Building a value chain for Ngoc Linh ginseng via international cooperation
DNO - Da Nang City is promoting research linkages, technology transfer, deep processing, and market expansion to build a complete value chain, gradually turning Ngoc Linh ginseng, a national product, into a global brand.
On August 2, the international scientific conference titled "Ngoc Linh Ginseng - From National Product to Global Brand" was organised by the Da Nang City People's Committee, in coordination with the National Institute of Medicinal Materials (Vietnam's Ministry of Health).
The conference was a key part of the 2026 Da Nang International Ngoc Linh Ginseng and Medicinal Herbs Festival. It brought together over 200 delegates, including more than 60 international delegates, such as those from the countries of South Korea and China, where the ginseng industries are being well-developed .
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the event, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang municipal People's Committee, Ho Quang Buu, announced that the city boasts a diverse ecosystem ranging from the sea and plains to the mountains. This creates favourable conditions for the conservation and development of valuable medicinal herbs, particularly Ngoc Linh ginseng.
Da Nang currently has approximately 1,500 hectares of Ngoc Linh ginseng along with over 800 species of medicinal plants, mainly distributed in mountainous areas in the city. This is a high -value biological resource that contributes to local economic development and the increase of income, particularly for the ethnic minorities.
However, the scale of Ngoc Linh ginseng production is still not commensurate with its potential. The supply chain is limited. The deep processing technology is not yet well-developed. The protection of genetic resources and medicinal plants faces many difficulties.
So, the city leader asked the delegates participating in the conference to focus on assessing the current situation, mechanisms, and research results to propose solutions for developing raw material areas linked to deep processing toward export. This also includes strengthening linkages between the government, scientists, and businesses and promoting investment, technology transfer, and market expansion.
Within the framework of the conference, the Quang Nam Ngoc Linh Ginseng Association in Da Nang City and the Geumsan Ginseng Association of Korea exchanged Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) on cooperation in the development of ginseng and medicinal herbs. These agreements aim to strengthen cooperation in research, production, product commercialization, investment connections, and technology transfer.
The conference proceedings gathered 25 in-depth papers on biotechnology, quality standardization, digital transformation, and traceability. It is considered the basis for Da Nang to further refine its policies and develop a hub for the medicinal plant industry with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the cash crop.
To reach the international market, Ngoc Linh ginseng needs to be moved beyond the raw material sales and to be shifted to deeply processed products with unified quality standards, traceability, and brand protection. Therefore, the international cooperation will promote the product and open opportunities for Da Nang City to acquire technology, management experience, and global distribution systems.
The 2026 Da Nang International Ngoc Linh Ginseng and Medicinal Herbs Festival at the APEC Sculpture Park, lasting until August 3, aims to honor the special value of Ngoc Linh ginseng, promote the potential and strengths of Vietnam’s medicinal herb sector, and foster connections in science, investment, trade, tourism and international cooperation.