Traditional medicine systems in Viet Nam

The reports seek to improve the understanding of the use of natural resources in traditional medicine and enhance the management and regulation of traditional medicine networks to promote conservation and sustainability.

The scale of traditional medicine use in Viet Nam is significant, and both plants and animals play a critical role. In  Viet Nam more than 3900 species of flora and 400 species of fauna are used in traditional remedies. 

TRAFFIC’s findings are published as: An overview of the use of plants and animals in traditional medicine systems in Viet Nam. 

It examines the use of wildlife products in traditional medicine market surveys conducted in north and south Viet Nam. 

Significant numbers of  Vietnamese citizens currently use traditional medicine. Recently, trade in traditional medicine has benefited from the relaxation of international trade barriers and free market economies. 

“Traditional Medicine systems in Viet Nam are important components of both national healthcare systems, and are often the only means of healthcare for rural communities,” said Thomas Osborn, TRAFFIC’s Forest Trade Officer in Viet Nam.

“Understanding which animal and plant species and products are used and traded, and their underlying trade mechanisms, can provide a useful tool to assess the sustainability of such trade, and provide an ‘early warning’ for species that are threatened by it,” he added. 

Increasing demand for traditional medicine has important implications for the conservation of flora and fauna. There is growing evidence to suggest that many plants and animals have become more difficult to obtain in the wild, and a number of them are listed as species of conservation significance. 

In Viet Nam, many of the animals openly offered for sale (bear, rhinoceros, elephant and tiger) are threatened and protected under international legislation. Currently 71 of the animals traded and used for medicinal purposes in Viet Nam are listed on the IUCN Red List of globally threatened species. 

The report recommends further research and increased public awareness and urges further action to improve information gathering and sharing amongst the numerous agencies, institutions and organizations involved in the harvest, trade and use of traditional medicine. 

TRAFFIC’s surveys and the production of the report were generously funded by WWF-US.