The first international ginseng and medicinal herbs festival held in Ho Chi Minh City

The 2024 Ho Chi Minh City International Ginseng, Spices and Medicinal Herbs Festival attracted thousands of locals and tourists, including 13 international delegations and more than 150 domestic and international enterprises operating in the ginseng, spices and medicinal herbs sector.

Mr. Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, acknowledged that Vietnam is a country with many precious medicinal herbs recognized by the world such as star anise, cinnamon, artichoke, Ngoc Linh ginseng, Lai Chau ginseng, golden orchid, wild ginseng, red pine, barberry... and has formed specialized medicinal plant growing and production areas.

Currently, the total output of medicinal herbs grown in Vietnam is estimated at about 100,000 tons/year. Among them, there are many precious, rare, endemic medicinal plants that have both high economic value and medicinal uses such as Ngoc Linh ginseng, Lai Chau ginseng, golden orchid, wild ginseng, red pine, barberry...

However, current investment resources for medicinal plant development are still limited, products are mostly self-sufficient, lack connectivity and especially lack information about international markets.

Therefore, the Government has issued many policies and mechanisms to encourage investment and development of the ginseng, spices and medicinal herbs industry.

"HCMC does not grow ginseng and does not have a medicinal herb area, but it is home to many investment and processing enterprises. It is also a large consumer market that promotes the brand to international friends, affirming the national ginseng brand of Vietnam," Mr. Hoan emphasized.

Earlier, in the afternoon of the same day, within the framework of the festival, a workshop was also held on issues related to ginseng, spices and medicinal herbs.

Businesses and experts together propose solutions to develop the ginseng, spices and medicinal herbs industry in Vietnam.

The workshop proposed solutions to contribute to realizing the policy of the Vietnamese government in developing the ginseng, spices and medicinal herbs industry in Vietnam.

Vietnam has more than 7,500 hectares of ginseng cultivation, mainly concentrated in the provinces of Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Gia Lai... Of which, there are 8 key medicinal regions of Vietnam according to the Government's planning including: Northwest, Northeast, Red River Delta, North Central, South Central Coast, Central Highlands, Southeast and Southwest.

Some pictures of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Ho Chi Minh City International Ginseng, Spices and Medicinal Herbs Festival: