Rose on Xuan Mai land

Formerly the head of the law department of a multinational corporation, Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Hang - "Hang Hoa Hong" returned to Xuan Mai (Hanoi), built an international standard organic agriculture model, and lived kindly with the land.

Meeting her in the fragrant rose garden in Xuan Mai commune on an autumn afternoon in Hanoi , I was truly impressed by the simplicity of the woman who had a brilliant career in the bustling city. In the middle of the green space, she wore a dark shirt, her gloves still covered in dirt, smiling gently when mentioning her "brainchild" - the Karose Garden rose garden.

Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Hang's organic rose farm in Xuan Mai commune - where tens of thousands of ancient rose bushes are cared for according to international standards. Photo: Nhu Quynh

There, tens of thousands of ancient rose bushes are cared for every day with the perseverance, knowledge and love of a woman who dares to choose a different life. “Before, I worked in an office with contracts, now I work with green shoots. But whether I am a lawyer or a farmer, I still love the job I have chosen and always try to do it well,” she said, her voice soft but determined.

The journey of organic standards

Once the Head of Legal Department of a Swedish telecommunications group, in charge of four countries in the Southeast Asia region, Ms. Hang left her high-paying job to return to her homeland.

Employees of Peterson Services Company (Netherlands) train Karose workers on international organic agricultural standards - a mandatory step in the USDA and EU Organic certification process. Photo: NVCC

Starting from a rocky hill, she built Karose - the first organic agricultural model in Vietnam to grow and produce cosmetics from old roses according to international standards.

From an initial area of ​​only 12,000m², her farm has now expanded to more than 40ha, certified by Control Union (Netherlands) to meet US organic standards (USDA) and European Union (EU Organic) - the two most stringent organic standard systems in the world .

The soil is chemical-free for at least three years; the fertilizers used are OMRI-certified organic; pests are controlled with natural enemies and a diverse vegetation. All farming processes are logged, periodically inspected, and the certification is re-evaluated annually.

Not only farming, Ms. Hang also focuses on building people and value chains. Farm workers are trained to understand organic and the process of caring for plants, and producing products according to international organic standards.

Harvesting old roses for organic cosmetics production, the flowers are hand-picked to preserve their freshness and natural fragrance. Photo: Nhu Quynh

“Doing organic means understanding the soil, understanding the plants, following the seasons and the laws of nature,” she said. It is this meticulousness that helps each worker realize that they are not only doing agriculture, but are also contributing to creating Vietnamese products with global certification.

To close the production chain, she invested in a factory that meets the requirements for cosmetics production according to the regulations of the Hanoi Department of Health and the organic standards of the US and the European Union. She installed an essential oil distillation, freeze-drying and automatic extraction line. Each batch of products has an electronic traceability code, storing all cultivation, harvesting and inspection data.

Karose workers process and sort rose petals in a clean room that meets organic cosmetics production standards. Photo: Nhu Quynh

Thanks to its methodical approach, the Karose brand has built up a reputation for consistent quality. Soap products, flower water, masks, shampoos, flower teas, etc. are welcomed by the market as natural gifts from heaven and earth.

The products researched and produced by Ms. Hang's company all achieve 4-star OCOP status of Hanoi city. The products are strictly tested, have clear origin, and have become one of the model points of clean agriculture in Hanoi.

Organic for Vietnamese use

Many people think that meeting international standards is for export, but Ms. Hang chose a different direction.

“I do organic not to sell abroad, but so that Vietnamese people can use the best and most transparent products. When domestic consumers trust Vietnamese agricultural products, that is true success,” she said.

Ms. Bui Thi Thanh Hang - "Hang Hoa Hong", who left the city to return to Xuan Mai, building an international standard organic agriculture model. Photo: Nhu Quynh

For her, international standards are just a tool; what is more important is the trust and real value of the product. It is this philosophy that helps Karose products gain the trust of domestic customers, spread naturally, without the need for noisy advertising.

In the midst of a market economy, when many people choose the short-cut path, Ms. Hang chooses the long-term path - the path of kindness. "Doing organic work requires love for the land, not calculating profits for each crop," she smiles gently, her eyes full of trust.

Now, every morning, instead of flipping through contract emails, Ms. Hang walks along the rose garden, observing each petal and each leaf. For her, it is not just a job, but a way of life: slow, disciplined and attached to the land. “A woman’s happiness is being satisfied with her choices,” she said.

According to the Hanoi city's organic agriculture development plan for the 2020-2030 period, by 2030, the organic production area will account for about 2.5-3% of the total agricultural land area. In that picture, women like Bui Thi Thanh Hang are the bright spots - they bring knowledge, discipline and kindness to create new value for the capital's agriculture.

In the midst of the fragrant Xuan Mai rose garden, Ms. Hang chooses to live slowly, persistently and kindly to the land - just like the philosophy she pursues. Photo: Nhu Quynh

Amidst the chaos of truth and falsehood in today’s life, there are people who still choose to live kindly with the land, with nature and the community. And they, with their silence, are making Hanoi more pure and trustworthy. On that land of Xuan Mai, amidst the scent of roses spreading in the early morning sun, that choice is spreading its fragrance - like her, an organic rose in the sky and earth of Hanoi.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bong-hong-tren-dat-xuan-mai-720049.html