Pet care services take off in Vietnam
Pet care services are sprouting up across Vietnam, and bring good earnings for those catering to the growing trend for pet ownership among the young.
Nguyen Thuy Linh, 23, who graduated from University of Trade Unions' business administration faculty last May, said her parents wanted her to work in a bank or for a state agency, but she decided instead to open a pet spa.
Her shop, on Hanoi’s Giang Vo Street, provides general care services such as grooming, as well as offering accessories such as jeweled collars for dogs and cats.
Linh was given a puppy as a student by her boyfriend as a birthday present and was smitten. After graduation, she decided to travel to China to attend a course on pet beauty care to better look after her own pets, but when she returned to Vietnam, she saw a great potential for pet care services.
Her own dogs have had many puppies, which she has sold to good owners, but her main business has attracted a solid customer base after three months and she takes care of five to seven dogs a day, earning her about VND60-70m a month. As her business grew, she has hired and trained staff.
“It requires great passion and love of pets, as well as skill, to work in this field," Linh said. "This is a really hard job as we are busy all the time and rarely have time to stop to eat or rest."
Hoang Anh, from northern Nam Dinh Province’s Y Yen District, who owns a dog grooming shop in HCM City, said the demand for pet care services is increasing as more people adopt animals as pets.
“Many pet owners often do not know how to properly care for their animals, so they need our help,” said Hoang Anh.