On the forested hills of Duong Huu commune, Le Quang Thanh is cultivating cat sam (Codonopsis) and ba kich (Morinda officinalis), two medicinal plants well suited to the area's soil and climate. The crops are growing well and are expected to deliver a strong harvest.

Local authority in Tuan Dao commune inspects a medicinal herb cultivation model at the farm of Do Van Toan in Tuan An village.

Thanh previously planted mainly acacia and eucalyptus across his 5-hectare forest holding. In 2023, seeing the higher economic potential of medicinal herbs, he converted 2 hectares to cat sam and ba kich cultivation.

The transition was supported by local authorities and agricultural agencies through seed and fertilizer assistance, technical training and a loan of 100 million VND (over 3,800 USD) from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies to finance materials and labor.

"Medicinal herbs are a new crop for many local farmers, but thanks to guidance from technical staff, we have gradually mastered cultivation techniques," Thanh said. "The plants are developing well with a high survival rate. If conditions remain favorable, each hectare could generate revenue worth hundreds of millions of VND."

Thanh is not alone. Dozens of households in Duong Huu commune have adopted cat sam and ba kich cultivation.

According to local authorities, the commune's natural conditions make it well suited for medicinal herb production. In particular, pilot projects growing purple ba kich have proved successful, helping many households increase their incomes, reduce poverty and improve living standards.

After five years of cultivation, each hectare of purple ba kich can yield between 6.5 and 8.5 tonnes, generating revenue of around 0.9 billion VND to 1.2 billion VND per hectare over a five-year production cycle. The commune is also testing several other medicinal herb varieties that could be expanded if proven commercially viable.

Meanwhile, Phuc Hoa commune has emerged as another important medicinal herb production area. The commune has more than 120 hectares of Danh mountain ginseng, accounting for a large share of the province's total cultivation area for the variety.

In addition to planted forests, some owners managing natural forests are making use of the forest canopy to grow medicinal herbs, creating an additional source of income while preserving forest ecosystems.

Practical experience has shown that medicinal herbs deliver significantly higher economic returns than many conventional crops.

To encourage the sector's development, Bac Ninh province has introduced a range of measures, including promoting value-chain production, improving market access for products and expanding technology transfer and technical support.

The province's extensive plantation forests provide considerable potential for expanding medicinal herb cultivation alongside timber production.

Local authorities see the sector as an effective way to raise rural incomes, improve livelihoods and strengthen long-term forest conservation while increasing the supply of high-value medicinal plants.

Bac Ninh seeks to boost lychee exports through stronger supply chains

BAC NINH - Authorities in the northern province of Bac Ninh has recently launched a trade promotion conference aimed at expanding domestic and overseas markets for lychee and other key agricultural products, while strengthening logistics and supply-chain connectivity.

Sweet start: Bac Ninh ships over 1,000 tonnes of early lychees overseas

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, Bac Ninh has sold roughly 4,010 tonnes of early-ripening lychee so far, including more than 2,921 tonnes consumed domestically and nearly 1,089 tonnes exported.

 

Bac Ninh exports over 20 tonnes of early-season lychees to North American market

BAC NINH - In addition to domestic consumption, early-season lychees from Phuc Hoa commune in Bac Ninh province are also being exported to the North American market.

Bac Ninh leverages livestreaming to boost early ripening lychee sales

BAC NINH – Local authority in northern province of Bac Ninh has turned to e-commerce and livestreaming to promote and accelerate the sales of early-season lychee, drawing hundreds of thousands of viewers and securing tonnes of orders in a single day.

Bac Ninh exports first guava shipment to UK market

BAC NINH - Bac Ninh Province has successfully exported its first shipment of guavas to the United Kingdom after implementing strict cultivation, harvesting and food safety controls, local authorities said.

Bac Ninh promotes lychee tourism with 36 model orchards

According to the Bac Ninh Centre for Culture and Tourism Promotion, the orchards must comply with VietGAP, GlobalGAP or organic production standards while offering suitable conditions for experiential tourism activities. They are also required to connect with nearby tourist attractions, craft villages and historical sites to form integrated tour routes.