Điện Biên province has a relatively large area of land planned for forestry development and a large forest area. Due to its diversity in terrain, climate, and soil, the province’s forest flora system is relatively diverse and rich. According to survey results, Điện Biên’s forest flora has about 940 species, many of which are used as medicinal materials.

To create a scientific and practical basis for the long-term, sustainable development orientation of medicinal plants, the province has organized investigations and evaluations, identifying a number of valuable non-timber forest product species in protection and special-use forests in the area. Among these, in communes like Quài Tở and Na Sang, pilot plantings of Ngọc Linh and Lai Châu ginsengs have been carried out (about 60,550 plants from 1-5 years old, covering a total area of over 2ha; the 7/5 Cooperative has also planted over 2ha). Monitoring shows the plants are growing well, confirming their suitability for the climate, soil, and terrain of the pilot areas.

According to the forestry economic development project for the 2021 - 2025 period, with an orientation to 2030, the province will develop 2,000ha of non-timber forest plants with medicinal value on barren land and under the forest canopy. This will be concentrated mainly in the communes of: Quài Tở, Mường Mùn, Pú Nhung, Chiềng Sinh, Tuần Giáo, Nà Tấu, Mường Lạn, Mường Ảng, Sín Thầu, Mường Chà, Na Sang...

Lò Hồng Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, said: The province has paid attention to and encouraged economic sectors to participate in developing medicinal plants. It has integrated and allocated support capital from investment programs, projects, agro-forestry development support, and scientific research projects to support medicinal plant development. To date, the entire province has about 2,000ha of various medicinal plants grown through programs, projects, scientific research, and by the people themselves. Of this, some areas have been harvested for many years, bringing economic efficiency and helping people earn a stable income.

However, the development of medicinal plants faces difficulties because people lack the resources and experience to invest in expansion or cultivation of precious medicinal herbs, while state budget support is limited. The cultivation area for medicinal plants is still fragmented and small-scale, not yet creating concentrated growing zones linked to processing and consumption. Medicinal products are mainly exported raw and sold primarily to traders for export to China and some other provinces, making it unstable.

Mùa A Dùa, from Ten Hon village, Quài Tở commune, said: “Many years ago, my family planted sâm Ngọc Linh and sâm Lai Châu, but the area is still scattered. Our family’s finances are still difficult, and the investment capital is high, so I haven’t been able to nurse seedlings or expand the area.”

Recently, some businesses have shown interest in surveying and establishing investment projects for medicinal plant development. The province has also approved one project for planting medicinal and industrial crops by the Quốc Gia Wood Co., Ltd. (a scale of about 470ha of medicinal plants). However, due to the lack of a clear legal framework, the survey, establishment, and implementation of projects by businesses have faced many difficulties.

Recently, the Government issued Decree No.183/2025/NĐ-CP, amending Decree No.156/2018/NĐ-CP, adding specific regulations on the cultivation, planting, and harvesting of medicinal plants. In cases where businesses and investors invest in cultivating and developing medicinal plants, they can now directly sign cooperation or linkage contracts with forest owners (Management Boards of protection, special-use forests; households, individuals, residential communities) or lease the forest environment from the Management Boards of protection, special-use forests to implement their projects.

To continue resolving difficulties and create a legal framework for medicinal plant development, in the coming time the province needs to establish specific plans and zoning for suitable medicinal plant species. This will be the basis for orienting development according to specialized cultivation zones to create a brand for each region. Based on the regulations on rare and precious medicinal plants issued by the Ministry of Health, the province needs to issue a list of its own specific medicinal plants; guide and direct organizations and individuals to create plans for self-cultivation or cooperative planting of medicinal plants on their allocated forest land; and build policies and allocate reasonable capital to support organizations and individuals investing in medicinal plant cultivation.