Traphaco's Green Health and Path to Preserving Vietnamese Medicinal Herbs

Creating Vietnamese branded products from domestically sourced medicinal herbs.

In the artichoke medicinal herb growing area, Mr. Thào A Từ (Suối Hồ village, Hàm Rồng ward, Sa Pa town, Lào Cai province) wipes away beads of sweat, envisioning a secure future from his 3,000m2 artichoke farm. Having abandoned rice farming, which only yielded 12 million VND per year, to cultivate artichokes, his family now earns six times that amount. “Thirteen years of growing artichokes, plus income from growing vegetables, has allowed my family to support our two children's education. Recently, I even built a spacious house,” Mr. Từ said with a smile.

For many years now, the family of Mr. Má A Máo (Má Tra village, Hàm Rồng ward, Sa Pa town, Lào Cai province) has also seen their lives improve after converting their 0.3-hectare rice field to artichoke cultivation. Mr. Máo shared that previously, his family relied solely on one rice crop per year, earning about 6-7 million VND. Life was always difficult. Thanks to artichoke cultivation, his family now earns approximately 30 million VND annually.

For over 10 years, these highland people have worked with Traphaco to bring Boganic products, extracted from the best active ingredients of Vietnamese medicinal herbs, to consumers.

Sharing about the company's flagship product, which has been its pride for the past 20 years, Ms. Ha said that, in addition to researching and developing formulas to create products distilled from the essence of medicinal herbs from three regions – artichoke from Sa Pa, bitter melon from Phu Yen , and morning glory from Phu Tho – Boganic has also established itself in the hearts of Vietnamese consumers as an effective liver tonic. Boganic has been researched at the National Cancer Hospital, proving its effectiveness in protecting the liver and lowering liver enzymes.

In the artichoke growing region of Sa Pa, with the transfer of seedlings, clean cultivation techniques, and the use of organic fertilizers to create a clean and safe source of medicinal herbs, the harvested artichoke leaves are processed within just 8 hours to preserve the best active ingredients. Having received the National Brand certification 6 times and ranking among the top 10 excellent brands in the "Vietnamese People Prioritize Using Vietnamese Products" campaign, Boganic has affirmed its position as a trusted liver tonic for Vietnamese people.

Following the launch of Hoat Huyet Duong Nao (a product that has received National Brand certification for many years), the introduction of Boganic has been a driving force for Traphaco to simultaneously develop three medicinal herb growing areas according to GACP-WHO standards.

Furthermore, during the process of bringing the product to market, Traphaco's scientists also elevated the product's quality with research published in an international journal on the successful isolation of a new active ingredient in the bitter herb plant, and upgraded artichoke extract to meet the European Pharmacopoeia (EP) standards.

“We are constantly striving to research and develop traditional herbal remedies into modern herbal products that can be widely used by Vietnamese people. Boganic has held the number one position for many years and is the first choice for liver support treatment. I am very happy that instead of calling it a liver supplement, people call it Boganic,” Ms. Ha shared.

When Traphaco's products received the National Brand certification, the initial feeling of all company staff and employees was one of immense pride and honor. This is not only a recognition of the tireless efforts over the years but also a testament to the quality and reputation that Traphaco has built in the market. Traphaco, with its commitment to bringing health and happiness to the people, constantly improves and enhances product quality, while continuously innovating to meet the ever-increasing demands of consumers. Being recognized as a National Brand is a significant milestone, marking Traphaco's success and affirming its position in the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry.

Viewing the community as an important part of its development process, the company has collaborated closely with local people for many years, transferring technology and knowledge to help improve their lives.

The order in which Traphaco's products were recognized as National Brands began with the first products that established the company's reputation. Cebraton, a brain tonic and blood circulation enhancer, was the first to achieve this title, thanks to its superior quality and noticeable therapeutic effects. Following that, Boganic, a liver detoxification supplement, quickly became a symbol of trust in liver detoxification and protection, trusted by millions of people. Gradually, other modern pharmaceutical products from Traphaco were also honored, further solidifying Traphaco's position in the field of public health care. These products are not only a source of pride for Traphaco but also a testament to the company's sustainable development and commitment to quality throughout its journey serving Vietnamese consumers.

Considering the community as a vital part of its development process, for many years the company has collaborated closely with local people, transferring technology and knowledge to help improve their lives. With the GreenPlan Project, Traphaco has, to some extent, cared for and developed disadvantaged communities by creating jobs, eradicating poverty sustainably, increasing income for ethnic minorities, and reducing child labor. More importantly, the project has provided vocational training, skills development, and knowledge to ensure that people continuously have access to new technologies.

“In many places, ethnic minority people like the Dao and Hmong have motorbikes, televisions, and spacious houses thanks to medicinal plants. They are confident in cultivating medicinal plants sustainably. When they have improved their economic situation, they invest in their children's education, creating a new generation in this region with more knowledge,” Ms. Ha said.

Through its medicinal herb cultivation areas, Traphaco has also built a collaborative model led by ethnic minority women, where female farmers have the authority to decide on work content and increase production value. These female farmers are equipped with skills through training sessions provided by the company or consulting firms; thereby contributing to enhancing the role of women and promoting gender equality.

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, we also taught the villagers how to make videos to sell their products; and shared their experiences to create a community of clean medicinal herb growers," Ms. Ha confided.

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