Tho Hao ginseng is seen in some central provinces. In Thanh Hoa, it is called sam bao, while in Nghe An it is called Tho Hao and in Quang Binh sam bo chinh.

To preserve this rare ginseng, Hoang Kiem, director of Tan Hung Thinh Cooperative in Nghe An, and many other members diligently researched and tried to plant it in many localities. After 10 years of propagation, the ginseng has been gradually revived on the Lam River mudflats in Thanh Chuong district.

According to Kiem, Tho Hao was formerly an area in lower Than Chuong district, now the communes of Thanh Giang, Thanh Ha, Thanh Mai, and Thanh Tung. Seedlings were carried to the communes and planted. That is why precious ginseng is called Sam ThoHao, which means the ‘ginseng of Tho Hao land’.

History books show that Tho Hao ginseng was a precious product offered to the Kings and was associated with the historical figure Pham Kinh Vy, who deserved credit for bringing this ginseng variety to the land.

However, the ginseng fell into oblivion. Now, after more than 70 years, Tan Hung Thinh Cooperative has successfully restored the precious ginseng variety.

Describing the plant, he said it grows naturally and lives for many years on hillsides and plains. The plant grows quickly, blooming after 3-6 months of planting. The flowers are bright red, while mature fruit consists of 20-32 seeds. It is an herbaceous plant, growing upright, about one meter tall.

Kiem said that the ginseng is a precious medicinal herb as it is good for spleen and stomach, is a tonic, and is good for digestion. 

In 2014, Kiem and cooperative members set to work to revive the ginseng variety. At first, they grew ginseng on the mudflats alongside the Lam River in NamDan district. However, the ginseng plants did not grow as expected.

In 2020, the cooperative, together with the Nghe An Department of Science and Technology and Thanh Chuong district Farmer Association, grew ginseng on 2 hectares in several communes of the district. Ten households participated in the experimental program.

To date, the cooperative has grown ginseng on 3 hectares and is set to harvest in two months. One hectare of Tho Hao ginseng plants can produce 3.2-3.4 tons of ginseng, with the selling price ranging from VND 200,000 to 450,000 per kilogram.

According to Trinh Van Nha, Chair of Thanh Chuong district, experiments have shown that the medicinal content of the ginseng is very high. The local authorities have encouraged the cooperative and farmers to expand the growing area and create products that meet OCOP (One Commune One Product) standards.

Quoc Huy