According to Professor Dr. Tran Duy Quy, Director of the Agricultural Genetics Institute under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is currently impossible to list all the plant species found in Vietnam’s Red Data Book, which are national treasures being secretly sold and bred abroad.
The Vietnamese Lady’s Slipper Orchid, scientifically named Paphiopedilum Vietnamese, comprises 25 species, including particularly rare ones like the glossy lady’s slipper and the pink lady’s slipper. The price for a blooming lady’s slipper orchid can reach around $100,000.
While the glossy and pink lady’s slippers from Vietnam are rapidly diminishing and facing extinction, they have become a commercial product in many countries, including Germany, the United States, Japan, and France. Consequently, the price for a Vietnamese glossy or pink lady’s slipper has plummeted from $100,000 to only $300 to $400.
The Vietnamese Yew tree (Taxus baccata) is a rare medicinal plant that contains the compound Taxol, which is capable of treating diseases such as metastatic ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and certain forms of bronchial cancer. To date, only 23 specimens have been successfully propagated. According to the Da Lat Biology Institute, in addition to rampant exploitation, the rare yew species in Vietnam is also dwindling due to the illegal sale of seedlings through tourism and smuggling.
Similarly, the Vietnamese star anise tree is on the brink of extinction. The chemical composition of star anise contains an organic acid that is a key ingredient in Tamiflu, a medication used to combat avian flu outbreaks. Currently, Vietnamese star anise is being smuggled across the Vietnam-China border in Lang Son. Many countries have purchased star anise seeds to cultivate in their own regions.
