VietNamNet Bridge – About 10,000 local residents and tourists are expected to join the first Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival – part of cultural events during the sixth Quang Nam Heritage Festival – in Nam Tra My District on June 13-16.

Yummy: A ginseng root is grown in a farm in Nam Tra My District in Quang Nam Province.

Chairman of the district’s People’s Committee Ho Quang Buu told Viet Nam News that the festival would attract tourists, investors and boost exchanges between Korean and Vietnamese ginseng growers.

Buu said it’s the first ginseng festival to be held in Viet Nam and an opportunity for local eco-tourism development and connection with travel agencies from Korea and Viet Nam.

“The festival will include a ginseng product exhibition in Hoi An, demonstrations of Vietnamese and Korean ginseng, announcements of nutrition research of Vietnamese ginseng as well as the planning of a ginseng garden eco-tour site in the district,” Buu said.

“We will hold a familiarisation trip for local and foreign travel agencies to show the potential of combined traditional herb and ginseng gardens and eco-tourism,” he said.

Buu said the district signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea’s Hamyang County to co-operate in ginseng development, production and tourism.

He said representatives of ginseng producers and growers from Korea will take part in the festival.

Tourists will also explore traditional culture and lifestyle of ethnic groups living in the district including Ca Dong, Co Tu and Xe Dang in seven ginseng cultivation communes.

The district also plans to hold the festival biennially from next year.

As scheduled, conferences on tourism, agriculture, conservation and the development of Vietnamese ginseng will take place in the district and Hoi An City during the three-day festival.

Peaceful: A corner of a village of Ca Dong ethnic group in Nam Tra My District of Quang Nam Province. The district will host the first ever Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival on June 13-16. Photo courtesy Van Thanh

"The festival will be an opportunity to introduce local ginseng to foreign partners to expand the market," the district’s chairman said.

He said the festival would feature research into Vietnamese ginseng as well as local cuisine and cultural performances by ethnic minority groups in the district.

VNS