Age is never a limit to starting anew

At 58, instead of choosing a life of leisure, Nghiem Thi Xuan, a resident of Binh Loi hamlet, Da Kia commune, Dong Nai province, is a shining example among senior citizens in developing family economy. From a female rubber worker, Xuan rose to prosperity with an annual income of about 1 billion VND from a model combining rubber cultivation and swiftlet farming.

With a passion for labor, even at 58, Xuan still works tirelessly. Photo: Ngoc Thao

Not only successful in business, Nghiem Thi Xuan is also loved by many for her kindness, compassion, and ability to spread positive values within the community.

Hard work pays off

In 1987, in her twenties, Xuan moved with her family to the former Binh Phuoc province, now Dong Nai province, to settle down. Then, she spent nearly 30 years working as a rubber latex tapper at a farm in Da Kia commune. Throughout the length of time devoted to latex tapping, Xuan endured many hardships and challenges. These experiences forged in her determination, diligence, and, above all, the dream of becoming prosperous through agriculture.

Therefore, immediately after retiring from rubber work in 2016, she embarked on building her family’s economy by planting rubber trees, using the savings she had accumulated while working at the farm. With her calloused yet diligent hands, combined with her passion for latex tapping, Xuan gradually expanded her family’s plantation. From a few hectares at the start, she now owns 11 hectares of rubber trees in harvest, bringing in more than 60 million VND per month after expenses.

Nguyen Van Tung, Vice Chairman of Da Kia commune People’s Council, said: Nghiem Thi Xuan is a dedicated cadre who always devotes herself to the common cause. In recent years, she has consistently been rated excellent, a role model in developing the family economy, and a pioneer in local movements. Her enthusiasm, sense of responsibility, and credibility have inspired confidence and encouraged officials, Party members, and residents to join hands in building the homeland.

Xuan shared: “We must stay committed to the set goals. Rubber planting also faces many tough phases such as pests or price drops… At those times, many people panicked and chose to switch crops, but I did not. I patiently tended to the trees and waited for prices to recover.”

Beyond that, eight years ago, with the savings from rubber cultivation, Xuan boldly invested in a swiftlet farming house despite her advancing age. Starting from zero in terms of technical knowledge, the first years of this model brought little success. But with her passion for labor, persistence, and willingness to learn, by the third year, the swiftlet farm began to flourish and generate stable income. Currently, her family earns about 20 million VND per month from swiftlet farming, and during peak price periods, this can reach 25 million VND per month. Altogether, the two models bring Xuan an income of over 80 million VND per month, equivalent to more than 1 billion VND per year.

Spreading values to the community

Not only successful in business, Nghiem Thi Xuan is also a model grassroots cadre, respected and trusted by many people. In her role as secretary of the Binh Loi hamlet Party cell, Xuan is always devoted to the people, leading by example in building a civilized lifestyle, protecting the environment, maintaining security and order, and fostering solidarity among residents.

What is most admirable is Xuan’s compassion for disadvantaged people in the locality. She regularly mobilizes benefactors to provide essential goods and introduce jobs to poor households or families in especially difficult circumstances, helping them gain the motivation to move forward in life.

One such case is Pham Thi Hong Tham, a resident of the same hamlet, from a single-parent family. She comes from a single-parent family, is unemployed and raises a young child. In recent years, Tham has often received help from Xuan and local authorities. Tham emotionally shared: “The local authorities, especially Xuan, regularly visit and help me every month. My family is in difficulty, without this help, my grandchild and I wouldn’t have what we have today.”

Despite her financial comfort, Xuan maintains a simple and exemplary lifestyle. At any age and in any role, she fulfills her duties with excellence. With her tireless efforts, Xuan has been honored with numerous certificates of merit from the province and locality. Her story stands as proof to the current generation that age is never a limit to starting anew. Xuan’s success did not come from luck, but from a lifetime’s accumulation of labor, learning, and persistence.

By Thu Ha

Translated by Minh Hanh – Thu Ha