From late July, as mist still clings to the ancient forests, clusters of Ngoc Linh ginseng berries begin to ripen to a brilliant red. Across the high mountain slopes of Tra Linh, Tra Tap, Tra Leng and Tra Van communes, local residents enter the annual harvest season, gathering the precious berries known as the region’s “red gold.”

Each Ngoc Linh ginseng berry currently sells for between 60,000 and 80,000 dong (2.3 -3.1 US dollars). In addition to the berries, local residents also grow and sell ginseng seedlings. A one-year-old seedling can fetch around 200,000 dong (7.7 US dollars).

For many households, the harvest provides a valuable source of income, with some earning hundreds of millions or even billions of dong each season. Deep in the rugged mountains, Ngoc Linh ginseng has become an important source of livelihood, helping local communities build more stable lives while preserving the precious forests where the plant thrives.