DEVELOPING TRADITIONAL MEDICINE: Researching the application of "national treasures" to become a new economic pillar

VOV.VN - In the context of a global shift toward proactive healthcare, green economy, and sustainable development, Vietnamese traditional medicine is facing a significant opportunity for a breakthrough, not only in its role of public healthcare but also by becoming a high-value economic sector, contributing to building a national brand and elevating Vietnam's "soft power" on the international stage.

From millennial heritage to national development strategy

Traditional medicine has long been intertwined with the lives of Vietnamese people as a part of the national culture. Traditional herbal remedies, health maintenance methods, acupuncture, meditation, and the use of natural medicinal materials have been passed down through generations, becoming a precious reservoir of national knowledge.

However, in this new phase of development, traditional medicine is no longer viewed merely as folk remedies or traditional supportive treatment methods. Many experts believe that if invested in systematically with modern science and technology, this field can absolutely become one of the pillars of the "Wellness Economy" – a global industry reaching a scale of trillions of USD.

This trend also aligns with the increasing global demand for natural healthcare solutions, restoring body-mind-spirit, reducing reliance on chemical pharmaceuticals, and moving toward a sustainable lifestyle.

In many recent development strategies, the preservation and promotion of the value of traditional medicine have been set as an important task, linked to the goals of developing the pharmaceutical industry, preserving biodiversity, and building a national brand for high-value indigenous products.

According to experts, Vietnam has a special advantage in possessing a rich source of medicinal resources with thousands of medicinal plant species, along with a diverse system of folk knowledge spanning from the Northern mountains to the Central Highlands and the Southern region.

Agarwood – the "black gold" of Vietnam's medicinal economy

Within Vietnam's medicinal ecosystem, agarwood is considered one of the "national treasures" with special value in terms of medicine, culture, and economy.

Not only appearing in traditional remedies for its sedative properties, support for circulation, pain relief, and mental balance, agarwood is also considered a product of spiritual and Eastern cultural value for thousands of years.

Many experts assess that Vietnamese agarwood, especially from the Central region, has quality among the best in the world thanks to specific climate and soil conditions that create a deep, refined fragrance and high essential oil content.

Currently, products from Vietnamese agarwood have appeared in many major markets such as Japan, the Middle East, South Korea, China, and Europe. However, most are still in the form of raw materials or semi-processed, and the added value is not yet commensurate with the actual potential.

According to economic experts, if biotechnology, extraction technology, and modern pharmacological research are strongly applied, Vietnam can fully develop a deep-processing industry for agarwood products such as high-end essential oil, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, therapeutic therapies, and high-end healthcare products.

This not only helps increase export value but also creates a unique national brand – an element considered "soft power" in global competition.

Forming a multi-layered wellness economic ecosystem

One of the orientations proposed by many experts is to develop models of "medicinal villages" and "ecological agarwood villages" linked to healthcare and therapeutic tourism.

Accordingly, medicinal plants are not only raw materials for production but also become the center of a multi-layered economic ecosystem, combining agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and cultural preservation.

At the ecological level, medicinal cultivation areas will contribute to preserving rare genetic resources, restoring natural ecosystems, and promoting green agricultural development.

At the economic level, developing the value chain from cultivation, processing, and research to commercialization will create more jobs and increase income for people in remote areas, especially in mountainous regions and ethnic minority communities.

Meanwhile, at the social level, the trend of healing tourism and wellness retreats combined with traditional medicine therapy is opening up great opportunities for Vietnam to form internationally standardized wellness centers.

Many countries such as Japan, South Korea, India, or Thailand have succeeded in turning traditional medical knowledge into an industry worth billions of USD each year. This is considered an important experience for Vietnam to build a long-term strategy for traditional medicine and indigenous medicinal materials.

Unlocking new resources for the economy

According to experts, investing in traditional medicine is not merely preserving a traditional profession but investing in a new economic sector capable of creating significant, sustainable added value with deep national identity.

In a context where the world increasingly values natural values, mental health, and green products, Vietnam has a rare opportunity to turn "national treasures" such as agarwood, Ngoc Linh ginseng, or other precious medicinal materials into national brands of international stature.

If planned systematically, linked with science and technology, international standards, and long-term branding strategies, Vietnamese traditional medicine can fully become one of the new pillars of the green economy and wellness economy in the future.