Ngoc Linh ginseng:Journey to bring Vietnam's national treasure to global herbal medicine market

Perched at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level on Ngoc Linh mountain in Nam Tra My district, lush Ngoc Linh ginseng gardens flourish beneath the ancient forest canopy. This is Vietnam's largest Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation area, often regarded as the capital of this rare and precious medicinal herb.

In recent years, the Government has introduced a range of policies and mechanisms to promote the development of the medicinal herb sector. In 2017, Prime Minister recognised Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis or Vietnamese ginseng) as a national product, and it has since been included in the Vietnam's ginseng development programme through 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Today, beyond its conservation and cultivation, Ngoc Linh ginseng has become a key source of livelihood, helping many ethnic minority households gradually improve their living standards. To this end, authorities, businesses, and local communities have stepped up collaborative initiatives to sustainably expand Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation areas and build a strong brand for Vietnam's medicinal herbs.

Developing standardised

Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation areas

From the foot of Ngoc Linh mountain, the winding trail to the Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation area narrows into a rugged path, with steep uphill stretches. On rainy days, the route becomes slippery with moss and layers of fallen leaves. Reaching the Ngoc Linh ginseng gardens nestled beneath the ancient forest canopy is no easy feat. Growers must hike more than three kilometers along steep mountain trails, where one relentless incline follows another. With every uphill step, breathing becomes more labored. To reach the cultivation sites, visitors must trek through dense forest and climb rugged slopes. The journey takes two to three hours across slippery, challenging terrain that tests both stamina and endurance.

Beneath the towering ancient trees at an altitude of 1,800 meters in Nam Tra My, Le Quang Lam, a technician at Quang Nam Medicinal Crop Cultivation and Processing Joint Stock Company, carefully tends to rows of vibrant Ngoc Linh ginseng plants. According to Lam, Ngoc Linh ginseng is a highly demanding crop. It thrives only beneath the canopy of old-growth forests, where cool temperatures, humus-rich soil, high humidity, and the pristine ecosystem of primary forests at elevations above 1,200 meters provide the ideal growing conditions.

Growing Ngoc Linh ginseng requires extraordinary patience and meticulous care at every stage. The cultivation areas, perched high on mountain peaks, are shrouded in mist for most of the year. In this harsh forest environment, the plant grows slowly, producing just one new whorl of leaves each spring before entering a period of dormancy to nourish its root. During this time, it quietly accumulates nutrients through each cycle of nature.

Lam said the remote location and the painstaking work involved in tending the ginseng—from preparing the soil and removing pests to watering the plants and installing protective netting against rodents—mean he returns home only once a month.

Beyond its high economic value, Ngoc Linh ginseng has become a sustainable source of livelihood closely linked to forest conservation. Its cultivation has helped ethnic minority communities increase their incomes while making the most of their local natural advantages.

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Ngoc Linh ginseng is a difficult plant to cultivate. It only thrives beneath old-growth forest canopies, in cool climates, organic-rich humus soil, high humidity, and primary forest ecosystems at elevations of 1,200 meters or higher.

Vietnam is one of the countries with strong potential to develop a medicinal herb industry, thanks to its rich natural resources and a traditional medicine heritage spanning thousands of years. With abundant biodiversity and diverse ecosystems stretching across the country, Vietnam is among the world's 15 leading countries for medicinal plant resources, home to more than 5,000 plant species with medicinal properties. This wealth of natural resources provides a significant advantage for developing the medicinal herb sector, contributing to better healthcare and public well-being while also supporting sustainable socio-economic development.

In recent years, the Party, the National Assembly, and the Government have introduced a series of important policies to promote the development of traditional medicine and medicinal herbs, laying the foundation for the sector's sustainable growth. Notably, the Politburo's Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW calls for unlocking the potential and strengths of traditional medicine and medicinal resources by expanding standardised cultivation areas, preserving traditional knowledge, and improving the quality of medicinal herbs and traditional medicines.

According to Dr. Do Viet Ha, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association, researchers specializing in ginseng varieties and cultivation techniques have confirmed that Ngoc Linh ginseng, scientifically known as Panax vietnamensis, contains 52 saponin compounds - more than Korean ginseng. It also has a particularly high concentration of MR2 saponin and 24 unique saponins that are not found in other ginseng species.

In addition, Ngoc Linh ginseng contains 17 amino acids, including eight essential amino acids that the human body cannot synthesize and must obtain through diet, as well as around 18 macro- and trace mineral elements. It also contains germanium-element 32 on the periodic table - in the form of an organic salt, a rare and valuable compound.

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The outstanding qualities of Ngoc Linh ginseng stem from the fact that it is cultivated in the layer of decomposed leaf litter found in primary forests. The plant absorbs and accumulates nutrients from this rich organic environment. While soil analysis may reveal only modest nutrient levels, the ginseng itself contains significantly higher concentrations—one of the key factors that distinguishes Ngoc Linh ginseng from other ginseng varieties. Because of this exceptional value, I believe we should strongly support the development of standardised Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation areas. Only with high-quality, standardized raw materials can we produce foods, dietary supplements, and ultimately pharmaceutical products.

Ha believes that Ngoc Linh ginseng should be developed as a geographically linked brand, as its value is inseparable from its place of origin. He stressed the need to establish geographical indication (GI) protection and a robust traceability system, along with testing and evaluation mechanisms to verify the distinctive active compounds that set Ngoc Linh ginseng apart from ginseng grown in other regions.

Affirming Vietnam's place on

global medicinal herb map

Today, in Vietnam's Central Highlands, Gia Lai province possesses favorable climatic and soil conditions for large-scale cultivation of Ngoc Linh ginseng, offering significant economic potential. The province aims to expand cultivation to 800 hectares under forest canopy by 2030, primarily in its mountainous districts.

According to Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai, Deputy Director of the Gia Lai Department of Science and Technology, initial trials in Dak Rong have shown that Ngoc Linh ginseng adapts well and grows successfully in the area. However, she noted that a comprehensive assessment of its value - particularly the quality of its medicinal properties - will only be possible once the plants reach harvest. She expressed hope that these pilot projects will succeed, providing a scientific basis for expanding Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation across the province.

Regarding efforts to make Ngoc Linh ginseng more affordable and accessible to a wider range of consumers, Mai said:

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The key challenge is to expand cultivation areas. Ngoc Linh ginseng is prized not only for its exceptional quality but also for its rarity. By increasing production on a larger scale, we can make this distinctive product of Gia Lai province more accessible to consumers.

As the provincial agency responsible for science and technology, Mai said the Gia Lai Department of Science and Technology is committed to working closely with businesses to achieve positive trial results, providing a scientific basis for advising the provincial People's Committee on the development of Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation areas in Gia Lai.

Phan Thanh Thien, General Director of Truong Sinh Group, said the sustainable value of medicinal herbs begins with standardised cultivation areas, rigorous production standards, and advanced processing technology. He described this as the long-term development strategy not only for Vietnam's medicinal herb industry but also for Ngoc Linh ginseng.

Thien said the company is currently partnering with local authorities to manage 70 hectares of cultivation areas containing 500,000 Ngoc Linh ginseng plants. It also plans to invest an additional 500 billion VND (20 million USD) to develop an 850-hectare medicinal herb cultivation area under forest canopy in Gia Lai. Alongside expanding cultivation, the company is investing in processing facilities to diversify Ngoc Linh ginseng into a range of products for distribution through pharmacies and retail outlets.

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With its long-term development strategy and the planned large-scale expansion of Ngoc Linh ginseng cultivation areas, Gia Lai is expected to become the Central Highlands' leading medicinal herb hub, while helping elevate the value and international profile of Vietnam's medicinal herb industry.

Hoang Minh Hanh, a representative of Truong Nhan Pharma, said that making Ngoc Linh ginseng a familiar part of Vietnamese people's daily lives - particularly through e-commerce platforms - is a strategic direction that many businesses are pursuing. The goal is for Vietnam's "national treasure" ginseng to be more than an honorary title and instead become an integral part of every Vietnamese family's healthcare routine.

Ngoc Linh ginseng is steadily establishing itself as a national product. Continued investment in research, standardised production processes, and brand protection will be key to enabling Vietnam's "national treasure" to stand alongside the world's most renowned ginseng varieties. This is not only an aspiration of the traditional medicine sector but also a shared responsibility and ambition to affirm Vietnam's place on the global medicinal herb map, in line with the spirit of the Politburo's Resolution No. 72-NQ/TW on the development of medicinal herbs and traditional medicine.