New opportunity
Located about 210 km from the administrative center of Da Nang city, Tra Linh commune is hidden on the majestic Ngoc Linh range, once one of the most disadvantaged localities in the West. However, it is also here that a revolution in livelihoods and thinking is taking place strongly, turning primeval forests into invaluable "natural resources", opening a path to sustainable poverty reduction for hundreds of ethnic minority households.
The change of Tra Linh stems from a strategic vision of the city. After the merger milestone on July 1, the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Da Nang has identified a breakthrough development orientation for the 2026-2030 period, which is to focus on "economy under the forest canopy in the midland and mountainous areas".
This is not simply a slogan, but a fundamental change in development thinking. Instead of seeing the vast forests in the West as a subject that needs to be strictly protected, the new strategy has seen a huge economic space there. Forests are no longer a dividing line with development, but have become a foundation, a cradle for development. That is a smart and sustainable approach, exploiting the value of forests without damaging the inherent ecosystem.
In that context, key projects such as the formation of the Pharmaceutical Industry Center with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the main plant have become pillars for the rise of the whole region. And Tra Linh, with its natural conditions, was chosen as a pioneer, the "capital" to realize this aspiration.
According to Ms. Ho Thi Minh Thuan - Secretary of the Party Committee of Tra Linh commune, the locality is given preferential climate and soil conditions that are unique to no other place. "The commune has a total natural forest area of 7,365.08 hectares, of which natural forests account for more than 98%, with a forest cover rate of 61.30%," said Ms. Thuan.
These figures not only speak about the richness of resources, but also affirm a truth: this is an ecological value and has great potential for conservation. This invaluable asset is the most solid premise, the "golden land" for the economic model under the forest can take root and develop brilliantly.
When economic benefits are the greatest driving force for forest protection
The success story in Tra Linh is not a miracle, but the result of a smooth combination of two factors: local knowledge and the correct support policy of the state.
For generations, the people of the Xodang and Ca Dong ethnic groups living in the Ngoc Linh mountain range have possessed an extremely rich source of knowledge. They not only have a long experience in caring for and protecting precious ginseng gene sources, but also have a deep understanding of the socio-biological relationship between ginseng plants and old forests. They know that Ngoc Linh ginseng, the "landlord" of Vietnam, is an extremely special plant species. It cannot be grown widely on steep hills or in home gardens. It only grows and thrives best under the primeval forest canopy, where there is ideal coverage, suitable moisture and a thick layer of rot created by the leaves over hundreds of years.
It is this profound awareness that has created a revolution in people's thinking. If in the past, the practice of nomads and deforestation for farming still existed as a main way of making a living, now, each ginseng grower has voluntarily become a most devoted forest ranger. They understand that maintaining the forest is to maintain the "fishing rod", preserve the future and wealth for their family and the whole community. Protecting the forest ecosystem is no longer a task assigned from top to bottom, but has become an individual order, a vital task.
Ms. Ho Thi Minh Thuan emphasized that this is an important solution and the key to the success of the locality: "Closely link the development of Ngoc Linh Ngoc Sam growing area with the work of protecting natural forests, preserving biodiversity and forest ecosystems, preventing littered exploitation".
reality has proven the correctness of this strategy. Up to now, the entire Tra Linh commune has 671.86 hectares of forest leased to develop the Ngoc Linh Ngoc Sam material area. This figure not only shows the scale of the growing area, but also means that nearly 700 hectares of forest are being protected most strictly by those who benefit from it. This model has attracted the participation of 32 groups of households (with 361 households) and 14 enterprises, creating a vibrant socio-economic ecosystem.
The annual harvested ginseng output reaches about 100 tons, a huge number, bringing in direct income, completely changing the face of people's lives. This model has proven an important truth for sustainable development: economic benefits can go hand in hand, even becoming the strongest driving force to promote environmental protection. Forests are not only a place to grow ginseng, but also a solid "roof", protecting ginseng plants from the harsh impacts of natural disasters and climate change, and vice versa, ginseng plants bring economic value so that people have enough resources and motivation to protect that common "roof".
Towards a large-scale pharmaceutical industrial center
The initial success of Ngoc Linh ginseng is just the beginning. The vision of Da Nang and Tra Linh commune does not stop at growing and selling rough ginseng. The larger goal, long-term strategic, is to build Tra Linh and the entire Western region to become a key pharmaceutical industrial center of the city, and further the entire Central - Central Highlands region.
To realize this aspiration, a closed, modern and sustainable value chain is taking shape. This value chain requires synchronization in many aspects, from the foundation of preserving genetic resources to ensuring the purity and highest quality of ginseng plants, avoiding degradation and Hybridity. Next is the application of strict farming processes according to international standards such as GACP-WHO, to ensure clean, safe and qualified products to reach the global market. More importantly, instead of only selling raw materials, the goal is to invest in technology to deeply process, creating products with high added value such as functional foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Finally, we must build Tra Linh Ngoc ginseng into a strong brand, widely protected and recognized, not only domestically but also in the world.
To realize the above goals, breakthrough solutions in infrastructure and policy mechanisms are being given top priority. Investing in building a synchronous transportation system, connecting Tra Linh with major economic centers is an urgent task. At the same time, the formation of the Tay Da Nang Biomedicinal - Pharmaceutical Industrial Park will be a key step. This place is expected to become the "heart" of the pharmaceutical industry, attracting scientists, research institutes and large enterprises to invest in R&D, production and commercialization of products.
In addition, another potential direction is also being opened, which is to develop eco-tourism combined with medicinal tourism and preserve indigenous culture. Organizing traditional festivals with strong identity such as the Ngoc Linh ginseng festival, or building experiential tourism models, allowing visitors to visit ginseng gardens, learn about the process of caring for and enjoying ginseng products right at the source, will not only help strongly promote the brand but also create a diverse livelihood for people. More importantly, it contributes to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values of the ethnic community here.
