A study by Development Economics and YouGov reveals that 4 out of 5 Vietnamese women aspire to start their own businesses. However, they face significant challenges in accessing capital due to not owning property deeds, lacking collateral, or having no proof of income. Additionally, research from Kantar & Google shows that 73% of Vietnamese women admit to lacking the necessary business skills and expertise.
Starting from Scratch
Ms. Hoàng Bích Ngọc from Lạng Sơn spent years experimenting with various home-based livestock models, all of which ended in failure. Family setbacks further compounded her struggles. “In 2018, my family experienced a fire, and my child had to undergo emergency appendicitis surgery. My pigs died from African swine fever, and when I switched to ducks, 5,000 of them perished overnight due to avian flu. I desperately wanted to improve our finances but saw no way out,” Ms. Ngọc recounted, her voice filled with emotion.
For Ms. Trần Thị Như Hoa from Nghệ An, despite her simple dream of a sustainable livelihood, health issues and a lack of professional skills forced her to begin her journey “from scratch.”
“Finding suitable employment as a disabled woman is no easy feat. With no capital or experience, I tried selling fruit and applying for sales jobs, but my poor health led to repeated rejections. At one point, I even considered placing my child in a social welfare center to ease their burden,” Ms. Hoa shared.
Empowering Women to Dream Bigger for Themselves and Their Communities
Since 2007, the “New Beginnings” program has provided comprehensive support, including vocational training, improved access to capital, and inspiration for women to pursue their passions and achieve financial independence.
“New Beginnings” marked a turning point for many women, including Ms. Hoàng Bích Ngọc, a participant in the “Vietnamese Women Confident in Business” training course in Lạng Sơn. In 2022, after a series of failures and a devastating fire, Ms. Ngọc was left with only 200,000 VND. Determined to break free from poverty, she decided to enroll in the program.
After completing the course, Ms. Ngọc boldly entered the “When Women Take Charge” competition organized by Unilever and VTV, where she won second place. Following her success, she established a livestock and forestry cooperative with 50 local women.
“I’m thrilled that this model has created jobs for women in our village. Many sisters have entrepreneurial ideas but don’t know where to start. The training programs by Unilever and the Women’s Union have given rural women the opportunity to gain knowledge, find direction, and take control of their economic futures,” Ms. Ngọc said.
“With the support of ‘New Beginnings,’ I now believe that even as an ethnic minority woman, a farmer with only a basket and indigo clothing, I can still shine,” Ms. Hoàng Bích Ngọc added.
Alongside vocational training, “New Beginnings” helps women access startup capital. Ms. Trần Thị Như Hoa transformed her small tailoring shop with one sewing machine and an ironing board into a workshop employing over 20 people after winning a Unilever award for applying environmentally friendly technology. This achievement is a testament to her tireless efforts to create jobs for disabled women.
Today, Ms. Hoa not only enjoys a stable income but also dreams of improving the lives of disadvantaged women. Driven by empathy, she studied pedagogy and sign language to teach tailoring to disabled women. Her cooperative trains 25-30 women annually, helping them enhance their skills and generate their own income.
A Relentless Journey Toward Women’s Empowerment
The stories of Ms. Ngọc and Ms. Hoa are just two of the thousands supported by Unilever over nearly 20 years.
Unilever Vietnam chose to focus on women because it recognizes their immense potential. When women succeed, they uplift their entire communities. However, challenges in accessing capital, acquiring skills, and overcoming self-doubt and societal biases hinder their progress. Since 2007, Unilever has partnered with the Vietnam Women’s Union to implement the comprehensive “New Beginnings” program, supporting women in building sustainable livelihoods.
After nearly 20 years, the program has demonstrated remarkable success. To date, it has trained over 90,000 women nationwide in business startup skills, provided non-refundable startup capital for 167 projects totaling 2.75 billion VND, and facilitated over 50,000 microfinance loans through partnerships with the Women’s Union in eight provinces. These efforts have inspired more than 30 million Vietnamese women. Unilever is committed to continuing its support, ensuring that stories like those of Ms. Bích Ngọc and Ms. Như Hoa become not just dreams, but realities.
