Cinnamon Van Yen: Northwest Forest Fragrance and National Brand

Van Yen cinnamon, a famous agricultural product of Yen Bai province, has long become an indispensable part of the economic and cultural life of ethnic groups in the Northwest, especially the Dao, Mong and Tay people.

Van Yen - the land known as the "cinnamon capital of Vietnam", where the green cinnamon forests stretch across the hillsides, containing the characteristic breath of the Northwest mountains and forests. Cinnamon is not only an economic crop but also the soul of the land, the way of life, the cultural identity of the Dao, Tay, and Mong ethnic communities that have been together for many generations.

Van Yen has more than 55,000 hectares of cinnamon growing area, of which over 30,000 hectares are concentrated cinnamon areas, more than 7,000 hectares have international organic cinnamon certification. The whole district has nearly 200 establishments processing and trading cinnamon products, creating a continuous value chain from cultivation, harvesting to processing and consumption. Van Yen cinnamon has truly become a "green lifeline" contributing significantly to socio-economic development, increasing income for thousands of mountainous households.

Since 2010, “Que Van Yen” has been granted a Certificate of Geographical Indication Registration No. 00018 by the Department of Intellectual Property, with the People’s Committee of Van Yen district as the managing agency. This is a milestone affirming the value and reputation of the endemic product of the Northwest region. This geographical indication is protected not only thanks to its special natural conditions – cool climate, high humidity, nutrient-rich feralit soil layer, but also because of its outstanding cinnamon essential oil content, high refractive index, rich aroma and rare mild spicy taste.

Every year, Van Yen supplies the market with thousands of tons of cinnamon products in many different forms: dried cinnamon bark, cinnamon leaves, cinnamon wood, cinnamon essential oil, along with exquisite handicrafts and souvenirs. Many Van Yen cinnamon products have reached the international market, present in Japan, Korea, China, India, North America and Europe, not only as raw materials, but also in the form of drinks, tea, essential oils, decorative products and functional foods.

Thanks to cinnamon trees, the lives of Van Yen people are increasingly improving. From small-scale farming households, many families have now developed into small businesses and cooperatives growing organic cinnamon associated with deep processing. Solid houses, concrete roads winding through cinnamon hills, trucks loaded with fresh cinnamon bark are proof of a life that is changing. Cinnamon not only provides a livelihood, but also brings pride in indigenous knowledge and the sustainable development of the highland people.

However, the development journey of Van Yen cinnamon still faces many challenges. The export market still depends on intermediate orders, prices are not stable; processing technology in many facilities is still limited; the utilization of by-products such as cinnamon leaves, branches, and wood is still ineffective. Some cinnamon essential oil enterprises still face difficulties in consumption due to market fluctuations, causing production efficiency to not reach expectations.

To overcome these difficulties, Van Yen district is promoting the connection of cinnamon value chain - from households, cooperatives, processing enterprises to distribution and export units. At the same time, the district focuses on developing organic cinnamon material areas, improving the application of science and technology in processing, diversifying products (essential oils, cosmetics, handicrafts, herbal teas, high-class spices), enhancing trade promotion and promoting brands at fairs and exhibitions at home and abroad.

Another sustainable direction is to build the brand "Que Van Yen" associated with eco -tourism and indigenous culture, bringing tourists to experience the scent of cinnamon, visit craft villages, learn about the processing process, and enjoy the typical products of the Northwest cinnamon forest.

Today, Van Yen Cinnamon is not only a crop, not only an agricultural product, but also a cultural symbol of the Northwest region, a national brand that is affirming its position on the map of Vietnamese agricultural products. Each slice of cinnamon, each drop of essential oil is the crystallization of nature, intelligence and the hands of the people. Each exported cinnamon product is a flavor of the Northwest land and sky spreading across five continents.

With the continuous efforts of the government, businesses and people, Que Van Yen is gradually conquering the international market, worthy of being the pride of Yen Bai in particular and Vietnam in general — a green, sustainable brand with strong national identity.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/que-van-yen-huong-rung-tay-bac-va-thuong-hieu-quoc-gia-19725101409552309.htm