Honoring folk knowledge about Ngoc Linh ginseng

VHO - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just issued a decision to include "Folk knowledge about Ngoc Linh ginseng" in Nam Tra My district, ( Quang Nam ) in the List of National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Thereby, affirming the special value of the "national treasure" Ngoc Linh ginseng, at the same time honoring the precious indigenous knowledge treasure of the highland people, where the experience of caring for and exploiting ginseng is preserved and passed down through many generations.

The registration is an important step in the journey of heritage conservation associated with sustainable development of Nam Tra My ginseng region.

Performing rituals in the traditional Ginseng God procession of Quang Nam ginseng growers

Living heritage in the wilderness

Folk knowledge about exploiting, growing and processing Ngoc Linh ginseng in Nam Tra My district is a valuable legacy and a vivid testament to the deep harmony between humans and the great forest.

Formed from the long-standing slash-and-burn agriculture and forest culture, the treasure trove of knowledge is crystallized from the experience, beliefs and love of nature of many generations of ethnic minorities here - especially the Xo Dang people.

Known as the “hidden medicinal plant”, Ngoc Linh ginseng is not only a rare medicinal herb listed in the Red Book of Vietnamese Plants , but also in the top 5 best ginsengs in the world . In 2017, Ngoc Linh ginseng was officially recognized by the Government as a national product.

In Quang Nam, ginseng grows naturally at an altitude of 1,500-2,100m on Ngoc Linh mountain range, concentrated in Tra Linh commune and neighboring communes such as Tra Nam, Tra Cang, Tra Don...

Since the time when their ancestors set traps in the forest, the Xo Dang people have discovered the miraculous uses of “hidden medicine” to both treat diseases and act as “protective charms”. Initially, ginseng was kept as a family secret. But over time, knowledge about identifying, harvesting, planting, caring for and processing ginseng was shared and spread throughout the community.

From a few dozen households initially growing ginseng in the 1990s, there are now more than 500 households growing ginseng in 7/10 communes in Nam Tra My district. Ginseng forest protection posts have also gradually been established, contributing to preserving precious genetic resources and protecting the Ngoc Linh ginseng brand.

Not only limited to farming techniques, this knowledge system is also a vivid manifestation of community solidarity. From the Xo Dang to the Ca Dong and Kinh people, ethnic groups live together, share and absorb each other's experiences, creating a sustainable common knowledge base. Each step of heritage practice is a connection between people, between people and the mountains and forests, between the lowlands and the highlands...

Journey to awaken the "national treasure"

Since 2017, Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival has been held annually in August in Nam Tra My district, becoming a unique cultural festival, connecting the community and promoting the brand of Vietnam's "national treasure".

Festival activities are associated with traditional cultural performances of the Ca Dong, Mo Nong, and Xo Dang ethnic groups, especially the ritual of carrying the Ginseng God - recreating the closely connected belief between humans and the great forest.

Also from 2017 to present, the Ngoc Linh ginseng and medicinal herbs market held periodically every month has brought about clear results, contributing to creating a stable source of income for ginseng growers, meeting the increasing demand of tourists in shopping for ginseng, ginseng products and local specialties.

In 2019, the district opened a tourist route to visit Tak Ngo ginseng garden, opening up a direction for eco-tourism development, connecting the plains and mountainous areas of western Quang Nam.

In 2020, Than Sam Temple was inaugurated in Kon Pin village, becoming a spiritual and cultural fulcrum, where the Than Sam ceremony is held annually on July 27, to commemorate the ancestors who opened the way for ginseng cultivation.

Ngoc Linh ginseng has become a “key economic sector” helping Nam Tra My people escape poverty and become sustainably rich right on their homeland. Up to now, the whole district has over 500 people possessing valuable techniques and experiences in exploiting, growing, processing and using Ngoc Linh ginseng - a force of “heritage artisans” contributing to preserving and spreading indigenous knowledge.

Nam Tra My district has completed procedures for leasing 806.38 hectares of forest environment for ginseng cultivation, with 533 households and 18 enterprises participating. Of these, 22 groups of households and companies are currently combining ginseng cultivation, processing, and trading, gradually forming a sustainable value chain.

Recently, the Prime Minister approved the Project "Developing and forming a medicinal plant industry center in Quang Nam province with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the main crop" (Decision No. 463/QD-TTg dated February 28, 2025).

Looking forward to the third quarter of this year, Quang Nam plans to organize the first International Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival - a turning point affirming the position of Vietnamese ginseng on the world medicinal map.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/vinh-danh-tri-thuc-dan-gian-ve-sam-ngoc-linh-135002.html