With rich knowledge of medicinal materials in nature, Dao ethnic minority people in Tu Son commune of Kim Boi district have practiced traditional medicine for generations and brought their long-standing therapies into play in the current life.
Phung Thi Hien (first, right), a resident in Thung Dao
Bac hamlet of Tu Son commune (Kim Boi district), introduces precious medicinal
plants of the Dao ethnic minority group.
Phung Thi Hien was born to a family having four
generations practicing traditional medicine in Thung Dao Bac hamlet of Tu Son
commune. After graduating from high school, she enrolled on the Tue Tinh
traditional medicine school with the hope of preserving traditional remedies
and adding new knowledge to her ethnic group’s remedies.
After nearly 20 years of working and gaining
experience, now she has wide knowledge of over 120 medicinal materials and a
number of remedies for bone, joint, stomach, liver, and kidney illnesses, among
others.
Hien said she had learnt those remedies from her
mother. Each remedy contains tens or even hundreds of herbal ingredients.
Patience, prudence, and wholeheartedness are needed to practice traditional
medicine. Sometimes, it takes even months in forest to seek enough ingredients
for a remedy.
To develop medicinal plants for use in the Dao
people’s traditional remedies and also create jobs and improve the life quality
in Thung Dao Bac, Hien established Phung Gia (Phung Family) traditional
medicine cooperative with seven members in 2019. Since the cooperative’s
inception, local residents have replaced traditional crops with medicinal
plants as natural resources are limited and they also want to preserve the
precious genetic sources in the face of overexploitation.
The cooperative sold its products mainly in the
northern region, especially Hanoi, Hung Yen, and Vinh Phuc, earning more than 3
billion VND (119,500 USD) in total revenue in 2023.
To scale up production, in April 2024, the Phung
Gia traditional medicine cooperative was dissolved to establish the Thien Nam
Green Herbs Co. Ltd., based in Ve hamlet of Dong Bac commune, Kim Boi district.
The company is applying high technology to improve product quality, promoting
activities under production chain, and aligning medicinal plant cultivation
with market demand, thus working towards the sustainable development of traditional
medicine.
Bui Van Lam, Vice Chairman of the People’s
Committee of Tu Son commune, said to preserve the traditional medicine of the
Dao people and build a brand, the local Party Committee and administration will
conduct a survey of medicinal plants in forest and step up communications to
encourage local residents to join hands in preserving and developing the
valuable plants.
Aside from curing illnesses, traditional
medicine also helps the Dao people improve their income and quality of life.
However, authorities and the community still need to give more attention and
support so as to sustainably develop medicinal plants and generate better
economic benefits for local residents, he added.
As part of Project 6 under the national target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in 2024, Lạc Sơn District, Hoa Binh province focuses on diverse and practical activities to promote the project's goal: "Preserving and promoting the beautiful traditional cultural values of ethnic groups in conjunction with tourism development."
After 3 years of implementing Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU, dated October 11, 2021 of the Provincial Party Standing Committee on preserving and promoting the cultural heritage values of Hoa Binh province's ethnic groups in the period of 2021 – 2025 with the orientation to 2030 (NQ04), it has mobilized the participation of the entire political system, the people from all walks of life and there have been positive changes. So far, out of the 10 targets of NQ04, 3 targets have been met and exceeded the plan set for 2025. Typically, 70% of the intangible cultural heritage (ICH) of ethnic groups in the province is on the list of the national ICH items and they have been protected and restored, exceeding 20% of the proposed Resolution.
Great National Unity Day has been recently celebrated in Duong hamlet, Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, in an atmosphere of warmth and community spirit. The event highlighted national identity and strengthened the bond of solidarity among residents.
On November 28, the People's Committee of Cao Phong district organized the Cultural and Sports Festival of Cao Phong district's ethnic groups in 2024.
