Making Billions from Honeysuckle Flowers

Growing Honeysuckle – A Precious Medicinal Herb Dubbed the “King of Detox” in Traditional Medicine, Dr. Vũ Minh Tú, 39, Earns Billions but Faces Numerous Challenges Along the Way

Over the past three years, a small medicinal garden in Kiến An Commune, Chợ Mới District, has become both a source of encouragement and a passion for Dr. Tú. Growing medicinal herbs had long been a dream for the young female doctor.

Having lost her mother to a terminal illness at an early age, Tú had to fend for herself while pursuing her education. After graduating with a diploma in traditional medicine, she worked at a district-level hospital. Later, she passed the entrance exam to further her studies, completed her university degree, and attained a Specialist Level I certification.

In 2020, Tú embarked on her entrepreneurial journey, traveling to Lâm Đồng Province to carefully select the right plant varieties. She then purchased a rice field that had been left fallow for a year to allow the soil to “detoxify.” Afterward, she sent soil and water samples for testing. Only after confirming the soil’s safety did she confidently begin cultivating medicinal herbs.

The first 500 seedlings were planted on a small plot of nearly 2,000 square meters. While the plants grew well, they quickly attracted pests from neighboring fields and gardens. With a focus on natural farming, Tú and her workers used various biological traps to catch insects instead of resorting to chemical pesticides.

As she cultivated, Tú also took the initiative to propagate the plants, expanding the area to 6,000 square meters. After six months, the plants produced their first blooms, yielding a few kilograms of flower buds daily. As a traditional medicine doctor, Tú maintained high standards, selecting only the buds and harvesting them at dawn. On average, 1,000 square meters produced about one kilogram of flowers per day.

“Honeysuckle is regarded as the ‘king of detox’ in traditional medicine. In Vietnam, most of what’s used is imported, which often includes stems and leaves. My product, however, uses only the flower buds, which contain the highest concentration of medicinal properties,” Dr. Tú explained.

Freshly harvested honeysuckle flowers. Photo: Dương Đông

Confident in the quality of her medicinal herbs, Tú was shocked when local pharmacies refused to stock her products. While customers acknowledged the superior quality of her herbs, they pointed out that her prices were three times higher than Chinese imports, making them challenging to prescribe.

“Great quality but no buyers”—this harsh lesson made Tú realize that entrepreneurship was far from a rosy journey. However, she did not give up. She established a company, researched product lines made from honeysuckle tea, and introduced them to customers. It took her four months of hard work to perfect the production process.

For an entire year afterward, Tú tirelessly promoted her products at trade fairs, shopping centers, and supermarkets. She convinced customers by emphasizing the effectiveness of her products, even though they were considered premium and expensive. By the end of 2021, Tú was thrilled to see her revenue reach approximately 200 million VND. In the following two years, her sales grew steadily, reaching 700 million VND and nearly 1 billion VND.

Despite finding a viable path for her products, Tú continues to face challenges. The Chợ Mới area is prone to frequent flooding, and honeysuckle plants in the southern climate have a shorter lifespan compared to those grown in cooler, mountainous regions.

Workers harvesting honeysuckle flowers. Photo: Dương Đông

Dr. Vũ Minh Tú is also conducting a scientific research project titled “The Medicinal Properties of Honeysuckle Grown in Chợ Mới, An Giang Compared to Other Regions.” From the results, she plans to transfer the cultivation techniques to local farmers, with the aim of securing a steady market for their produce.

Honeysuckle, also known as “Nhẫn Đông Hoa,” does not flower or leaf during the winter; instead, it focuses on nourishing its root system. In terms of medicinal properties, this flower has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial effects, and supports treatments for lowering blood fat and detoxifying the liver.

“This plant is often referred to as ‘white gold’ in Hunan Province, China, due to its high economic value,” Tú said. She added that, although the land in Chợ Mới is fragmented, with just a few hundred square meters in their backyard, local farmers can have a stable daily income.

Mr. Đoàn Thanh Lộc, Deputy Chairman of the Chợ Mới District People’s Committee, stated that the honeysuckle cultivation model is a new direction for local agriculture. Of the 21 OCOP products in the district, 3 of Dr. Tú’s products have earned 3- and 4-star certifications.

“Dr. Tú is very diligent, creative, and a pioneer in the local startup movement. Every time the district participates in trade promotion activities, Tú is always involved,” Mr. Lộc said.

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Source: VnExpress