Vietnam and Switzerland find common ground in herbal medicine
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
Ngo Phuong Ly, spouse of Vietnam’s President To Lam, hosted Caroline Parmelin, spouse of Swiss President Guy Parmelin, at Hanoi University of Pharmacy during a diplomatic visit.
The two women connected over the shared use of medicinal herbs in their countries’ mountainous regions and efforts to support local communities through herbal cultivation. Hanoi University of Pharmacy shares a historical link to Switzerland through Alexandre Yersin, a Swiss physician who once led the school and spent years working in Vietnam.
During the visit, Madame Ly and Madame Parmelin participated in a traditional medicine class, learning about Vietnamese herbs like Ngoc Linh ginseng and crafting herbal compress pillows. Switzerland also values medicinal plants, with pharmaceutical companies securing long-term agreements with local growers to ensure stable incomes. The meeting highlighted 55 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland, and opportunities for collaboration in traditional medicine and pharmaceuticals.
Vietnam hopes to combine its traditional knowledge with modern research, while Switzerland already includes certain herbal treatments in its national health insurance. Negotiations for a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association, which includes Switzerland, are expected to continue during the visit.
