Vietnam’s Central Highlands farmer exports vegetables to South Korea

To Quang Dung, a farmer from Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, embarked on a journey to farms in Thailand and Malaysia to gain expertise in agriculture, ultimately achieving the export of agricultural products to South Korea.

Armed with years of acquired techniques, technology, and experience, 44-year-old Dung has successfully cultivated and exported hundreds of metric tons of hydroponic lettuce to South  Korea from Vietnam. 

He is now the proud owner of Truong Phuc Farm in Da Sar Commune of Lam Dong’s Lac Duong District.

The encounter between Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper’s reporter and Dung took place amidst the bustling atmosphere of his farm, where the harvest, packaging, and labeling of hydroponic lettuce batches for export to South Korea were in full swing. 

Straight rows of vibrant hydroponic lettuce stretched as far as the eye could see, accompanied by the soothing sound of water flowing through the garden’s extensive network of pipes.

“I initially pursued milling, turning, and planing at the Lam Dong College of Economics and Technology,” Dung said. 

“However, after graduation, job opportunities were scarce, leading me back to agriculture in my hometown. 

“It was during this period that high technology was just beginning to gain ground in Da Lat.”

Recalling his early days as a farmer back in 2014, Dung candidly admitted to the influx of challenges he faced. 

Determined to overcome these hurdles, he embarked on a quest to gain insights from successful agricultural models in Thailand and Malaysia, which had already established themselves as pioneers in high-tech agricultural practices, outshining those of Vietnam. 

At that time, these countries managed to capture the markets of Japan and South Korea.

“Upon my return from studying these models, I noticed that the climate in Thailand and Malaysia shared significant similarities with that of Da Lat and Lac Duong,” Dung said. 

“Consequently, in 2015, I decided to take out a loan and invest in a hydroponic vegetable growing system.

“In the initial stages, my production was limited to approximately 100 kilograms of vegetables per day. 

“However, things began to change when I participated in trade fairs in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, where I established valuable connections with customers and agricultural material suppliers in alignment with my farming vision.”

These interactions paved the way for Dung to introduce his farm’s products to the nationwide market. 

Dung's farm has supplied agricultural products to prominent supermarket chains across the country.

Dedication

In early 2016, Dung delivered the first containers of hydroponic vegetables to partners in South Korea. 

“Between June and September 2023, we shipped over 100 metric tons of hydroponic lettuce to South Korea, following a temporary hiatus in 2022,” Dung said. 

“We have plans for further exports in 2024, and if conditions permit, we will continue to export an additional 200 metric tons of vegetables to South Korea."

Currently, he has dedicated around 1.5 hectares out of approximately three hectares of land to the rotation of hydroponic lettuce catering to the demands of his South Korean partners. 

Each lettuce crop requires 35 days to mature, enabling an average of 11-12 crops per year, with a yield ranging from 2.5 to four metric tons per 1,000 square meters. 

In seasons blessed with favorable weather conditions, the output can exceed four metric tons per 1,000 square meters.

To this day, he has continued to maintain and expand his vegetable exports to South Korea and has plans to penetrate other markets, including Japan and Singapore, in the near future.

“We’ve recently dispatched samples to our partners in Japan and Singapore, and we are eagerly awaiting their feedback,” Dung said. 

“Meanwhile, we remain committed to promoting our agricultural products in markets where we’ve established a strong presence, such as South Korea and some Northeast Asian countries. 

“These markets are known for their rigorous standards, necessitating strict adherence to the production process.”

Dung has thus applied specialized vegetable production to not only ensure a competitive edge but also serve to mitigate costs.

All of Dung’s vegetables are presently cultivated in accordance with Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practices (VietGAP). 

To ensure a stable supply to his partners, Dung collaborates with around 20 local households to grow a variety of vegetables, tubers, and fruits, including baby carrots, baby broccoli, and various leafy greens.

The farm employs radial cooling technology, which extends the shelf life and keeps the vegetables fresh during a 10-to-12-day sea journey.

“This dedication is instrumental in affirming the quality of Vietnamese agricultural products,” the farm owner said.

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