Wrap-up of the Study Tour in Moc Chau – GREAT Project 2025
A JOURNEY OF LEARNING THROUGH EXPERIENCE – CONNECTING FROM THE HEART
Within the framework of the project “Promoting Business and Leadership for Women Entrepreneurs in Lao Cai” (part of the GREAT2 project), the Lao Cai Provincial Women’s Union, in cooperation with the Green Development Support Company Limited (GreenU), organised a four-day study tour (27–30 October 2025) to visit leading agricultural business and community tourism models in Moc Chau, Son La.
The objectives of the trip were very clear:
- Broadening the vision: Visiting successful models, learning sustainable practices and how to build development directions for the business.
- Connecting in depth: Creating a truly cohesive network among the units in Lao Cai.
And in reality, what the delegation gained far exceeded expectations.
📖 THE “TRAVEL BACKPACK” IS NOW FULL OF LESSONS 📖
After the trip, the backpack of each woman was filled with ideas and valuable lessons that they wished to bring back and apply at their own units.
From real-world models such as Quyet Thanh Moc Chau Cooperative, 19/5 Cooperative and Hoa Moc Chau Cooperative, the most treasured lessons were summarised by the groups as follows:
- Agriculture combined with experiential tourism: Instead of selling only raw products, the cooperatives have enhanced their value by bringing customers “right into the fields”. This is the inevitable path to increasing value and promoting the brand.
- Dedication to the products they make, loving one’s own products
- The power of the brand: The delegation clearly saw how 19/5 Cooperative professionalised everything from the logo, packaging and labels to the integration of cultural meaning into each product. Or how Quyet Thanh Moc Chau Cooperative is ready to change designs and adjust products to suit customers’ tastes.
- An impressive business philosophy: In particular, the lesson from Hoa Moc Chau Cooperative changed the mindset of many: “There are only Partners, no Rivals.” and “A mindset of Giving and Sharing.”
These are no longer just theories, but concrete “seeds” that the women are determined to “bring back” and apply — from changing production methods, such as intercropping native ginger under pomelo trees and Bat Do bamboo shoots (Ms. Ninh Thi Mai), to developing village-based tourism (Mr. Vang A Binh).
🌈 FROM STRANGERS TO FRIENDS AND PARTNERS 🌈
Many members of the delegation did not even know each other’s names on the first day, but after four days of eating, staying and learning together, they became friends and, more importantly, became closely connected partners, together nurturing new plans for cooperation.
The lively group discussions and heartfelt exchanges broke down every distance.
As Ms. Leo Thi Thuy (Leo Thi Thuy Household Business) shared: “I feel that I can aim at more goals and know what I need to do… Everyone was very friendly and relaxed, and it was very easy to learn.”
Ms. Dong Thi Hien shared: “Thanks to the trip, I was able to link up with more units and diversify the products my cooperative sells at its store.”
Mr. Dung (Project Advisor) also remarked: “Thanks to trips like this, the women and local people can change their own mindset, dare to think bigger and dare to act.”
We saw handshakes, promises of cooperation and plans for collaboration take shape right during this study tour. That is the greatest value of all!
✨ “LINKING – SHARING – CONNECTING” ✨
When asked about the three words that stayed with them most after the journey, the answer repeated again and again was: Linking, Sharing and Connecting.
Some links have already taken shape. Ms. Mai (Bat Do bamboo shoot production linkage group) shared her plans for the coming time: “Linking up with green start-up cooperatives, Hien Vinh Cooperative and Hai Anh sausage to bring products into the Quyet Tien clean agriculture store.”
The trip has ended, but a new journey has just begun. A journey of linking together to grow, of readiness to share so as to go far together, and of an ever stronger network connecting the women entrepreneurs of Lao Cai.