From farmhand to greenhouse mogul: A billion-value melon venture

Once an agricultural worker, Manh chose a different path and launched his own venture. Starting with limited capital and considerable uncertainty, he has since developed a successful model cultivating Korean “Kim Hoang Hau” melons under controlled greenhouse conditions, with annual revenue surpassing VND 10 billion.

A rigorous technical process

Le Van Manh, 40, from Hai Thanh hamlet in Xuan Hoa commune, appears older than his age, a reflection of years spent immersed in farm work. Though trained in business, he found his calling in agriculture.

Before becoming the largest farm owner in his commune, Manh worked at Lasuco High-Tech Agriculture Co., where he gained hands-on experience and developed a passion for premium melon varieties.

In 2022, he returned home to start his greenhouse project. With limited funds, he borrowed heavily to build an initial 3,000-square-meter facility. The transition from employee to entrepreneur brought challenges, forcing him to learn through trial and error. Four years later, his operation has expanded to 80,000 square meters of leased land.

Beyond scaling up, Manh has focused on refining technical processes, from substrate preparation and pest control to plant care. Each stage is carefully documented and improved season by season. Rather than diversifying crops, he chose to specialize in a single high-value product, enabling tighter quality control and stronger brand identity.

Inside the greenhouse, conditions are meticulously managed. Plants are grown in individual substrate bags rather than soil, reducing disease risks and mitigating weather-related impacts. A drip irrigation system based on Israeli technology delivers water and nutrients precisely, improving efficiency and lowering costs.

“If planted directly in soil, melons are highly vulnerable to diseases like bacterial wilt, which are difficult to control once they spread,” Manh explained. “Using substrate bags isolates each plant, making it easier to manage issues and control nutrition and growing conditions.”

To maintain consistent output, the farm staggers planting cycles, spacing sowing periods by about 10 days across different greenhouse sections. This ensures a steady supply to the market while reducing pest pressure. Annual output ranges from 600 to 800 tons across four main harvests.

Despite the use of advanced techniques, agriculture remains vulnerable to extreme weather. The farm has suffered repeated storm damage, losing part of its greenhouse roofing in one year with losses of around VND 200 million, and in 2025, sustaining further damage estimated at VND 300 million.

“Natural disasters are unavoidable, especially with increasingly unpredictable climate conditions,” Manh said. “But we repair what’s damaged and upgrade the system to reduce risks. Farming requires persistence, eventually, the rewards come.”

Building healthier soil and crops

For Manh, long-term success depends not on output alone but on product quality and safety. His entire production process follows a quasi-organic approach, minimizing chemical inputs to ensure consumer safety and environmental sustainability.

Growing substrates are carefully mixed from soil, composted cow manure, rice husks, and biological additives. The farm uses about 200 tons of manure per crop cycle - roughly 800 tons annually, composted over three months to eliminate pathogens.

After each harvest, used substrates are not immediately reused. Instead, they are collected, treated, and re-composted with biological agents for six months to fully decompose organic residues and remove accumulated pathogens. While time- and labor-intensive, this process ensures a clean growing environment for subsequent crops.

At the same time, the farm maintains reserves of fresh substrate to avoid production disruptions, particularly during staggered planting cycles.

“This process is more costly, but it preserves a clean growing environment, reduces risks, and ensures consistent product quality,” Manh said.

Pest control prioritizes eco-friendly methods, including manual removal, biological traps, and natural treatments, rather than chemical pesticides. Regular monitoring allows early detection and rapid intervention. Notably, all pest treatments are halted about 20 days before harvest to ensure food safety.

A standout feature is the use of bees for natural pollination. Each year, the farm rents around 200 bee colonies for roughly VND 150 million. This method improves fruit set rates, uniformity, and sweetness.

Thanks to its safe production practices, the farm’s melons are well received by the market, with traders purchasing directly on-site at stable prices. Annual revenue exceeds VND 10 billion, and even after production costs, accounting for 60 - 70%, the operation remains highly profitable. The farm also provides steady employment for local workers.

In 2023, its golden melon product was certified under VietGAP (Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices) standards and awarded a three-star OCOP rating. The farm is now working toward meeting higher standards for further recognition.

$1 = VND 26,358 (Source: Vietcombank)