Selling his motorbike for just 2.5 million VND to fund his startup, Nguyễn Văn Huỳnh experimented with creating a multifunctional stove that utilizes firewood and straw, providing a cost-effective alternative to electric and gas water heaters for local families.
The solution developed by Nguyễn Văn Huỳnh (29 years old), an ethnic Tày – Director of the Huỳnh Phát Agricultural Service Cooperative (Yên Bái) – is a firewood stove that heats water, replacing electric, gas, and solar water heaters, making it suitable for rural areas.
Huỳnh explained that the stove operates on the principle of natural heat retention, designed to replace the traditional three-legged stove, connecting a system of pipes to an insulated tank located above. When a family cooks rice or soup, heat energy is absorbed from the stove and transferred to the insulated tank. This energy can heat water in just 5 to 7 minutes, and the insulated tank retains heat for up to 48 hours.
“The stove may not be modern, but it is very suitable for rural and mountainous communities where firewood and coal are still used, and it incurs no monthly costs compared to using electricity or gas,” Huỳnh shared.
The Huỳnh Phát stove product is installed for rural residents in Yên Bái. (Photo: NVCC).
As the youngest of five siblings in An Thịnh, Văn Yên, a mountainous district in northern Yên Bái province, Huỳnh’s idea stemmed from his challenging childhood, where children endured cold winters without the luxury of warm baths. He recalls winter nights spent huddled around a stove, struggling with damp firewood and smoky air, leading him to find ways to conserve wood and reduce smoke while maximizing the stove’s heat efficiency. With a curious mind, Huỳnh repurposed scrap materials such as tin, iron pipes, and hoses to meticulously weld together his designs. For four years, he tirelessly experimented, discarding old models to create new ones, refining every detail. In 2012, the first model was completed, but Huỳnh put it on hold to pursue his studies and then worked in the commune for two years.
In 2014, Huỳnh was determined to return to his project. He finished the stove casing made from stainless steel, employing natural convection principles to utilize about 80% of the heat from the insulated tank. The challenge was to design a stove that consumed minimal fuel and produced less smoke while maximizing heat output.
Huỳnh explained that An Thịnh is an area with abundant cinnamon cultivation, leading to plenty of byproducts from the cinnamon tree. He adapted the principles of essential oil distillation from cinnamon to suit small households. When the first stove “rolled out,” Huỳnh’s mother joyfully invited neighbors to bring water to heat.
Word spread quickly, and Huỳnh’s multifunctional stove gained popularity among nearby households, dormitories, and even teachers in the area who placed orders. “Not only am I happy to earn money to support my family, but the product also helps make life easier for my community, which brings me joy,” Huỳnh said.
Starting a business at just 22 with nothing but determination, Huỳnh admitted he lacked knowledge and experience in both business and market dynamics. In the beginning, he sold his motorbike for 2.5 million VND and borrowed more funds to cover initial costs. The young entrepreneur took on multiple roles, from director to security, sales, and technical installation. In 2016, the Huỳnh Phát stove was commercialized, and by 2018, a factory was established for mass production.
From just a few employees, the Huỳnh Phát Agricultural Service Cooperative gradually expanded its production scale and business to six products, including the firewood-heated stove; herbal infusion bath system; hot and cold cooking pot system; distillation pot for alcohol; and a hot and cold rice hull stove. After eight years, the products dominated the market mainly in the Northeast and Northwest regions, with two manufacturing facilities, six contract points, 26 specialized dealers, and nearly 40 workers.
“Over 18,000 Huỳnh Phát product sets have been distributed across various provinces, and in 2021, the total revenue of the entire system reached 12 billion VND,” Huỳnh shared, adding that he would continue to pursue his passion and provide useful products to improve the lives of rural communities still facing many challenges.
The creator of the hot and cold stove, Nguyễn Văn Huỳnh. (Photo: NVCC).
The Deputy Chairman of the commune, Nguyễn Văn Chi, stated that while An Thinh is a central commune with a lower usage rate of firewood stoves, Huỳnh Phát stoves are highly favored in neighboring communes. He noted that the stove is suitable for rural communities, particularly where many families face economic hardships, allowing them to utilize available and inexpensive resources like firewood, sawdust, straw, and rice husk to have hot water conveniently for daily activities. Mr. Chi acknowledged Huỳnh’s dynamism and creativity, which has created jobs for locals while helping to enrich the homeland.
With his innovative contributions to improving living standards and economic development, Nguyễn Văn Huỳnh has become the youngest recipient of the title of Agricultural Scientist of the Year 2022, awarded by the Central Vietnam Farmers’ Association in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
