Green Startup from Areca Leaf: Summer Story of a City Student

Mr. Du Van Thai rowed a boat through small canals, taking Pham Tran Duy students to experience the cool green areca garden.

Go to the garden to learn farming

In mid-August 2025, Duy was present at the 2-hectare ecological garden of Mr. Du Van Thai (78 years old) in An Lac hamlet, Binh An commune ( An Giang province). Here, areca, coconut and Tac Cau pineapple are planted in a cool 3-storey model, providing shade and a stable source of income. Mr. Thai - the outstanding Vietnamese farmer of 2022 welcomed Duy as a grandchild in the house, patiently showing him how to take care of areca, harvest and distinguish quality areca trees.

During his days as a “farmer apprentice”, Duy listened to Mr. Thai tell stories about his father’s land reclamation and cultivation, learned about biology and the life cycle of the areca tree. He also walked and rowed a boat along the straight rows of areca trees, and personally picked up the dried areca spathe. This is the part of the sheath that falls naturally with the areca bunch, without any cutting or chemicals. The areca leaves in the dry season are bright white and dry, and are up to standard for sale.

Student Pham Tran Duy with a fan made from areca spathe.

Not only areca, An Lac is also the largest raw material area in Binh An commune with more than 427 hectares of areca out of a total of 1,243 hectares of the whole commune. Every year, Mr. Thai's family alone harvests nearly 100 tons of fresh areca, along with tons of dried areca spathes to sell to domestic and foreign traders. "The areca spathes in my hometown are thick and durable. I really support young people making products from areca because they take advantage of the abundant and cheap raw materials in the locality," said Mr. Thai.

On the afternoons after picking areca spathes, in the midst of the fragrant areca garden, Duy spontaneously brought out the monochord he had brought from the city to sit under the shade of the areca, singing Southern folk songs. The melodious, high-pitched sound of the monochord gently touched the soul of the earth, blending with the rustling wind and the birds calling for their friends. That rustic sound brought the countryside garden scene to life, evoking the sweet vọng cổ verses of the river region. For An Lac farmer, the city student suddenly became a “garden artist”, bringing his hometown music to enrich the summer experience for himself and the listeners.

Turning areca spathe into green living products

Witnessing the diligence of farmers, Duy came up with the idea of using areca spathe to produce bowls, plates, spoons, cups, etc. The products are durable, heat-resistant, waterproof, and can be used for both hot and cold dishes without worrying about toxicity like plastic. After use, they biodegrade, reducing plastic waste and protecting the environment.

Products made from environmentally friendly areca spathe are popular with consumers.

“The areca spathe has beautiful grain, each cup has its own pattern, both rustic and sophisticated, suitable for a minimalist style. I believe this is an ideal choice for a green lifestyle,” Duy said. After collecting the materials, he plans to produce a portion to give to the poor in the Mekong Delta.

In addition to learning the trade, Duy also opened a small class to teach the children in the hamlet how to make cups and plates from areca leaves, and to read books about environmental protection. The cheerful laughter echoed throughout the garden, leaving Duy with an unforgettable summer. More interestingly, Duy also organized an impromptu drawing class, where the areca leaf fans were decorated by the children with flowers, leaves, birds, fish, and even their childhood dreams. Duy said: "These will be the masterpieces I will display in an exhibition when I return to Saigon, to tell the story of the summer in An Giang of the children and me."

Utilizing agricultural waste to start a business not only helps increase the value of areca trees but also contributes to building a green consumer ecosystem. When many people give up the habit of using plastic and switch to environmentally friendly products, the pressure on waste will decrease, opening up a more sustainable lifestyle.

The art class on areca palm leaves was filled with laughter.

Summer ended, Duy returned to the city with a backpack full of knowledge from the garden, and a dream of a green future - where the cups made from areca leaves from his hometown, the funny drawings on areca leaves fans and the sound of the monochord in the areca garden that day could follow him far and wide, telling the story of hard work and creative entrepreneurship of the young Vietnamese generation.

Article and photos: GIA LAM

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/khoi-nghiep-xanh-tu-mo-cau-cau-chuyen-mua-he-cua-cau-hoc-tro-thanh-pho-a427324.html