Thai Nguyen farmer finds success cultivating medicinal sâm nam

Chu Quang Phuc, a farmer in Thai Nguyen, has successfully transformed hundreds of hectares of barren, hilly land into a productive medicinal herb farm. After years of persistence, he has achieved a significant harvest of sâm nam (Millettia speciosa Champ.), a traditional medicinal root valued in Eastern medicine for its health-boosting properties.

Phuc initially faced skepticism and difficult conditions, including steep terrain and poor infrastructure. He began his agricultural journey with semi-wild boar farming before identifying that the local soil and climate were ideal for high-value medicinal plants. The sâm nam roots, harvested from depths of 20 to 30cm, contain bioactive compounds such as saponin, flavonoid, and alkaloids, meeting the growing market demand for natural health products.