HONECO Introduces Vietnamese Honey Globally
For over 20 years, the Tam Dao Bee Corporation (HONECO) has been dedicated to beekeeping in Vietnam, bringing "made in Vietnam" honey and various medicinal products to countries around the world. The journey of HONECO in establishing Vietnamese honey on the international map began with their message of "Refinement from Nature".
In 1993, Le Thi Nga, a biology teacher in Huong Loc, Vinh Phuc Province, witnessed the generations of her husband's family who were engaged in beekeeping. Intrigued by the potential of honeybee products, she joined the research of products for the Vinh Phuc Honey Cooperative. With her background in biology, Nga aimed to use honey effectively in people’s daily lives, exploring its use in various medicinal products working with her husband's family.
In 2002, the Tam Dao Bee Corporation was established in Vinh Phuc, providing much-needed support for beekeepers. HONECO focused on breeding bee colonies, expanding beekeeping farms nationwide, and training thousands of Vietnamese farmers in beekeeping techniques. Their efforts paid off when, in 2010, they built a state-of-the-art honey processing plant meeting international standards. This facility had the largest production capacity in Vietnam, producing an impressive 500tons of honey per month. HONECO became the first in the beekeeping industry to establish a quality assurance lab for honey, paving the way for FDA certification in the United States.
Today, HONECO offers nearly 50 premium honey products that are exported to various countries, including the EU, the US, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland, and Singapore. These products showcase advanced technological products, such as Tacumin, curcumin honey, Tam Dao kumquat honey, passion fruit honey, and kumquat ginger lemongrass honey. Additionally, HONECO produces royal jelly, which has gained popularity globally.
According to HONECO General Director Le Thi Nga, passion fruit honey is the first product she researched. The idea of mixing honey with passion fruit juice came across her mind when she cared of her child who used to have coughs. It is easier to drink when mixing honey with the fruit juice. Passion fruit honey has so far been a major product of HONECO which is exported to Singapore and is available at the Hao mart chain in this country.
Beyond their commitment to producing high-quality honey, HONECO touched the lives of individuals facing health challenges. One heartwarming story involves a customer undergoing stomach cancer treatment who found solace in a mix of turmeric and honey.
Witnessing the positive impact, HONECO introduced the Tacumin honey product to aid in patient care. This product has received recognition in Vinh Phuc's "Vietnam’s Creative Golden Book" and is now being produced extensively to fill export orders, reaching destinations like Dubai and South Korea.
HONECO's dedication to quality and innovation has made them the number one honey exporter in Vietnam, symbolizing trust in high-quality Vietnamese honey products globally. For raw honey, the corporation exports 60tons per year to South Korea and Germany and 80tons per year to the US and receives many orders from Switzerland, Dubai, and Japan.
Nguyen Van Truong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of HONECO, said that in the next three years, HONECO aims to export 70% of its products internationally and establish a "Beekeeping Experience Tour" in Vietnam, creating the "herbal honey path" for international tourists exploring Vietnam. Recently, the China Kunming ASEAN International Trade and Investment Promotion Association signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with HONECO to distribute honey products throughout the Chinese and Asian markets, further affirming the quality of HONECO's honey: illuminating Vietnam's honey with its golden quality on the world map
Story: Bich Van Photos: Viet Cuong/VNP & Files Translated by Hong Hanh