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| Introducing essential oil products to customers |
Affirming the value of Hue cajeput oil
In the hilly area of Kim Long Ward, dozens of hectares of young cajeput trees sway in the wind, signaling a bountiful essential oil season. Few know that behind those gentle, aromatic drops of oil is a journey of dedication and perseverance by a team of engineers and master’s degree holders from Tien Phong Forestry One-Member Limited Liability Company.
“Hue cajeput oil has long been a traditional medicinal product closely tied to the livelihoods of thousands of households. However, in recent years, uncontrolled mass production has led to the appearance of many mixed and low-quality oils on the market, damaging the reputation of Hue’s cajeput essential oil,” said Ngo Thanh, Deputy Director of Tien Phong Forestry Company. From that concern, the team of engineers embarked on an unprecedented journey to build a closed production chain, from tissue culture propagation to producing cajeput essential oil meeting international FSC standards.
Starting from sample sterilization, the research group persistently experimented with various steps to perfect the process of cajeput propagation by tissue culture (in vitro). The group successfully stimulated shoot formation, then boosted root development. Thanks to the standardized procedure, within just over a year, the group produced more than 111.000 cajeput seedlings in the laboratory. These seedlings were then transferred to nurseries for care and acclimatization into healthy young plants before being mass-planted outdoors.
At the cajeput cultivation model in Kim Long Ward, the survival rate reached 97.7%, with an average essential oil yield of over 30 liters per hectare per year. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis showed that the essential oil met international standards for purity and active ingredient content. This is the first essential oil in Vietnam to obtain FSC certification (an international standard for sustainable forest management), qualifying it for export to demanding international markets.
Not only does the initiative enhance the brand value of Hue cajeput oil, it also reduces the seedling cost from 2.580 VND to 1.560 VND per plant, helping farmers access quality seedlings more easily. The process uses organic microbial fertilizers, limits chemicals, and contributes to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
From an agricultural product that was once easily counterfeited, Hue cajeput oil has gradually been standardized, professionally branded, and gained the opportunity to expand its market globally. This initiative won First Prize at the Hue City Technical Innovation Contest 2024.
Dream of Litsea Cubeba
If the story of Tien Phong Forestry One-Member Limited Liability Company carries the hallmarks of a meticulous scientific and technical project, then the journey of Bach Ma Herbals Production - Trading - Service Co., Ltd. evokes the image of a passionate, market-savvy local startup.
“In the buffer zone of Bach Ma National Park, people used to chop down Litsea Cubeba trees for firewood and use their fruits as a spice. Few realized that the fruit contains 38-43% essential oil, with citral - a material used to synthesize vitamin A and many other compounds,” said Le Thi Nhu Quynh, General Director of Bach Ma Herbals.
Since 2022, Bach Ma Herbals has researched and extracted Litsea Cubeba essential oil and developed the Olitsea brand. The company has established a 1,5-hectare raw material area in Loc An Commune, applying modern steam-distillation technology to optimize yield, and is planning to expand it to 10 hectares, providing seedlings and purchasing products directly from local farmers.
In just a short time, the company has distilled 1.000 liters of finished essential oil and launched the Bach Ma Litsea Cubeba Mosquito Repellent Oil for Babies, distributed through 720 Con Cung stores nationwide, achieving an initial revenue of about 1 billion VND.
Not stopping there, the company is preparing to launch a Bach Ma Litsea Cubeba Massage Balm for pregnant and postpartum women and is aiming to export to Japan in the near future.
“We dream of lush Litsea Cubeba hills in Phu Loc, where local people no longer need to exploit forests but can grow medicinal plants to make a living right on their own land,” said Ms. Quynh. The project “Bach Ma Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil” won Second Prize in the 2024 Hue City Innovation Contest.
Both initiatives, though approached differently, reflect the daring spirit of Hue’s entrepreneurs, the courage to think, act, and lead. Both share a common goal: to increase the value of local products, build sustainable raw material regions, link economic development with environmental protection, and create local jobs. At the end of August, these two initiatives represented Hue businesses at the National Creative Labor Festival, organized by Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL).
According to Mr. Le Minh Nhan, Vice Chairman of Vietnam Fatherland Front and Chairman of Hue City Confederation of Labor, the initiatives of Tien Phong Forestry Company and Bach Ma Herbals show that the “Good and Creative Labor” movement is having a clear, positive impact across the business community.
Mr. Nhan added that in 2024 alone, the city recorded 2.964 recognized initiatives, projects, and technical improvements, bringing tens of billions of VND in economic benefits. To further spread these achievements, all levels of the labor unions are working to innovate their approach, strengthen recognition and support, and promote collectives and individuals with significant technical contributions.