Invite each other to the forest to celebrate Tet, guard the "national treasure"

(NLDO) - Every day, the Xo Dang people go up the mountain together to celebrate Tet and guard Ngoc Linh ginseng from rats and thieves.

Ngoc Linh ginseng is an endemic plant with extremely high nutritional and economic value, and is considered a "national treasure" by the Prime Minister. For many years, this plant has changed the lives of the Xe Dang people at the foot of Ngoc Linh mountain, Kon Tum province. During Tet holidays, the Xe Dang people here gather to go up the mountain to celebrate Tet and protect the ginseng garden.

Currently, Kon Tum province is growing and developing more than 2,800 hectares of Ngoc Linh ginseng, mostly concentrated in Tu Mo Rong district and a few in Dak Glei district.

People of Tu Mo Rong district go to the forest to take care of Ngoc Linh ginseng during this Lunar New Year holiday.

Thanks to growing Ngoc Linh ginseng, the Xe Dang ethnic people here have risen above poverty and become billionaires in the mountainous region.

Because of its great economic value, each kilogram of Ngoc Linh ginseng can be sold for an average of 100-300 million VND, so it is constantly being watched by thieves. Not only that, birds and rats also watch for local people to come and destroy it. Therefore, the Xe Dang people have to constantly take turns assigning people to guard and protect the ginseng garden.

During the Lunar New Year 2025, the Xe Dang people who grow Ngoc Linh ginseng in Tu Mo Rong district went up the mountain together to take care of and protect Ngoc Linh ginseng from rats, birds and thieves. At the Ngoc Linh ginseng garden, during the Tet holidays, the Xo Dang people went up the mountain to take care of the ginseng and celebrate Tet right in the forest.

Children follow their parents into the forest to take care of and protect Ngoc Linh ginseng and celebrate Tet right in the forest.

After patrolling, they made food together to enjoy.

According to the People's Committee of Ngok Lay Commune, Tu Mo Rong District, people usually guard their ginseng gardens very carefully, but this Tet holiday they are even more careful. They are worried that if they go home to celebrate Tet, criminals can take advantage, and losing just one ginseng root means losing a valuable asset. Therefore, from the days before Tet, people have taken turns going up the mountain to check the rat-proof fence, traps, and water the Ngoc Linh ginseng to avoid water shortage.

On Lunar New Year, men, women, and some families even bring their children along to transport food and drinks to the ginseng garden to take care of and protect it while also celebrating Tet in the forest.

Tet in the forest is full of chicken, pork and other foods.

In the hut to guard Ngoc Linh ginseng, everyone celebrates Tet together and wishes each other a prosperous new year.

Ms. Y Hoa, Secretary of the Party Committee of Te Xang Commune (Tu Mo Rong District) said that she has advised people to enjoy the spring festival but not to neglect the protection of Ngoc Linh ginseng gardens from thieves.

In recent times, Ngoc Linh ginseng growers have divided themselves into groups to protect Ngoc Linh ginseng gardens. Before, during and after Tet, the ginseng protection groups have assigned tasks and shared responsibility for protecting the ginseng gardens.

"People take turns taking a break from Tet, guarding and watering Ngoc Linh ginseng during this Tet holiday. Thanks to that, there have been no cases of Ngoc Linh ginseng theft in the area so far. During Tet, Ngoc Linh ginseng is still protected and watered properly," said Ms. Y Hoa.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ru-nhau-len-rung-an-tet-canh-giu-bao-vat-quoc-gia-19625013116064381.htm