Rising to wealth from Lai Chau ginseng

SKĐS - From a medicinal plant that was once only grown sporadically for traditional Vietnamese medicine, Lai Chau ginseng has been discovered, researched, and recognized as a valuable medicinal herb, and has now become a livelihood crop that helps stabilize the economy for households in the highlands of Lai Chau province.

Establishing a distinctive ginseng brand for the Northwest region.

Lai Chau ginseng, also known as black or red ginseng, is a native plant with a narrow distribution range in high-altitude areas such as Muong Te, Sin Ho, and Tam Duong.

Although used as medicine by indigenous people for a long time, this precious ginseng species was only officially recognized and studied in 2013. Recognizing the economic , medicinal, and ecological value of this endemic medicinal plant, Lai Chau province has proactively invested in the conservation and systematic development of Lai Chau ginseng.

During the period 2013–2020, the province focused on preserving genetic resources and establishing experimental cultivation areas. From 2020–2025, Lai Chau ginseng began to be commercialized with the participation of businesses, scientists , and the local community.

In 2023, the Prime Minister approved the Program for the Development of Vietnamese Ginseng until 2030, with a vision to 2045. In the same year, the Lai Chau Provincial Party Committee issued a separate resolution on the development of Lai Chau ginseng, demonstrating its determination to establish a distinctive ginseng brand for the Northwest region.

Lai Chau ginseng has been discovered, researched, and recognized as a valuable medicinal herb.

The goal is large-scale development, linked to ginseng processing.

According to the plan, the province aims to plant 3,000 hectares of Lai Chau ginseng by 2030, with an estimated yield of about 30 tons per year. At the same time, the locality aims to build 1-2 ginseng processing plants meeting GMP-WHO standards, focusing on developing products such as cosmetics, tea, functional foods, and ginseng wine.

Some products such as ginseng tea, ginseng soaked in honey, and ginseng wine are already on the market, having received OCOP 3-star certification, opening up export opportunities.

According to statistics, the province currently has over 500 hectares of various types of precious ginseng, concentrated in high mountainous areas at altitudes of 1,500 meters and above. Among them, Lai Chau ginseng (also known as rock ginseng) is considered to have high medicinal properties, comparable to some other precious ginseng varieties in Vietnam such as Ngoc Linh ginseng or Vu Diep ginseng. Many businesses, cooperatives, and individuals have boldly expanded their cultivation areas, gradually bringing the product to domestic and international markets.

Besides its economic benefits, Lai Chau ginseng is also being positioned to become a distinctive medicinal herb brand of the Northwest region, associated with the local cultural identity and the pristine forest ecosystem.

The ginseng plantation is located deep within the old-growth forest of Sin Chai - Lai Chau.

To realize its potential, Lai Chau province has recently implemented many groundbreaking mechanisms and policies to support the development of ginseng raw material areas and the ginseng product value chain.

Lai Chau province has planned suitable growing areas based on climate and soil conditions in Tam Duong, Muong Te, Sin Ho, and Phong Tho districts. Through programs such as sustainable poverty reduction, new rural development, and agricultural and forestry extension, the locality provides support in terms of seeds, techniques, automatic irrigation systems, and on-site primary processing technology.

Lai Chau also strongly encourages the model of chain linkage between "farmers - scientists - businesses": Businesses invest capital, technology, and guarantee product purchase. Farmers focus on organic production. Research institutes and centers support the evaluation of medicinal properties, seed research, and the establishment of quality standards.

In particular, the province has proposed a pilot mechanism for "leasing forest land for growing medicinal plants under the forest canopy" on a scale of over 3,000 hectares. This is seen as a step to create a clear legal framework, helping businesses and people feel secure in making long-term investments, while contributing to forest protection and sustainable ecological development.

Precious ginseng from the highlands helps people in Lai Chau escape poverty.

Harnessing dual value: ginseng production combined with ecotourism.

Not content with just growing and selling the product, many cooperatives and businesses in Lai Chau have begun to explore a promising new direction: combining ginseng production with the development of ecotourism and experiential tourism.

Visitors can tour ginseng plantations deep in the forest, learn about the production process, directly harvest ginseng, and prepare ginseng wine or processed products on the spot.

Some exemplary models, such as the Cooperative for Conservation and Development of Mountain Ginseng in Sin Chai village (Tam Duong district) and Thai Minh High-Tech Agriculture Joint Stock Company in Sa De Phin commune (Sin Ho district), have invested in infrastructure to welcome tourists, combined with promoting local culture and raising awareness of forest protection.

Thanks to the "2-in-1" model – combining production and tourism – the value of ginseng far surpasses its value as a raw material, becoming a product with distinctive cultural and ecological value of the Northwest region.

From a wild plant, Lai Chau ginseng has now become a "wealth-generating" crop for many ethnic minority households. The price of fresh ginseng ranges from 2-5 million VND/kg, and some 5-year-old ginseng varieties even fetch over 10 million VND/kg. Many households in Sin Ho, Muong Te, and Tam Duong have built new houses, achieved stable incomes, and sent their children to school thanks to ginseng cultivation.

According to the Lai Chau Provincial People's Committee, the goal is to reach over 2,000 hectares of ginseng and other valuable medicinal plants by 2030, creating stable jobs for thousands of workers, especially ethnic minorities.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/vuon-len-lam-giau-tu-sam-lai-chau-16925112417040763.htm