A greenhouse filled with thousands of blooming cacti has become the source of annual revenue of VND250-300 million (US$9,600-11,500) for Nguyen Huynh Y Nhy.

A passion takes root

Walking through rows of vibrant cactus flowers in her nursery, Nguyen Huynh Y Nhy (born in 1995) from Thang Dien Commune, Da Nang, smiles with satisfaction.

Today, she has not only fulfilled her dream of cultivating cacti but has also transformed that passion into her family's primary source of income.

Nhy first encountered the plants in 2013 when she noticed someone selling them along a roadside. Fascinated by how a plant covered in sharp spines could produce such brilliant, colorful flowers, she bought one to grow at home.

The more she cared for the plants, the more captivated she became by what she describes as a symbol of resilience. She gradually collected different varieties while teaching herself how to cultivate and care for them.

After graduating from university in Ho Chi Minh City, Nhy took a stable job with a seafood company in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Although her work had nothing to do with horticulture, she continued dedicating much of her free time to growing cacti.

Whenever possible, she visited large nurseries to learn cultivation techniques, plant care, and propagation methods. During this period, she also recognized the commercial potential of cacti in Vietnam's ornamental plant market.

In 2019, she decided to leave her job and return to her hometown to pursue cactus cultivation.

Back home, Nhy established a small garden and sourced succulents and cacti from Da Lat to begin growing them. However, central Vietnam's harsh climate proved challenging, with many plants struggling to survive or dying altogether.

To continue financing her passion, she found another job at a company in Da Nang while spending her spare time researching and improving her cultivation techniques.

The rewards of persistence

To deepen her knowledge, Nhy studied cultivation materials and technical resources from overseas before testing different methods in her own nursery and refining them through experience.

Once she had mastered the techniques, she imported more than 100 cactus varieties from Thailand and China. She not only succeeded in growing healthy, flowering plants but also developed reliable propagation methods.

By 2023, the nursery had begun generating income. In mid-2024, Nhy left her office job for good to devote all of her time and resources to developing a professional cactus nursery.

She later visited modern cactus farms in China and Thailand to learn advanced cultivation techniques. After returning to Vietnam, she invested nearly VND1 billion (US$38,400) in greenhouse facilities, automated irrigation systems, production equipment, and imported planting materials.

About seven years after returning from the Mekong Delta, Nhy now owns a greenhouse nursery spanning more than 800 square meters and growing nearly 100 cactus species. The collection includes several highly prized varieties such as Astrophytum, Gymnocalycium, Lobivia, and Echinopsis.

"After many years of following my passion, I now have not only a beautiful cactus garden filled with colorful flowers but also the technical expertise to propagate plants and maintain a stable supply of seedlings," she said.

"I can also create unique, one-of-a-kind plants. Each one is carefully observed over a long period so I can select the most distinctive colors, shapes, and characteristics. Today, most of the plants leaving the nursery are priced from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand Vietnamese dong. Thanks to a steady stream of orders, the nursery now generates estimated annual revenue of VND250-300 million (US$9,600-11,500)," she added.