Brian Jeffrey
In 2022, Thu made the bold decision to leave her position as a lecturer at a junior college and venture into entrepreneurship. During a visit to a supermarket, she noticed imported loofah items and recalled how Vietnamese households once relied on loofah sponges for dishwashing.
These traditional products had faded from the market, inspiring Thu to revive them. However, she wanted to innovate by creating more functional designs rather than reverting to the basic loofah sponges of the past.
Thu highlighted that her loofah products are eco-friendly and appeal to customers looking for natural alternatives. Loofah is a durable, quick-drying material that is safe for skin, making it ideal for scrubbing.
To ensure a reliable supply of quality loofah, she partnered with farmers in the Duy Xuyen district of Quang Nam province. This proved challenging as she struggled to find high-quality sponge gourds.
“High-quality fiber doesn’t come from neglected gourds,” she explained. “I guided the farmers to cultivate various sponge gourd types and after a year and an investment of VND200 million, we discovered the best variety.”
Key characteristics of a quality sponge gourd include a large size, straight shape, thickness, bright color, and absence of pests or mold.
After harvesting, the gourds undergo a rigorous production process involving peeling, cleaning, drying, flattening, and sewing.
From these simple dishwashing items, Thu has expanded her product range to include bath sponges, soap bags, decorative lamps, foot massage slippers, and shoe insoles—all of which are handcrafted and priced between VND20,000 and VND400,000.
Her workshop currently supports six local workers, each earning VND6 million per month. Monthly output reaches about 10,000 loofah products, generating around VND200 million in revenue.
Most sales occur through e-commerce platforms, with additional distribution to agents, hotels, and souvenir shops. In August, she achieved a milestone by exporting her first shipment of 4,000 products to South Korea.
