What Livestock Does the Can Tho Farmer Raise to Become Vietnam’s Most Outstanding?

Born into a farming family, in 1999, Mr. Tran Hong Quan began exploring aquaculture. Initially, he converted 2,000 square meters of land into ponds for raising soft-shell turtles. After research, Mr. Quan decided to import 2,000 turtle hatchlings from Taiwan, China, for pilot breeding, an investment worth nearly 6 taels of gold at the time.

“Raising turtles isn’t easy, with a loss rate of up to 30%,” Mr. Quan recalls. After two years of persistence, he successfully bred and domesticated turtle hatchlings. The ponds were deepened to 1.5 meters, with a muddy bottom for turtles to burrow, concrete banks, and barriers. Mr. Quan also designed nesting pens in the corners of the ponds, with shaded, damp sand for turtles to lay eggs.

Currently, on 4 hectares, Mr. Quan has invested in 16 interconnected turtle ponds and 1 hectare for wastewater treatment, growing organic rice for additional income.

On average, turtles consume about $200 worth of seafood and golden apple snails daily. A breeding cycle lasts 1.5 to 2 years, with harvesting beginning at 16 months. Despite recent price drops due to reduced restaurant demand, Mr. Quan’s farm maintains stable sales.

“Earlier this September, I sold 12,000 market-ready turtles at an average price of $7.30 per kg, netting a profit of over $85,000 after expenses,” Mr. Quan said.

Mr. Quan revealed that turtles over 36 months old start laying eggs for breeding, from March to August in the lunar calendar. Eggs are collected immediately after laying and incubated in damp sand at 36-38°C during the day and 26-27°C at night, achieving a 95% hatch rate. Substandard eggs are sold at $3.10 per kg (200-220 eggs).

Newly hatched turtles are raised in floating cages with daily water changes and coconut shells for shelter. After 15 days, they are moved to regular ponds. Annually, Mr. Quan supplies 150,000 to 200,000 15-day-old turtle hatchlings to the market.

Along the pond banks, Mr. Quan has planted 140 durian trees, yielding nearly 5 tons annually, earning hundreds of millions of dong.

After over 25 years in turtle farming, Mr. Quan has owned several mutant turtles, some weighing up to 11 kg. These fast-growing turtles are infertile and sold to tourist areas for display.

“Compared to rice and fruit farming, turtle farming offers farmers a better livelihood. I believe in transforming lives through this species,” Mr. Quan said.

On October 1st, speaking with Tien Phong, Mr. Huynh Van Nhan, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and Chairman of the Farmers’ Association of Truong Long Tay Commune, stated that Mr. Tran Hong Quan has long been a “core” figure in the movement of proficient farmers. His model combines turtle farming with rice and durian cultivation.

According to Mr. Nhan, Mr. Quan’s model tightly integrates rice, durian, and turtle farming, creating high and stable economic value. Over the years, his family has consistently earned significant income. Beyond farming, Mr. Quan actively supports fellow farmers in prosperity.

“When someone faces capital challenges, he offers delayed payment for hatchlings, enabling them to develop their households. Mr. Quan’s model has attracted many delegations from within and outside the province for study,” Mr. Nhan said.

Despite price fluctuations, Mr. Quan maintains a large breeding stock, supplying many provinces, ensuring stable income and providing regular employment for about 5 local workers.

Mr. Quan’s achievements have been recognized with numerous awards. Notably, in 2025, he was honored as “Vietnam’s Outstanding Farmer.” Beyond farming, he actively engages in local social and charitable activities.

According to the Farmers’ Association leadership, Mr. Quan’s model is exemplary for replication, promoting diverse and sustainable agricultural development.