On a quiet morning in Cam Duong, Lao Cai, the small kitchen of a modest home fills with the aroma of smoked meat. Gently turning rows of homemade sausages while keeping an eye on a steaming batch of pork rolls, 38-year-old Ma Thi Luyen—a Tay woman—moves with the calm precision of habit. From her early days working as an apprentice, she carried with her a simple, heartfelt belief: “The food I make must be clean and trustworthy.”

Her family has always valued safe, healthy food. What began as a desire to cook wholesome meals for her husband and children soon grew into a broader thought: if I can make good food for my family, why not for my neighbors, for my whole community?

Yet, turning that idea into reality was not easy. Luyen quickly realised that passion alone was not enough—she lacked the knowledge and experience needed to start a business. That realisation became her motivation as an entrepreneur, to build both skills and understanding to one day run her own clean-food business.

Taking her first steps (2017–2020)

After several years working for others to learn the craft, in 2017, Luyen decided to open her own small food processing business. She pooled her savings to buy her first meat grinder and set it up in her tiny kitchen. In those early days, she did everything herself: selecting meat, marinating it, operating the grinder, and delivering the products.

But the beginning was far from smooth. Some batches were too dry, others too wet. Customers came and went. With no funds to hire staff, all the housework and business responsibilities fell on her shoulders. Her two young children needed care, and their schedules often clashed with her work hours.

Without training in management or marketing, she struggled to understand the market—what customers liked, what prices they would pay, and how to meet their expectations. She found herself caught between her desire to maintain quality and the daily pressure of making a living.

She recalls that during those years, she and her husband managed their finances separately, each taking care of their own work. The support within the family faded, and the exhaustion at times made her want to give up. At one point, financial strain and exhaustion forced her to stop for over a year. But each time she entered the kitchen and smelled the familiar smoke from dried meat, she felt a pang of regret. By 2020, she decided to start again—but this time, with a plan. She wanted to build something that would last. Yet apart from her skill in making sausages and pork rolls, she didn’t know where to begin or what to learn next.

A bridge to new opportunities

In late 2024, two of her cousins—one working with the Farmers’ Union and another with the Women’s Union, both partners of the Women’s Entrepreneuship and Leadership project in Lao Cai and Son La, under the Australian Government’s GREAT program—encouraged her to apply.

Implemented by the Provincial Women’s Union with technical support from organisations such as iChange Center, GreenU, and T&C, the project offered exactly what she needed. As she recalls, “I already had the skills and products, but I was missing the backbone—the structure to run a business. So I decided to give it a try.”

The first training sessions completely changed how she viewed her work. She learned that making a good product was not enough; it was just as important to identify her core product and understand her target customers. Through business model training, she was guided to refine her product line and segment her market—focusing on what she could do best rather than trying to make everything for everyone.

Alongside business skills, she also learned about leadership—how to manage time, distinguish between urgent and important tasks, and let go of the urge to do everything herself. Her mentors helped her understand that true leadership isn’t about giving orders, but about inspiring people with a shared vision. Gradually, she learned to delegate, to plan, and to guide others with patience.

“Women’s entrepreneurship” – Finding confidence through mentorship

Between September and December 2024, the project hosted a “Women’s entrepreneurship” competition. Each participant developed and presented a business plan. Through this event, Luyen was paired with two local mentors who provided one-on-one coaching over eight one-hour sessions.

They helped her step-by-step from building a plan, organising her work, to how to talk with customers. They offered in-depth explanations for anything she didn’t grasp, providing her with a much clearer direction.

Beyond training and competitions, the project became a bridge for her—connecting her with the Women’s Union, local service providers, and a network of mentors. Later modules focused on vision, negotiation, time management, and market expansion. Quietly but steadily, her confidence began to grow.

From running everything alone, she started hiring help during busy hours. By 2022, she was confident enough to employ assistants, freeing her time to develop processes, record production steps, and reorganise her workspace for efficiency.

The journey of a gentle leader

With her trainers’ and mentors’ support, Luyen became a calmer, more thoughtful leader. She learned to listen, to prioritise what truly mattered, and to stay consistent. Her workshop became more organised, and her small team worked together more smoothly because everyone understood their role in the shared vision.

The biggest transformation, however, began at home. In the past, she often told her husband what to do to get things done quickly. Now, she sits down with him to review the household and business expenses—electricity, charcoal, packaging, ingredients. The language in their home has shifted from “I need you to do this” to “Let’s do this together.” The warmth has returned to the family. Her husband now helps manage finances, and they see themselves as partners, not just two people with their own responsibilities.

In business, she’s become more confident with customers, no longer relying on vague claims like “tasty and clean,” but explaining the careful selection of ingredients, her use of less salt, and the precise drying temperature that ensures evenly cooked sausages with a delicate smoky aroma. Planning no longer intimidates her—she now maintains a weekly task chart, updates it daily, and reviews progress every evening. She no longer feels like she’s chasing work; instead, she leads it.

Reaping the first fruits

Luyen’s transformation shows clearly not just in mindset, but in results. She made a bold decision to move her production facility out of her home, a tangible sign of her readiness to grow and take risks.

Where once her products were scattered across many types, she now focuses on a few key lines, improving quality and expanding scale. Her facility now employs two skilled butchers and one sausage maker. Operations are more systematic, and productivity has doubled—from 100 kilograms a day during holidays to over 200 kilograms.

She’s also become more resourceful. Instead of discarding pig skin, she turns it into a new product line. To reduce costs, she started growing her own banana leaves for wrapping, ensuring a stable local supply.

Her financial management has also matured. Before, she often lost track of cash flow, but now every expense and income is recorded and reviewed. Revenue has risen, costs are lower, and profit margins have grown from 20% to 40% within a year. Each month, she’s able to save over 10 million VND for future plans—no longer living paycheck to paycheck.

These figures are more than business success; they reflect her personal growth—from a woman carrying everything alone to a confident leader who can plan, grow, and share success. Her market has also expanded beyond her village—now reaching Hanoi, Bac Ninh, and Phu Tho.

A story still unfolding

The journey of Ma Thi Luyen is still being written. Every new batch of sausages, every box checked on her planning sheet, every joint review of the household ledger with her husband—all mark another step on the path she has chosen. The GREAT program has walked with her through a vital chapter—offering not just knowledge, but confidence and connection. And one day soon, her dream of building a sustainable brand that brings the best, cleanest food to families and communities will surely come true.