Ginger and turmeric are two spices that are known as Vietnam’s underground treasure because they bring in tens of millions of USD every year.
Ginger is very familiar to Vietnamese people but rare and much sought-after in foreign countries. Ky Son district (Nghe An province) is considered the “center” of Vietnam’s ginger. Thanks to the favorable climate and soil conditions, Ky Son’s ginger has superior quality and a special flavor compared to other types of ginger. Besides, this is a native variety.
Turmeric originates in India. Although it is popular in Vietnam, this is a rare spice that is difficult to find anywhere in the world. Only some tropical countries, such as India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Nigeria, own tumeric. Vietnam is one of the countries with the largest turmeric growing area in the world, with more than 50,000 hectares (by 2021), mainly in the Central and Central Highlands provinces, such as Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong.
Underground treasure has brought in more than 33 million USD since the beginning of 2024.
According to preliminary statistics from the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA), the export of ginger, turmeric, and other spices in the first half of the year reached 17,280 tons, with a turnover of 33 million USD. This result was down 33.6% in volume but up 5.1% over the same period in 2023. The main export markets of ginger and turmeric include India with 6,635 tons, accounting for 38.4%; Bangladesh with 3,561 tons, accounting for 20.6%; and Indonesia with 1,396 tons, accounting for 8.1%.
Currently, Vietnam ranks third in the world in the supply and processing of spices, after India and China. The whole spice industry in Vietnam has 14 factories with deep-processing technology. In 2023, Vietnam’s spice exports reached 1.257 billion USD. In particular, the export of turmeric, ginger, and some other spices reached 34,976 tons with an export value of 49.3 million USD. This was a sharp increase of 222.4% compared to 2022.
Vietnamese ginger is often exported in the form of frozen products. In addition, processed ginger from Vietnam is also strongly consumed. It is often used to make spices, support digestive system activities, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold. In particular, ginger jam is a very popular product in cold countries. In addition to being fragrant and of good quality, Vietnamese ginger is also cheaper than domestic goods in foreign countries.
Turmeric starch is the most sought-after by many countries. Vietnam’s turmeric starch is considered to have a nice color, a pleasant aroma, no bitter taste of turmeric, and no impurities or preservatives. Besides, it retains the curcumin content in turmeric, which is an active ingredient with many good uses for health and beauty. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, digestive support, liver protection, immune system enhancement, memory improvement, and skin-whitening properties.