Phu Cuong Food Processing Co., Ltd: More Than 30 Years of Building Clean Food Standards

As Hai Phong advances its effort to shape “new development spaces” and position itself as an industrial, logistics, and high-tech hub of the Northern Coastal region, many enterprises have helped lay the groundwork for this transformation. Among them are enduring names distinguished by the depth of their contributions. A representative example is Phu Cuong Food Processing Co., Ltd., where for more than 30 years, Nguyen Thi Ngan, a businesswoman now in her seventies, has devoted herself to building a humane, high-quality agricultural model that meets international standards in Hai Phong City.

Phu Cuong’s booth at the exhibition of national achievements celebrating the 80th anniversary of the National Day, Dong Anh, Hanoi

Coming from the construction sector and drawing on the resilience of an air force soldier’s wife, Ngan built the enterprise herself beginning in 1993. From the outset, she chose a demanding path: clean production, high technology, and transparent traceability, approaches that were considered highly challenging at a time when Vietnamese agriculture remained fragmented.

Unconventional approach to create superior value

During a visit to the 75-ha high-tech agricultural zone in Area A1, Phu Lien ward, Professor Nguyen Lan Dung, one of Vietnam’s leading agricultural scientists, made a remark that the professional community continues to recall: “Ngan’s approach to agriculture is unlike anyone else’s, yet that very difference creates values that everyone must learn from.”

Ngan’s closed-loop farming, processing, and environmental control model has long attracted scientists from the United States, Australia, Russia, Thailand, and other countries. They have given strong assessments of the strictly applied water, air, and soil monitoring system; VietGAP-compliant farming zones; two processing plants, each nearly 2 ha, meeting HACCP standards; and modern production lines capable of meeting export requirements for the most demanding markets.

For this reason, in previous years, Phu Cuong products such as instant noodles, seasoning powder, beverages, confectionery, and seafood were present in the United States, Australia, Russia, and Thailand. By adhering to international standards from the outset, the company has continued to maintain a stable domestic market amid global volatility.

The sustainable value of Phu Cuong does not lie in charter capital of hundreds of billions of VND or hundreds of thousands of square meters of modern factories, but in a philosophy that Ngan has upheld for more than 30 years: “The joy of food producers lies in the health of consumers.”

This philosophy governs every decision of the company, from selecting clean raw materials and prioritizing high technology to ensuring employee welfare and placing ethics first. As a result, Phu Cuong, with only about 50 employees, continues to maintain high productivity and a corporate culture that has kept many families connected across three generations.

Notably, the company has pioneered the extraction and spray-drying of Cordyceps using automated mist-spraying technology on internationally compliant production lines, opening a new direction in the functional food and nutrition sector.

Beyond business activities, Ngan and the company have proactively participated in many charitable efforts, including support for farmers in disaster-affected areas, scholarships for disadvantaged students, participation in local social welfare programs, and free technical assistance for many production models facing difficulties.

In her view, “If agriculture is pursued only for profit, it will be very small. If agriculture is pursued for people, the path will be very wide.” This spirit has shaped the image of a “green-hearted” enterprise, where economic development is linked with social responsibility, growth with fairness, and success with humanity.

Linkage strategy and Hai Phong’s aspiration to build a green agricultural ecosystem

Phu Cuong does not stand alone. Over many years, it has built close linkages with farmers, cooperatives, and upstream and downstream enterprises across the Northern Coastal region to form a sustainable clean agricultural and food supply chain. The 75-ha zone not only serves production but also provides a foundation for developing green agricultural tourism, creating a rare model in Hai Phong that integrates experience, learning, and ecology.

Ngan’s vision extends further. She is nurturing plans to develop an international-standard retirement complex within this ecological agricultural zone, a symbol of agriculture connected with human welfare and a “future legacy” for the next generation.

One of the most moving moments in Phu Cuong’s journey came during the company’s 30th anniversary celebration, when a small girl stepped on the stage. Ngan’s granddaughter, Le Binh Minh, then nine years old and a third-grade student at Vinschool International School in Hai Phong, confidently stepped onto the podium to speak about family tradition, her pride in her grandmother, and her dream of continuing the clean food mission. Many saw in her the image of Ngan at the start of her career: resilient, principled, and full of aspiration.

In the 2025-2030 period, as Hai Phong moves toward becoming a regional food processing and export center, Phu Cuong is preparing to enter a new development cycle: expanding Cordyceps-based products, restarting exports, inviting cooperation in a 40,000 square meter factory complex, developing experiential agriculture and green tourism, and building an international-standard retirement complex. This marks the next step following 30 years of “Doing right, doing clean, doing sustainably.”

Through persistent contributions, the company and entrepreneur Nguyen Thi Ngan have received many prestigious awards from the Party and the State, along with a wide range of domestic and international certificates and certifications for Phu Cuong’s product lines. In particular, the First-Class Labor Order has provided due recognition for a journey of commitment, innovation, and service to Vietnamese agriculture. These achievements reflect diligent work, disciplined governance, and the steadfast resolve of leadership in the face of market fluctuations.

Phu Cuong, like its founder, is not ostentatious but solid, demonstrating that in Hai Phong’s new era of development, humane values continue to serve as a foundation for moving toward a brighter future.

By Ha Thanh, Vietnam Business Forum