Da Nang Boosts Medicinal Plant Industry Centered on Ngoc Linh Ginseng

Da Nang city in central Vietnam is accelerating the development of its medicinal plant industry by leveraging its abundant resources, particularly the valuable Ngoc Linh Ginseng. The city is focusing on the potential of over 1,000 medicinal plant species, aiming to build a comprehensive value chain that covers research and development, cultivation, processing, and market expansion. Da Nang is creating a favorable environment for the growth of the medicinal plant industry by utilizing its geographical advantages, transportation infrastructure, logistics, commerce, and tourism. This includes preserving genetic resources, developing cultivation areas, advanced processing, quality control, and expanding sales channels both domestically and internationally. In addition to Ngoc Linh Ginseng, native species such as Dang Sam, Ba Kich, and Giao Co Lam are expected to become key raw materials for the processing industry due to their high medicinal and economic value. The Vietnamese government has approved programs for the development of Vietnamese Ngoc Linh Ginseng up to 2030 and 2045, and a plan for the development of the medicinal plant industry in Quang Nam province (with Ngoc Linh Ginseng as the main product), positioning Da Nang as a crucial hub in this national strategy. Furthermore, the Da Nang City People's Council has approved a budget of VND 136.4 billion (approximately USD 5.4 million) for the period 2026-2030 to encourage the conservation and development of Ngoc Linh Ginseng and other medicinal plants. This policy targets a wide range of stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, and cooperatives, aiming to contribute to the preservation of precious genetic resources, the development of concentrated cultivation areas, increased income for mountain residents, and forest protection. The city is also strengthening initiatives to popularize Ngoc Linh Ginseng products among consumers. In early July, an exhibition and sale of Ngoc Linh Ginseng and high-quality medicinal plant products was held in the city center, attracting many citizens and tourists. This event also served as a platform for providing information on product origins, quality, and how to identify genuine products. Plans are underway to hold similar events regularly every month, creating a stable commercial promotion platform for businesses to continuously advertise their products. Additionally, an International Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival is scheduled for early August to promote health tourism and attract investment in the medicinal plant sector. Da Nang's Department of Industry and Trade is committed to closely coordinating with relevant departments to improve the quality of commercial promotion activities, diversify supply-demand linkages, and contribute to the development of the domestic market and the efficiency of production and business operations. At the same time, it calls on businesses and cooperatives to enhance product quality, build brands, ensure traceability, display prices transparently, and adhere to commercial etiquette. Source: Nhan Dan