Vegetable village in heart of city

Amid the increasingly dynamic pace of urban life, Trang Dai ward (Dong Nai province) still has a lush “vegetable village” that has existed for about 30 years. From once barren land, through diligence and perseverance, hundreds of households have built a specialized vegetable-growing area of more than 10 hectares.

Le Thi Thin harvests vegetables from her family’s garden. Photo: An Nhon

This model not only provides a source of fresh vegetables for the market, but also helps many families stabilize their lives, raise their children into adulthood, and contributes to the new look of Quarter 4C.

From barren land to green fields

On an afternoon in early March 2026, we visited the specialized vegetable-growing area in Quarter 4C. Under the gentle late-afternoon sunlight, rows of vegetables stretched out in lush green. Rows of mustard greens, choy sum, malabar spinach, amaranth, lettuce, and various aromatic herbs thrived, forming a “green patch” in the middle of the crowded residential area.

According to longtime residents, this area was still quite wild more than 30 years ago, with sparse housing and vacant lots overgrown with weeds. Around 1994, people from other localities began settling here. Realizing the fertile soil, they tilled the land and tried planting vegetables. At first, cultivation was small-scale, mainly for family meals. Only when there was a surplus did people bring vegetables to the market for additional income.

Over time, residents recognized that the climate and soil were ideal for growing green vegetables. Meanwhile, the rapid development of industrial zones in the province and surrounding areas led to a growing number of workers, driving demand for vegetables sharply higher. Recognizing this potential, some pioneering households invested in larger-scale vegetable cultivation and achieved good economic efficiency. From there, many others learned and followed, gradually forming today’s year-round specialized vegetable-growing area.

As income from the vegetable-growing model stabilized, residents boldly invested in infrastructure and adopted new production techniques. Initially, they dug or drilled wells to secure irrigation water instead of relying entirely on rainfall. Later, many households invested in machinery, significantly reducing labor.

In the past decade, automatic irrigation systems have become widespread. Thus, the work of vegetable growers has become much easier. With just a switch, the system automatically irrigates the entire garden. In addition, many households use nets to cover their gardens to limit heavy rain and harsh sunlight and to prevent pests. Thanks to these measures, yields and quality have improved significantly.

Dong Van Quang, Secretary of the Party Cell and Head of Quarter 4C, said that the specialized vegetable village now covers more than 10 hectares with over 100 households participating in production. The vegetable-growing area is concentrated mainly in residential groups 43, 44, 45, 54… Vegetables from Quarter 4C are supplied to many major wholesale markets in Dong Nai Province and Ho Chi Minh City and then distributed to smaller markets to serve consumers.

“Over the past time, local authorities and mass organizations have regularly promoted and guided residents for effective production, facilitated farmers’ participation in technical training, and helped them access preferential loans to invest in development. Thanks to this, many families have improved their lives and can ensure their children’s education,” Quang added.

After more than three decades of formation and development, the specialized vegetable-growing area in Quarter 4C has contributed to significant changes in local people’s lives. From barren land, it has become thriving green gardens. Temporary houses have gradually been replaced by solid and spacious ones. This accomplishment reflects the determination and diligence of farmers in Trang Dai.

Stories of perseverance

Following local officials, we visited a nearly 2,000 m² vegetable garden of Le Thi Thin’s family (residential group 43). This model has been the main source of income for her family for many years.

Thin said that 26 years ago, after getting married, she and her husband left Nam Dinh for Dong Nai to make a living. With a small dowry from her parents and some borrowed money from their relatives, they bought this large vegetable plot to start a new life. In the early years, the family faced many difficulties. Lacking capital and experience, vegetable farming was not effective. Yields were low, and markets were unstable, resulting in losses.

Learning from initial failures, they followed the motto “slow but steady.” They sought advice from experienced growers and worked to secure stable buyers. With persistence and effort, their garden flourished. High-quality vegetables attracted regular traders, improving family finances, enabling home renovations, and supporting their children’s education.

Currently, her eldest son has graduated from university and works as an automobile mechanic, while her daughter is in grade 9.

The story of Nguyen Van Anh and his wife Ton Thi Loan (residential group 44) is also a typical example of overcoming difficulties.

In 1990, the couple left Nam Dinh for the South to seek opportunities. After years of hardship, in 1998, they chose Trang Dai as their place of settlement. At that time, the area was still wild and sparsely populated, and vegetable farming had not yet developed. However, Anh decided to buy a 2,000 m² plot to start growing vegetables.

With diligence and willingness to learn, the couple worked daily to clear land, improve soil, and care for their garden. In addition to learning from others, he actively participated in technical training organized by the locality and learned through books, newspapers, television, and the internet. As a result, their vegetable-growing model became increasingly effective. Income from vegetables allowed them to build a solid home and raise two children.

“My eldest daughter is now working at a school in the province. Meanwhile, my son, after finishing high school, works as a motorbike repairman with a stable job. Seeing our children grown and independent, we are very happy,” Anh shared.

By An Nhon - Translated by Minh Hong, Minho