From the poor land of Quang Thuy – Quang Binh, a man named Le Thanh Trien has written a magical story by turning ordinary wooden chopsticks into 5-star OCOP products, bringing Vietnamese pride to the world. Not only stopping at business aspirations, Mr. Trien also cherishes a bigger dream: creating more jobs, bringing stable livelihoods to his hometown people.
From a poor rural child to a creative entrepreneur
Born and raised in Quang Thuy – Quang Binh – a land of year-round sunshine and wind, poverty, Le Thanh Trien understands better than anyone the hardships of farmers. His childhood was closely associated with the fields, he soon realized that his homeland needed more than uncertain harvests, his homeland needed jobs, needed a direction to improve life.
Once, while pondering about how to make money for his family and his neighbors, he noticed the wooden materials that were available here. With a creative and exploratory mindset, he thought of creating products that seemed very simple, but were closely associated with people’s daily lives – chopsticks.
“Chopsticks are not only eating utensils, but also carry the soul of Vietnamese culture,” Mr. Trien shared. From that idea, he started researching, testing and creating the Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks brand – starting a journey of conquest that was full of hardships but also full of pride.
Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks – from rural products to 5-star OCOP
For a handmade product to become a prestigious brand, the journey is not simple. Mr. Trien must invest not only in machinery and technology, but also in his heart so that each pair of chopsticks is beautiful, durable, and ensures hygiene and safety.
He persistently built from small steps: collecting local natural wood materials, instructing people on production techniques, and strictly controlling each stage. Gradually, Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks products have established a foothold and been welcomed by the market.
The peak was when the product was recognized as a 5-star national OCOP – the pride not only of Mr. Trien, but also of the entire Quang Binh region. This is a testament to the quality, the aspiration and the tireless efforts of a son of his homeland.
Creating jobs for poor people
What is special about Le Thanh Trien is not just the story of building a brand. He always has one thing in mind: how to create more jobs for poor people.
His Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks factory is not only a place to create products, but also a place to welcome dozens of rural workers. Many women and the elderly, who have difficulty finding stable jobs, now have additional income thanks to working at the factory.
“My greatest joy is not only selling products, but also seeing the smiles of people when they have more money coming in and being able to raise their children to study,” Mr. Trien emotionally shared.
Thanks to that, Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks are not simply OCOP products, but also carry profound social values – the value of sharing and community responsibility.
Thinking of bringing Vietnamese wooden chopsticks to the world
Not stopping at the domestic market, Mr. Le Thanh Trien also has a great ambition: bringing Vietnamese wooden chopsticks to the international market.
According to him, chopsticks are not only a consumer product, but also a “cultural ambassador” of Vietnam. If done well, Vietnamese wooden chopsticks can completely compete with products from Japan, China, and Korea – countries famous for their culinary culture.
With that mindset, Mr. Trien focuses on design, packaging, and even telling the brand story. A pair of Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks is not only neat and sophisticated, but also carries a message about the homeland and the industrious creativity of the people of Quang Binh.
The first orders abroad are clear evidence of that vision. Mr. Trien believes that Vietnamese wooden chopsticks can become a source of pride, a cultural product that international friends will mention when thinking about Vietnamese cuisine.
Aspirations to continue and legacy
At an age no longer too young, instead of thinking about leisure, Le Thanh Trien still works day and night with the production workshop, with plans to expand the market, with the idea of finding more jobs for the people.
He not only hopes that the Quang Thuy wooden chopsticks brand will develop sustainably, but also hopes that the young generation of his hometown will continue, improve, and preserve the cultural values in each product.
“Doing business must be associated with social responsibility. If you only enrich yourself, it is very small, but if you create jobs and bring value to the community, that is true success,” Mr. Trien affirmed.
Le Thanh Trien – The man who lit up his aspirations from chopsticks
Le Thanh Trien’s story is not only a story of entrepreneurship, but also a story of a great aspiration from a small land. From a pair of seemingly simple wooden chopsticks, he has breathed into it his passion, intelligence and love for his homeland to create a 5-star OCOP brand, standing side by side with international friends.
He is a living proof of the spirit: Vietnamese people can completely create high-class products, both carrying the national spirit and integrating globally. And more than that, he is the one who has sown more faith, jobs and hope for his homeland Quang Binh.
