In October 2023, Quang Thi Mai, along with 10 households in Ta Bu commune, Muong La district, founded the HT Agricultural Cooperative to process high-quality dried banana products, capitalising on the region’s abundant banana supply.  The cooperative provides stable incomes for local residents.

“The district has over 1,400 hectares of banana trees. Previously, local farmers primarily sold fresh bananas, which offered low economic returns,” Mai said. “After research, the cooperative invested in industrial fryers, dryers, vacuum sealers, and centrifugal oil extractors to churn out banana-based products.”

The cooperative currently processes 100 kilograms of fresh bananas daily for 20-30 kilograms of dried products, which sell for an average of 100,000 VND (3.93 USD) per kilogram. Annual net profits amount to approximately 200 million VND. The cooperative is also working to have its cheese-flavored banana chips certified as a three-star provincial OCOP (One Commune One Product) item.

In Yen Chau district, the abundance of natural fish has inspired three young entrepreneurs—Lu Thi Huong, Lu Thi Thanh, and Lu Thi Hien in Chieng Khoi commune—to combine traditional Thai ethnic seasoning and cooking techniques to produce ca chua (fermented fish). Their “Chieng Khoi specialty fermented fish processing and business” project won the second prize at the 2024 youth startup ideas and projects contest held by the provincial Youth Union.

Over the past five years, youth organisations in Son La have implemented various programmes and projects to support young entrepreneurs, including startup contests, mentorship programmes, skills training workshops, and clubs of young entrepreneurs.

The province has mobilised 204 volunteer teams to assist 25 science and technology transfer models in agriculture and organised 274 workshops, training 3,356 young people in advanced agro-forestry-fishery techniques. Youth organisations now manage 940 loan groups with a total outstanding debt of over 1.26 trillion VND, supporting over 29,000 members in economic development. Additionally, 98 youth union members and young people have accessed the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee funding, totaling 878 million VND, to start businesses.

Sơn La is home to 18 groups of cooperatives, 68 agricultural cooperatives led by young people, and 204 clubs for outstanding young entrepreneurs.

Youth-led startups not only drive economic growth but also preserve cultural traditions, inspiring the young generation to innovate, dare to think and dare to do, contributing to building a more prosperous Son La.