Muong female students turn homegrown plants into award-winning creative project

Two Muong students, Phung Thi Minh An and Ha Thi Ngoc Hoa of class 8B at Tan Son District Boarding Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, have developed a project using natural ingredients to treat body odor—a practical and meaningful initiative aimed at improving health and quality of life in mountainous areas. The project was selected to represent the school at the 2025 Phu Tho Province Youth and Children’s Creativity Contest.

Two Muong female students present their project at the Youth Creativity Contest.

One summer morning, under the bright sun in their schoolyard, the two young Muong girls—dressed in traditional attire—were busy rehearsing their presentation. Beneath the table, trays of natural ingredients were neatly arranged. Their hands moved with purpose, their voices clear and confident. Though the work was demanding, the results brought them joy and pride.

Their project, in the category of environmentally friendly products, does not rely on advanced laboratories or synthetic chemicals. Instead, the ingredients are simple, familiar, and locally sourced: fragrant coconuts, lemons, betel leaves, and warming cinnamon bark. With skill and creativity, the students transformed what might otherwise be discarded into essential oils—coconut oil, cinnamon oil, lemon extract, and betel leaf essence—that nourish the skin, combat body odor, and promote wellness in their mountainous community.

All the materials were harvested from wild and homegrown fruit trees in their own gardens.

Ms. Dinh Trung Tuyen, homeroom teacher of class 8B and the inspiration behind the project, shared her motivation: “We chose this topic to make use of the natural materials available in our locality to create handicrafts. Most of our students come from mountainous communes with difficult economic conditions, so the project had to be practical and cost-effective.” Her words reflect both an understanding of her students’ backgrounds and a clear vision for a project that offers sustainable social and economic benefits.

Body odor treatment products made from natural essential oils.

More than just a school science project, the initiative embodies the spirit of the Youth and Children’s Creativity Contest—encouraging students to explore, innovate, and apply their knowledge to real-world issues. Through the processes of research, experimentation, distillation, and product development, Minh An and Ngoc Hoa have gained valuable skills in teamwork and critical thinking. At the same time, they’ve nurtured a passion for science and a growing sense of responsibility to their community.

In the delicate drops of essential oil distilled by these young students from Tan Son, we see more than just a physical product—we feel the pulse of creativity, the determination, and the dreams of a new generation. It is a beautiful and meaningful story about tapping into local potential, transforming the most ordinary things into practical value, and enriching the homeland of Phu Tho.

Thuy Trang