Vietnam's Traditional Medicine Needs a 'Revolution' in Thinking

Vietnam is blessed with a rich heritage of traditional medicine, accumulated over thousands of years, and abundant medicinal plant resources. However, a paradox exists: much of these resources are exported as raw materials, while high-value medicines are imported. Despite possessing thousands of medicinal plants, the number of products competitive in the international market remains extremely limited. The root cause of this issue, experts argue, lies not in the plants themselves but in the "thinking" or approach to their utilization. The current practice of merely describing their functions based on experience, such as "tonifying qi" or "clearing heat," is insufficient in the era of molecular biology and precision medicine. The world needs to know which active compounds create these effects, their biological mechanisms, which molecular targets they affect, and how their efficacy and safety are proven. This is not about negating tradition but about elevating it through science. No medical system thrives on mere belief; advanced systems are built on evidence. If Vietnam remains content with what ancestors left behind without rigorous research, standardization, verification, and innovation, this valuable legacy risks losing its worth in a global landscape where all medical products are evaluated by scientific data. A "revolution" is thus necessary. This revolution should encompass training, enabling traditional medicine practitioners to understand not only medicinal plants but also molecular biology, immunology, pharmacology, and even artificial intelligence (AI). Research must shift focus from describing plants to elucidating mechanisms of action, identifying active ingredients, developing new drugs, and building clinical evidence. Production should move away from substandard products to stable, quality-controlled preparations that meet international standards. Above all, a revolution in thinking is paramount: conducting research not to prove pre-existing beliefs but to discover the truth. By embracing scientific scrutiny, traditional medicine can develop sustainably. Truly effective remedies will be validated, and inaccurate experiences will be refined. This is not the loss of tradition but its strengthening. The ultimate goal of this revolution is not to generate more scientific papers but to create safer, more effective, and more valuable medicines for patients. Success should be measured not by the number of recorded medicinal plants but by the number of products trusted by society and recognized by global medicine. Vietnam has been gifted a rare treasure trove of medicinal resources. The current generation bears the responsibility to transform this resource into knowledge, technology, and globally valuable products. Failure to do so would mean remaining mere custodians of a treasure whose exploitation methods are unknown. Vietnam's traditional medicine requires not a minor improvement but a revolution. A revolution that places science as its foundation, patients at its center, innovation as its driving force, and truly valuable products as its measure of success. Only then can traditional medicine transcend its past pride and become a force for the future.