Nguyen Van Minh was born in 1969 and grew up in the boat‑building community of Duc Minh Commune. He learned carpentry when he was young, so his story shows how a traditional craft can change.

In 1993, demand for wooden boats fell, and Minh decided to specialize in building houses from jackfruit wood. He then founded the Minh Mit carpentry workshop, which now makes wooden houses that cost from VND400 million to several billion dong.

The workshop now employs about 15 to 50 skilled workers. These workers earn between VND15 million and VND35 million each month.

Customers from Ha Tinh and other provinces ask the workshop to build family clan worship houses and other wooden structures. Minh’s change from boats to houses created new jobs and a successful business.