I went into a famous forest in Ha Tinh and saw locals growing some kind of medicinal plant that was thriving, and they harvested it and sold it for money.

Huong Son district (Ha Tinh province) is actively implementing the planting of *Centella asiatica* (Centella asiatica) under the canopy of primary forests. This medicinal plant not only brings high economic efficiency but also makes an important contribution to forest protection and development, opening up a promising new direction.

Centella asiatica is a medicinal plant that used to grow wild in the primeval forests of Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province.

Long used by indigenous people for traditional medicine, the plant *Centella asiatica* (Gotu Kola) possesses outstanding pharmacological properties such as supporting the treatment of rheumatism, joint pain, and spinal degeneration, making it highly valuable in traditional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry.

Leaders of Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province, inspect the survival rate of *Thien Nien Kien* (a valuable medicinal plant). Photo: PV

Due to uncontrolled natural exploitation, the supply of Centella asiatica in the forests is increasingly depleted. Recognizing this, in 2024 Huong Son district experimented with a model of planting Centella asiatica interspersed under the canopy of primary forests.

Households in Son Kim 1 and Son Kim 2 communes have taken the lead in implementing this initiative, with over 530 hectares of medicinal plants already cultivated.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Dieu (a household participating in this model in An Su village, Son Kim 1 commune) said: "Following the policy of the local government, my family has intercropped *Centella asiatica* (Centella asiatica) in 20 hectares of primary forest. Although it didn't cost much in terms of investment and care, the *Centella asiatica* plants are growing well, with a survival rate of nearly 90%."

The Centella asiatica plant grows and develops well, and is considered suitable for the soil conditions of the mountainous Huong Son area (Ha Tinh province).

With the advantages of being easy to grow and having low investment costs, the *Centella asiatica* plant is particularly suitable for the local soil conditions. After only 3-5 years, each hectare of *Centella asiatica* can yield a harvest of 45-50 million VND, a significantly higher income than many other crops.

Based on the positive results of the pilot project to cultivate *Centella asiatica* under the forest canopy, Huong Son district has now expanded the model by an additional 400 hectares, bringing the total area planted with this medicinal plant to 930 hectares throughout the district.

Specifically, Son Kim 1 commune planted 300 hectares; Son Kim 2 commune, 230 hectares; Son Hong commune, 260 hectares; Son Linh commune, 50 hectares; Son Tay commune, 19 hectares; and Huong Son Forestry Service Company, 80 hectares.

In Huong Son district, Ha Tinh province, 930 hectares of *Centella asiatica* (Centella asiatica) have been successfully cultivated under the forest canopy. (Photo: PV)

The plant known as *Centella asiatica* is a medicinal herb with a bitter, spicy taste, a fragrant aroma, and a warm nature. (Photo: PV)

Combining the cultivation of medicinal plants, especially *Centella asiatica*, with forest protection not only helps improve people's lives but also serves as a sustainable economic development strategy, enabling Huong Son to utilize its forest resources most effectively.

The model of planting Centella asiatica under the forest canopy in Huong Son is a clear example of the right direction in sustainable socio-economic development.

This not only helps people escape poverty, but it is also an important solution for preserving valuable genetic resources, developing Vietnam's medicinal plant industry, and protecting forest ecosystems.

The Chinese Angelica plant is easy to grow and easy to care for. Photo: OPV

Speaking with a reporter from Dan Viet newspaper, Mr. Phan Thanh Tung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Kim 1 commune, Huong Son district, informed: "Currently, the entire Son Kim 1 commune has planted over 300 hectares of *Centella asiatica* (Centella asiatica), which is developing well and is expected to become a poverty-alleviating crop for people in mountainous areas."

For the areas where the *Centella asiatica* trees were planted from the beginning of 2024 in sub-area 68, Ha Trai village, Son Kim 1 commune, although it is only about a year old, the trees are developing very well, reaching a height of about 50cm, with a canopy width of 60cm, and planted with a distance of 2m between each tree.

According to Mr. Phan Thanh Tung, growing the Centella asiatica plant is quite inexpensive, requires no care, and yields harvests year after year. This plant grows similarly to lemongrass and ginger.

Besides its economic benefits, the Centella asiatica plant also contributes to raising awareness of forest protection among households living near forests.

The perennial plant *Centella asiatica* is a herbaceous plant with a thick, creeping rhizome and a fragrant aroma. (Photo: PV)

Each hectare also receives a subsidy of 10 million VND from the support fund under Resolution No. 51/2021/NQ-HĐND of the People's Council of Ha Tinh province dated December 16, 2021, on "Regulations on policies to encourage agricultural and rural development associated with building the province to achieve new rural standards in Ha Tinh province in the period 2022-2025".

"The entire district has 84,000 hectares of forest (including 65,000 hectares of natural forest), and Huong Son district has great potential to develop a model for cultivating medicinal plants. This is expected to be a new direction, contributing to improving the economic efficiency of forests, protecting the environment, and simultaneously developing socio-economic conditions and improving the lives of the people. Currently, the district is developing a plan to plant over 1,000 hectares of medicinal plants in 2025, aiming to develop the forest economy and protect the forest," said Mr. Le Ngoc Danh, Head of the Huong Son Forest Ranger Station.

Source: https://danviet.vn/vo-mot-khu-rung-noi-tieng-ha-tinh-thay-dan-trong-cay-duoc-lieu-gi-ma-tot-um-nho-len-ban-ra-tien-20250317103349727.htm