(HBO) – Meeting with pharmacist Do Van Nhuan, listening to his story and looking at how he works, we feel that that he is not only a passionate but also adventurous person when deciding to invest in raising sturgeon in river whirlpools downstream the Hoa Binh hydropower plant.
The sturgeon farm of
Do Van Nhuan’s family creates stable jobs for 10 labourers with an average
income of 6 million VND per person per month.
Most people raising fish in cages choose static water
areas with little wind outside the water flow. On the contrary, Do Van Nhuan
selected the whirlpools to place fish cages. Nhuan shared that "No one has
thought that sturgeon can be raised in Hoa Binh city, especially in the
downstream area of Hoa Binh hydropower plant in Da River. The province had
mapped out a plan to develop coldwater fish in Hien Luong, Dong Nghe, and Suoi
Nanh communes in Da Bac district. Before putting fish cages in the river in Tan
Hoa ward, Hoa Binh city (the old location of the Thia ferry station), I had thoroughly
studied various parameters from summer and winter temperatures to water flow
rates. In October 2015, I started investment as I discovered that in the
whirlpools the water is cleaner with more oxygen, thus making the fish move
around more, resulting in high-quality fish products.
"Following legal regulations to run investment
is the most important matter to ensure stable and long-term production and
business,” Nhuan said, adding that he had the fish cage locations, the origin
of fish fry and food, and environmental protection checked and approved by competent
agencies such as port authorities, waterway traffic inspectors, environmental
police, animal health and fisheries sub-departments. Therefore, all of his 80
fish cages, which had a total area of nearly one hectare of water surface, were
located in positions not blocking the passing of boats on the river. The feed
is checked to ensure it does not contain antibiotics and growth stimulants.
Waste discharged during the process of caring for fish is brought ashore. Dead
fish were collected to make fertilizer. Particularly, Nhuan uses his knowledge
in pharmaceuticals to grow medicinal plants to prevent diseases for fish. He
said "Hoa Binh has many kinds of plants which can be used to make antibiotics
for animals, including fish. By that way, the fish are clean and healthy, thus well-liked
by customers.”
Among the 80 fish cages of Nhuan’s family, except
for some raising Duong Nghiep tilapias, most house sturgeons with 800 fish per
cage. As sturgeon is popular on the market, the fish has become a new choice
for farmers engaging in fish cage raising in Da River. The production and trade
of sturgeons have helped generate jobs for 10 labourers with an average income
of 6 million VND per worker per month. His family’s first products were
introduced at the socio-economic achievement exhibition on the occasion of the
130th founding anniversary of the province, and 25th anniversary of the
provincial re-establishment. The fish were sold on the market (mainly
Hanoi) at the minimum
weight of
3 kilogramper sturgeon and average price of 250,000 VND per kilogram.
Dao Village’s honey – a product certified with a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) rating by Thong Nhat Agricultural Cooperative in Dao Village (Hoa Binh City) – is highly regarded by consumers for its quality, richness, and variety in packaging. The distinctively sweet taste of Dao Village’s honey leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has tried it.
In alignment with Project No. 07-DA/TU, issued by the Hoa Binh provincial Party Committee on November 1, 2021, Lac Thuy district has actively promoted investment and supported the sustainable development of its industrial and handicraft sectors during the 2021–2025 period. Alongside this, the district has remained committed to preserving and revitalising traditional craft villages.
Located in the northern part of Lac Thuy district, with a temperate climate and fertile soil, Phu Thanh commune has great potential and advantages in growing tea. The long-standing experience, combined with strict adherence to organic farming practices in the tea gardens, ensures that the dried tea products from Phu Thanh and Lac Thuy as a whole are sold out immediately upon production, providing a stable and prosperous life for the local people.
Amid efforts to streamline the administrative apparatus, Hoa Binh province has intensified measures to address challenges in land clearance, resettlement support, and infrastructure investment, aiming to speed up the progress of key projects.
Hoa Binh province has posted an unprecedented economic growth rate of 12.76% in the first quarter of 2025, marking its highest quarterly performance to date and positioning it as the second fastest-growing locality in the country, trailing only Bac Giang province.
Under current regulations, products in the One Commune – One Product (OCOP) programme that are rated three stars or higher must undergo re-evaluation every three months. However, in reality, some of these products fail to consistently meet the required standards, raising concerns about the sustainability of their OCOP certification. This underscores the urgent need for producers to enhance product quality and gradually develop their OCOP products into strong, marketable brands.
