Precious herbs from the dipterocarp forest

The Buon Don dry forest (Dak Lak) is a treasure trove of rich resources, especially abundant in valuable medicinal herbs. In spring, when the first rains fall, the Ede and M'nong people go into the forest to harvest "forest bounty" – precious mushrooms, flowers, and medicinal plants. This is not only a source of food and medicine but also a long-standing cultural tradition of the local community. From the beginning of March until now, sugarcane fires have continuously occurred in the eastern localities of Gia Lai province. Nearly 15 hectares of land belonging to more than 10 households in Kbang district and An Khe town, which were in the harvesting stage, were destroyed by fire. At a meeting with the Office of Coordination of the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas giai đoạn 2021-2030 (referred to as National Target Program 1719) and related units (March 14th), Minister of Ethnic Minorities and Religion Dao Ngoc Dung emphasized the need to clearly identify the difficulties, obstacles, and limitations in implementing National Target Program 1719 in the past, in order to have a clearer direction, vision, and more decisive actions in the coming period, with the spirit of "for the people." "The world has many beautiful waterfalls. I chose to create Ban Gioc waterfall in the South because, in the border province of Cao Bang, Ban Gioc waterfall has a stunning natural landscape and is a place of solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and China. I want to convey this idea to educate children." "My grandson, serving tourists who haven't had the opportunity to visit Cao Bang yet...", Mr. Pham Viet De shared his initiative of excavating rocks to simulate the "A Glimpse of Ban Gioc Waterfall" project in the South. The Prayer for Peace and Blessings ceremony is a folk activity closely associated with the Tay ethnic community in the northern mountainous region. The ceremony is held at the end of January and beginning of February of the lunar calendar every year. This is an opportunity for people to gather, socialize, express their reverence for deities and ancestors, and express their pure aspirations for a happy, peaceful, and prosperous life. The Politburo has just agreed on the policy of not disciplining party members who have a third child or more; and to completely exempt tuition fees for students from kindergarten to high school in public schools nationwide. Experts assess that these policies are in line with reality and contribute to promoting replacement fertility rates nationwide, as one of the biggest barriers preventing many families from having children today is financial pressure, especially in large cities where the cost of raising children is very high. From the beginning of March until now, sugarcane fires have continuously occurred in the eastern localities of Gia Lai province. Nearly 15 hectares belonging to more than 10 households in Kbang district and An Khe town, which were in the harvesting period, were destroyed by fire. Continue to educate cadres, party members, and the people about patriotism and revolutionary traditions, highlighting the great contributions of previous generations to the revolutionary cause of liberating their homeland in Binh Phuoc; Introducing the achievements of the Party Committee, government, military, and people of Binh Phuoc province, the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Binh Phuoc province organized activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of Binh Phuoc province on March 23, 1975 - March 23, 2025. This is a summary of the news from the Ethnic Minorities and Development Newspaper. This afternoon's news bulletin on March 14th includes the following noteworthy information: Continuing to honor Vietnamese coffee; The spirit of the sea on people's faces; The golden seeds of the Nung people; and other current affairs news in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. On the afternoon of March 14th, the People's Committee of Lao Cai province, in coordination with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), organized the event "Meeting 2025: Lao Cai - Center for connecting trade between Vietnam/ASEAN and Southwest China." Attending the event were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son; leaders of several ministries and central agencies; Leaders of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), leaders of provinces in the Northern Midlands and Mountains region; representatives of embassies, commercial attachés of several countries, international organizations, and major domestic and foreign investors. Following National Highway 24 from Quang Ngai to Kon Tum, we revisited the mountainous district of Ba To (Quang Ngai) on a morning in early March. Warm spring sunshine stretched across the newly upgraded and well-maintained road. Along both sides of the road, acacia nurseries were in the process of grafting and planting seedlings. Local people in the district were enthusiastically celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Ba To Uprising (March 11, 1945 - March 11, 2025). The Buon Don dipterocarp forest (Dak Lak) is a treasure trove of rich resources, especially abundant in precious medicinal herbs. In spring, when the first rains fall, the Ede and M'nong people go into the forest to harvest "forest bounty" – precious mushrooms, flowers, and medicinal plants. This is not only a source of food and medicinal herbs, but also a long-standing cultural feature of the local community. On the afternoon of March 14th, the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion of Ninh Thuan province held a ceremony to announce the retirement and appointment decisions for department-level leaders within the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion. Ms. Pi Nang Thi Hon, Director of the Department of Ethnic Minorities and Religion of Ninh Thuan province, attended and presided over the ceremony. Speaking at the ceremony announcing the Prime Minister's decision recognizing Phu Quoc City as a Class 1 urban area under Kien Giang province, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha requested research into developing Phu Quoc into a "coastal city, a center for high-class, unique tourism, resort and service." This includes focusing on developing the space towards the sea, forming international-class commercial, service and tourism centers that exploit the advantages of the sea and islands…

CuYangSin National Forest is located along the Serepok River.

The Buon Don dipterocarp forest, part of the Cu Yang Sin National Park ( Dak Lak province ), is not only a rich ecosystem but also preserves many traditional cultural values ​​of the local ethnic minorities. With its tropical monsoon climate and vast forest area, it is an ideal environment for many valuable timber species such as rosewood, teak, and cypress. The forest ecosystem not only helps protect the environment and maintain water resources but also supports the livelihoods of the Ede and M'nong communities – people who have been closely connected to the forest for generations.

At the beginning of the rainy season in March, when the first rains fall, the Buon Don dipterocarp forest teems with many precious medicinal herbs. These are an indispensable part of the local people's cultural and culinary life. According to Mr. Y Ngoan Nie, from the Buon Don District Traditional Medicine Association, the rainy season is the ideal time to harvest valuable herbs such as button mushrooms (white button mushrooms), wild rhubarb flowers, and wild turmeric flowers – precious medicinal ingredients in folk medicine.

Buon Don forest turmeric flower - a precious medicinal herb

The author of this article followed the local people into the forest to gather medicinal herbs.

Wild button mushrooms are opaque white, smooth, and have a mild aroma. They are often used in stir-fries, soups, or as a seasoning for meat. Not only are they nutritious, but button mushrooms also aid digestion, relieve joint pain, and cool the body, making them a popular dish in the meals of the people of Buon Don.

Wild turmeric flowers are a familiar herb in many dishes and folk remedies. Turmeric flowers help relieve pain, improve digestion, and are often used in soups, stir-fries, or teas. People in Buon Don also use turmeric flowers to treat joint pain and skin diseases.

Wild button mushrooms

A mushroom-picking trip by Ami Rênh from Tri hamlet, Krong Na commune, Buon Don district, Dak Lak province.

The rù rì flower, growing on clusters of rocks in the middle of the Serepok River, holds special spiritual value. Considered a symbol of good luck and health, the rù rì flower can only be harvested by rowing a boat out to the middle of the river. Locals believe that picking rù rì flowers is a sign of prosperity and abundance. The rù rì flower is also used by border guards to prepare dishes, providing a change of taste and a connection with pristine nature.

However, these medicinal herbs are facing the risk of extinction if not properly protected. In recent years, the people of Buon Don have become more aware of the value of these herbs and have cooperated with authorities to maintain a sustainable forest environment. In particular, local women play a crucial role in controlled harvesting, only harvesting herbs when they are ripe and allowing the plants to regenerate naturally for the following rainy season. This not only helps increase income but also protects the ecological balance of the Buon Don dipterocarp forest.

Ay Me cooks the rù rì flower with rice to create a Lao-style rice noodle soup in Buon Don.

The future of precious herbs like forest oyster mushrooms, forest turmeric flowers, and wild rhubarb flowers depends on conservation and sustainable development. These are not only sources of health and culinary benefits but also valuable heritage that needs to be preserved so that future generations can continue to enjoy them.

The custom of gathering forest blessings during the Spring Festival of ethnic minority communities.

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/thao-duoc-quy-tu-rung-khop-1741950434235.htm