On August 3rd, the People’s Committee of Nam Tra My Ward, Da Nang, announced that the 7th Ginseng Festival featured 18 booths with 30 businesses and organizations showcasing products made from local ginseng, cinnamon, and medicinal herbs. The event attracted over 2,000 visitors and generated a revenue of approximately VND 5.25 billion, with ginseng accounting for over 95.2% of the total revenue.
The festival included a ceremony to worship the Ginseng God, expressing gratitude for the gift of this valuable medicinal plant that has brought good health and economic prosperity to the people.
A highlight of the festival was the ritual of carrying the symbol of Ginseng from the main entrance to the stage, along with a ceremony to worship the Ginseng God and traditional gong dancing. This spiritual practice is an integral part of the Xo Dang ethnic group’s culture in the majestic Ngoc Linh mountain range.
The festival also hosted a ginseng competition, with 105 ginseng plants from 70 growers entering the contest. After a preliminary round, 48 ginseng plants were selected across four age groups: Group 1 with 26 plants aged 5-7 years, Group 2 with 16 plants aged 8-10 years, Group 3 with 4 plants aged 11-14 years, and Group 4 with 3 plants over 15 years old. The organizers then chose the 21 most beautiful ginseng plants for awards.
Additionally, six growers donated six ginseng plants of various ages to be auctioned off, raising VND 61.6 million for the local charity to support housing for the poor.
The Mountain Ginseng and Medicinal Herb Market offered a diverse range of products, including ginseng, medicinal herbs, OCOP products, and representative rural industrial products. It showcased items from the fields of agriculture, forestry, and handicrafts, particularly those unique to the Nam Tra My, Tra Linh, Tra Tap, Tra Leng, and Tra Van wards, such as ginseng and its derivatives, as well as various medicinal herbs.
Besides the competition, the people of Nam Tra My organized five highland culinary booths on August 1st and 2nd, serving traditional dishes like ginseng-cooked chicken, bamboo tube rice, spicy grilled stream fish, forest-colored sticky rice, sesame-mixed fern vegetables, black pig barbecue, and ginseng-braised eel. They also encouraged participants to bring agricultural products like red rice, sesame seeds, vegetables, snails, dried meat, and fish for trading, fostering economic development.
A new feature of the festival was the inauguration of the “Legend of Ngoc Linh Ginseng” tourism program on the morning of August 2nd. According to the organizers, this tour offers a diverse range of activities that appeal to nature-loving, adventurous youth and aligns with the local tourism infrastructure.
During the festival, five groups comprising over 70 tourists joined the tours, exploring destinations such as the Ngoc Linh Ginseng planting site in Tra Tap, the Ngoc Linh Ginseng Temple in Tra Linh, the Five-Tiered Waterfall in Nam Tra My, the cloud-hunting spot of Tak Po in Tra Tap, and the Tak To Stream in Nam Tra My, among others. Notably, two groups extended their trips to include destinations in Quang Ngai province, such as the Tea Prong Multi-Tiered Waterfall in Mang Ri and the Mang Den tourist area.
Over 26,000 Ginseng Roots Damaged: Quang Ngai Farmers Face Massive Losses
The cultivation of ginseng in Quang Ngai province has suffered a devastating blow, with losses amounting to tens of billions of dong. The destructive force of the storm ravaged over 26,000 ginseng roots of the precious Ngoc Linh variety, leaving farmers reeling from the financial toll.
Presenting Vietnam’s Ginseng to the World
The Vietnamese Ginseng Development Program by 2030, with a vision towards 2045, aims to establish Vietnamese Ginseng as a prestigious national brand and a prominent product in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The program strives to diversify the ginseng-based product range, gradually elevating it to a high-value economic sector. This initiative is designed to meet the demands of the global market while simultaneously safeguarding the Vietnamese Ginseng brand.
The Devastating Theft of 300 Panax vietnamensis Roots Leaves Garden Owner Reeling.
A family in Mang Ri Commune, Tu Mo Rong District, Kon Tum Province, has fallen victim to thieves who stole over 300 precious Ngoc Linh ginseng roots, ranging from 3 to 7 years old.
The Theft of Hundreds of Panax Vietnamensis Plants
A company in Tu Mo Rong District, Kon Tum Province, has fallen victim to thieves who stole approximately 160 precious Ngoc Linh ginseng roots.
The Magic of Ginseng, Aromatics and Medicinal Ingredients: An International Festival Debuts in Ho Chi Minh City
The “2024 Sam and International Spices and Medicinal Herbs Festival in Ho Chi Minh City” is the first international ginseng festival to be held in Vietnam. This festival is expected to create a vibrant environment for businesses to connect, promote trade, and facilitate investment opportunities.
