Thomas Hooft, the founder of Dalat Hasfarm
Bringing Dalat Flowers to the World
Born in 1948 in the Netherlands and a graduate in horticulture, Mr. Thomas Hooft had years of experience in the industry before coming to Asia. After surveying several locations, he found that Dalat’s climate was suitable for developing a premium flower industry.
Mr. Thomas Hooft instructing workers on flower harvesting – Photo: Lam Vien, Thanh Nien Newspaper
In 1994, he decided to establish Dalat Hasfarm with not only a business goal but also a vision that few dared to imagine at the time: to transform Dalat into a center for high-quality flower production for export worldwide.
With an initial capital of 700,000 USD, in 1995, Mr. Thomas began constructing the first greenhouses with wooden frames and nylon covers. In the 1990s, this concept was quite novel, and people called him the “crazy Dutchman” because, at that time, Vietnam only grew flowers in fields, and he was the first to build greenhouses for flower cultivation.
This model attracted attention and skepticism. The core element that helped Dalat Hasfarm through this period came from the business philosophy of the founder, Thomas Hooft, and his Dutch partner, Mr. Schenke.
In an interview, Mr. Thomas Hooft shared a view that reflects a solution-focused mindset rather than a problem-focused one: “If you know how to do business, you can’t blame the obstacles, but blame yourself for not overcoming them.”
Complementing this philosophy, Mr. Schenke believed that the “farmer quality” was a prerequisite: “In agriculture, if you want to succeed, you have to be a farmer, not just a businessman.”
These two mindsets – one of determination in business and the other of deep agricultural knowledge – shaped the DNA and laid the foundation for Dalat Hasfarm’s development.
The “Crazy Dutchman” Who Loved Flowers and Dalat
Mr. Thomas Hooft considered Dalat as a place to develop his long-term career. His connection to the city was also reflected in his personal life, as he married a Dalat local, chose the city as his second home, and lived with his wife on Suong Nguyet Anh Street.
In 2012, Mr. Thomas retired, passing the position of General Director of Dalat Hasfarm to a Dutch friend. However, he continued to serve as an important advisor to the company.
On January 23, 2015, the late General Director Thomas Hooft, known as “Southeast Asia’s top flower grower”, passed away in the Netherlands. Following his wishes, his ashes were brought back and buried in Dalat, where he had spent most of his career and life.
Development Foundation After Three Decades
The founding philosophy continues to be upheld and developed by the successor team, becoming an integral part of Dalat Hasfarm’s corporate culture. The company has continuously invested in cultivation techniques and local human resource training, contributing to the formation of a generation of skilled agricultural workers in high-tech agriculture.
Ping Pong Greenhouse of Dalat Hasfarm – Source: Dalat Hasfarm
The results of this process are evident in specific figures. From a few initial hectares, Dalat Hasfarm has grown into a large-scale enterprise with over 4,000 employees and nearly 320 hectares of high-tech greenhouses.
The company’s output reaches about 200 million flower stems per year, serving the domestic market and exporting to over 20 countries, bringing the brand of Dalat flowers to demanding markets such as Japan, Australia, and Europe.
The company’s activities have also expanded internationally under the management of the parent company, Hasfarm Holdings. Dalat Hasfarm serves as the main production center within a network connected to member companies in China (Kunming Hasfarm) and Indonesia (Toba Hasfarm) and commercial departments in Japan and New Zealand. This network functions as an efficient machine, delivering flowers grown in Dalat to international consumers.
Hasfarm Holdings’ Network
This growth has attracted the attention of international investors. In 2019, the private equity firm Lombard Investments invested approximately 70 million USD (about 1,778 billion VND) in the company (according to DealStreetAsia).
By early 2025, according to international media, the US investment fund TPG (Texas Pacific Group) had acquired a controlling stake in Hasfarm Holdings in a deal valuing the entire corporation at 500 million USD (about 12,700 billion VND)
The 4.6 Trillion VND Deal: Completing the Global Puzzle
In September 2025, a decade after the passing of the late General Director Thomas Hooft, Hasfarm Holdings made a strategic move.
The parent company of Dalat Hasfarm spent 270 million AUD (nearly 4.6 trillion VND) to acquire 100% of Lynch Group, a century-old fresh flower corporation listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX).
According to the 2024 financial report, Lynch Group (before the acquisition) recorded revenue of 397.7 million AUD (about 6,680 billion VND).
FLOWERHQ – Lynch Group’s Flower Shop Chain
This M&A deal holds great synergistic significance. Lynch Group is not only a company with a long history but also the largest integrated fresh flower wholesaler in Australia, owning a vast distribution network to large retail supermarket chains – a channel that many producers aim to access.
Strategically, this acquisition brings mutually beneficial results. Hasfarm Holdings immediately gains market share and distribution channels in Australia while strengthening its presence in China. Conversely, Lynch Group solves its supply equation by directly accessing Dalat Hasfarm’s large-scale production centers in Vietnam, thus ensuring a stable supply for major retailers.
The legacy of the founder is the clearest testament that a Vietnamese enterprise can conquer the global market. More than just building a company, the late entrepreneur Thomas Hooft transformed a highland region into one of the region’s flower export hubs, propelling the brand of “Dalat flowers” beyond national borders.
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