(VOVworld) - Almost everyone in Hai Trieu commune, Hung Yen province, knows farmer Do Van Duc. They appreciate him for being active in business and a role model in teaching his children. VOV’s Personality of the Week segment profiles this industrious man.

Mr. Duc says his motto is to shirk no difficulty or hardship to help his children. Like many other young men in his village, in 1974 Duc joined the army when he was just 19 years old. His unit marched to the central highlands Buon Me Thuat battlefield and then participated in the historic battle to liberate Sai Gon city in 1975. Duc was luckier than many of his comrades, suffering just a few minor wounds. He was demobilized when the country was reunified, and returned home healthy.

Life was difficult because he had no land and no vocation. He got married to a local girl and the couple managed to escape poverty. Duc said the will of a solider enabled him to carry on. "We got married and had children. Life was really tough under the subsidy policy. We tried to overcome obstacles to improve our lives. We raised some pigs and cows. Then we’re able to buy a piece of land."

Duc and his wife worked hard believing that “many a little makes a mickle”. From one pig, they now have a herd of pigs and cows. Nguyen Thi Mau, Duc’s wife says: "We now have 30 pigs, 20 piglets, and 4 cows. At first, we had one animal. When we had some savings, we expanded our production. The pigs gave some piglets and the cows gave some calves. We also cultivated several hectares of rice."

Duc recalls hard times when he had to move heaven and earth to support his family. "I took the piglets to the market to sell one by one for around 50 cents each. That was 30 years ago," Duc says.

Animal raising depends on uncontrollable factors such as the weather and epidemics. Duc says he lost less than others because of his experience, since he had worked at the army’s animal farms. "When the country was reunified, I worked at some military farms in Lang Son, Xuan Mai, and Hoa Binh. I visited a cow farm and wanted some cows to pull a plough. But I realized that farming was becoming mechanized. So I decided to develop husbandry. I like raising animals. I can’t be a merchant." 

Duc said he works day and night to earn an average of 2,000 USD per month. Duc again: "It’s sufficient. I do everything to afford my children’s lives, not to become rich. I’ve often had sleepless nights because I was thinking of my children. Now, my sons have their own families. They are all hard working.

Duc says his children’s industrious, dutiful, decent lives constitute his and his wife’s happiness. He has always taught his children that the key to success is to be enthusiastic and passionate in everything you do.