A young Vietnamese entrepreneur makes waves with Koi breeding startup

In a quiet village in central Vietnam, Le Minh Duc, 26, has turned his passion for ornamental fish into a promising startup, the first Koi breeding farm in the region, and it’s already making quite a splash.

From wind power to Koi ponds

Duc once had a stable job at a wind power construction company. But the pull of home and a lifelong fascination with ornamental fish proved stronger. In 2023, he left the city to start a koi breeding farm in his hometown of My Thuy commune, Quang Tri Province.

Le Minh Duc (R) discusses techniques for breeding juvenile Koi fish. Photo: L.A

Duc’s journey was not without hardship. Motivated by a lifelong passion for ornamental fish, he invested in more than 400 Koi fingerlings imported from China in 2023. Within four months, nearly all of them died, a devastating loss caused by his lack of experience in feeding, water treatment, and managing toxic gas buildup in the pond.Instead of abandoning the idea, Duc turned the failure into a lesson. Over time, he mastered key breeding and pond management techniques, from artificial spawning to water treatment and disease control.Now fully self-reliant, Duc selects high-quality parent fish for breeding, maintains automated feeding systems, and carefully monitors water conditions in his well-equipped pond.

Turning passion into success

Today, with an 800-square-meter pond and more than 30,000 fingerlings sold each season, Duc is generating significant income and attracting attention throughout the region.Duc shared that he currently releases over 70,000 koi fry per cycle, and after about three months of care, he is able to harvest around 30,000 juvenile koi fish, each measuring between 10 to 20 cm. To promote his koi brand, Duc not only sells directly from his home but also regularly livestreams on social media platforms such as Facebook and TikTok to reach a wider audience.His fish command a wide range of prices depending on size and color patterns, from VND 250,000 -400,000(US$10-15)/kg for standard fish to VND 800,000 - 4 million (US$30 – 153) each for premium-grade Koi. Duc’s clientele includes fish hobbyists across Quang Tri and nearby provinces, and he actively shares breeding tips through social media to build a community of enthusiasts.“I’m currently targeting the mass market,”said Duc. “Not just for collectors, but for anyone with a passion.”

Scaling up for the tuture

Although profitable, Duc admits koi breeding demands meticulous care. He performs daily checks on water quality, prevents disease outbreaks, and ensures the pond environment remains clean. The fish’s market value depends heavily on vibrant color patterns, which are in turn influenced by clean water and proper nutrition.

Agricultural engineer Tran Nan, head of the Hai Lang agricultural extension station, said Duc’s koi breeding model is the first in the area and has initially shown high economic efficiency. The value of a koi fish depends not only on color but also on farming time and weight. Looking ahead, Duc plans to expand his farm with two additional ponds and import purebred F1 Japanese Koi, targeting a broader and more discerning customer base.With vision, resilience, and a bit of luck, Le Minh Duc is not just raising fish, he’s also cultivating a new livelihood model for rural Vietnam.

Le An - Lien Ha