelihoods.

Tuan Ninh - Minh Phuong