With limping steps to a fish pond in combination with Nymphaea lotus growing, Ho Van Mai born in 1962 in An Giang province said “After a Vinh Xuong-Kandal border struggle in 1979, I was a serious injury and was forced to demobilize from the army”.

Returning his homeland in Tan Chau district of the Mekong province of An Giang, Mai got married and lived on farming. Owing to difficulties of shortage of production land and knowledge, he in early 2000 arrived in Binh Duong to earn money to support his son’s study in his homeland.

After a trip to Tuong Binh Hiep commune, Thu Dau Mot city, he realized value of this land and determined to turn uncultivated land lots in this commune into fish ponds and duck farms and so on. After that, Mai searched owner of uncultivated land lots to hire them with a cheap price.  

Thanks to encouragement of relatives and friends, Mai borrowed VND20mil from his relatives to invest in digging fish ponds and raising ducks.

Despite initial failures, Mai determined to improve his family’s living on the hired land lots. At present, he has enjoyed a significant income from growing Nymphaea lotus and breeding fish and duck. “I ended all debts and now enjoy a stable life”, shared Mai.

Reported by C.Thanh, H.Yen – Translated by A.C