SGinseng is a treasure given by heaven. Korea has known how to “turn” that treasure into a national industry. Vietnam also has ginseng – more precious, cleaner, more natural – but Vietnamese people are still hesitant: what is Vietnamese ginseng for, how to use it, and… is it worth trusting?
Ginseng, ginseng – Heaven-sent treasure
Ginseng – for generations – has always been considered the “elixir” of the East. Especially for Koreans, ginseng is not only a medicine, but also a part of culture, of daily life, and even a national policy for economic development.
South Korea – the country that knows how to industrialize from ginseng roots
South Korea does not possess the most powerful ginseng in the world, but it possesses something more important: branding thinking, long-term vision, and an incredibly rich ginseng product ecosystem. You can encounter:
- Fresh ginseng, steamed ginseng, ginseng stewed with chicken, ginseng soaked in honey, sliced ginseng.
- Energy pills, energy drinks with red ginseng extract.
- Ginseng candy, ginseng coffee, ginseng jelly, ginseng mask, ginseng skin cream.
- Ginseng wine, instant ginseng powder, concentrated ginseng extract, functional capsules.
From babies drinking to increase resistance to the elderly drinking to replenish blood and energy, from stressed office workers to artists needing quick recovery – there is almost no customer group that Koreans have not “drawn” a suitable ginseng product for.
Vietnam – has ginseng, has products, but no trust
It is surprising to many people: Vietnam also has a “treasure” of Ngoc Linh ginseng – a type of ginseng that is ranked by international scientists as the rarest, with a saponin content higher than Korean ginseng and American ginseng.
Not only Ngoc Linh ginseng, Vietnam also has:
Pure ginseng extract, handmade ginseng wine, ginseng tea bags, ginseng extract capsules.
Ginseng powder, ginseng syrup for children, ginseng essence in ampoules, ginseng cosmetics.
And also product lines combining ginseng with other precious medicinal herbs such as ginseng, angelica, and panax notoginseng.
At first glance, it is not inferior in quantity or variety. But there is still an undeniable truth: Vietnamese people are not interested in products made from Vietnamese ginseng.
Why?
- Because consumers do not really understand the uses and how to use Vietnamese ginseng.
- Because the market is still chaotic about real – fake, good – fake goods, making buyers lack confidence.
- Because many Vietnamese ginseng brands are still weak in terms of packaging design, user experience, and communication messages.
- And finally – because Vietnamese people still have a foreign mentality, trusting Korean ginseng more because… “they are used to it”.
A possible future, if we retell the story of Vietnamese ginseng
Vietnamese ginseng can absolutely become a national symbol – not only in its medicinal value but also in its cultural identity, region, and internal strength.
But to do that, we need a real handshake between science, business, and the media. We need standardized, transparent, and easily accessible products. And we also need Vietnamese consumers – the pioneers – who dare to try, dare to believe, and dare to retell the story of Vietnamese ginseng in their own way.
If you have ever been proud to hold a box of Korean red ginseng in your hand – try looking at Vietnamese ginseng once, and ask: “Why not?”
