Hanoi (VNA) – The central province of Quang Nam is set to become a hub for the medicinal plant industry, with Ngoc Linh ginseng designated as the core crop, under the Prime Minister's decision issued earlier this year.
The move aims to create a large-scaled, modern, and closed-loop centre encompassing research, cultivation, deep processing, and commercialisation of medicinal plants.
Unlocking potential for stronger development
Vietnam boasts a rich diversity of medicinal plants, with over 5,000 species known for their therapeutic properties. However, the country's herbal medicine sector has yet to fully tap into this potential. Most activities remain focused on raw material exploitation with low added value, limiting the industry’s competitiveness in the global market.
According to the Ministry of Health, the central coastal and Central Highlands regions are home to numerous valuable medicinal plants with high economic and medical potential. Notably, Ngoc Linh ginseng, known as a “national treasure”, is considered one of the rarest and most precious ginseng varieties in the world, endemic to Ngoc Linh Mountain spanning Quang Nam and Kon Tum provinces.
Ngoc Linh ginseng is currently found within a narrow ecological zone around the peak of Ngoc Linh Mountain. It grows under the canopy of primary forests across Nam Tra My district (Quang Nam), and Dak Glei and Tu Mo Rong districts (Kon Tum). In Quang Nam, the ginseng has already been successfully transplanted to seven out of 10 communes in Nam Tra My district.
Nam Tra My district has completed procedures for leasing forest environment for Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation, covering a total area of over 800 ha.
Meanwhile, in Kon Tum, nearly 3,000 ha of land has been dedicated to Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation. This province is developing a hi-tech centre for propagating, conserving, and developing medicinal plants in Tu Mo Rong district, covering an area of about 60 ha.
Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam provincial People's Committee Ho Quang Buu said that in recent years, several businesses have invested in producing various products from Ngoc Linh ginseng such as candies, tea, and nutritional supplements.
Notably, alongside encouraging local residents to expand the ginseng cultivation area, Nam Tra My authorities have paid attention to promoting trade and expanding the market for this valuable plant. In addition to monthly markets and an annual ginseng festival, the district has adopted policies to support and attract companies and business households to engage in deep processing of Ngoc Linh ginseng products. Thanks to these efforts, most of the district’s 25 provincial-level OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items rated three or four stars are made from Ngoc Linh ginseng.
Establishing production and business chain
Quang Nam has drawn up plans to establish a medicinal plant industry centre as part of efforts to realise the Government’s vision.
The PM-approved plan aims to comprehensively develop material zones and systems for processing, production, and trading while promoting scientific research so as to gradually transform Quang Nam into the country's leading hub for the medicinal plant industry. It also seeks to unlock the potential of Ngoc Linh ginseng as a national product, as well as other local medicinal plants, thereby helping turn Vietnam’s medicinal plant industry into a high-value one.
Buu said Quang Nam will coordinate with provinces and cities in the central coastal and Central Highlands regions to devise and implement measures for developing a chain of production, processing, and trading of medicinal plants and related products.
Priority will be given to expanding cultivation areas, with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the key crop along with others that Quang Nam and Kon Tum are strong at such as ba kich (Morinda officinalis How), dang sam (Codonopsis pilosula), and sa nhan tim (Wurfbainia longiligularis).
Quang Nam will also step up research and apply modern technologies to enhance the cultivation and processing of Ngoc Linh ginseng and diversify related products, thus capitalising on the unique value of this national treasure, building a strong brand, and promoting local tourism.
Besides, domestic and international trade promotion activities will be boosted while businesses assisted in marketing herbal products and developing tourism services linked with medicinal plant cultivation, according to the official./.
