Star anise brings new hope to highland farmers

Across the rolling hills of Na Nom hamlet in Duong Hong Commune, lush green star anise forests are creating new opportunities for local people. Once known for its barren and isolated landscape, the area is now seeing economic transformation driven by the cultivation of star anise trees.

Nong Van Thach from Na Nom hamlet, Duong Hong Commune, tends to his family’s star anise plantation.

Nong Van Thach, one of the pioneers in developing star anise farming in the locality, said his family previously relied on maize and timber trees for income, but earnings remained low. During a study trip to Cao Bang Province in 2015, he realized that star anise was well suited to the local climate and soil conditions and decided to shift to the new crop.

In 2018, Thach established a 1,600-square-meter nursery to secure seedling supplies. A year later, he converted more than 1.2 hectares of timber plantations into star anise forests. His family now owns nearly 2.6 hectares of star anise, with around 2 hectares already producing essential oil. Besides cultivation, he also supplies seedlings to farmers within and outside the commune.

To increase product value, Thach invested in an essential oil distillation system. On average, his family earns around VND100 million (about USD4,000) annually from star anise products and oil extraction.

The success of Thach’s model has encouraged many households in Duong Hong Commune to follow suit. According to local authorities, the commune currently has more than 363 hectares of star anise, including over 106 hectares already harvested, while 242 hectares are nearing the production stage. More than 5 hectares were newly planted in 2025.

Farmers in villages such as Na Nom, Khuoi Ma and Na Don have gradually replaced low-yield crops with star anise cultivation aimed at commercial production.

Star anise leaves and branches produce golden essential oil with a mild fragrance after distillation.

The commune currently operates 13 star anise oil distillation facilities, helping increase the value of local products. Duong Hong authorities have identified star anise as a key crop in socio-economic development plans for 2025–2030, targeting a total cultivation area of 500 hectares by 2030. The locality also aims to develop star anise essential oil into a signature OCOP product in the future.

Hoang Tuyen