Established in September 2021 with nine members, the cooperative specialises in purchasing, producing and processing medicinal herbs, including fleeceflower root, ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms, son tra (hawthorn), bitter melon, soapberry and honey. By making use of locally available raw materials, it focuses on product research and diversification to meet increasingly varied consumer demand.

Lo Thi Chuong, Director of the cooperative, said Muong La commune has nearly 200 hectares of hawthorn trees. However, the fresh fruit sale is sometimes unstable, limiting its economic value. To address this, the cooperative has developed hawthorn tea to extend the fruit’s shelf life and increase its value. The tea has a natural aroma and a mildly sour, pleasantly sweet taste. It received a three-star rating under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) programme in 2023, with the rating renewed in 2025, helping the cooperative promote the product to consumers. 

Beyond herbal teas, the cooperative has combined medicinal plants to develop hair and body care products, notably herbal shampoo made from hawthorn fruit. Following repeated trials, it finalised the production process and launched bottled shampoo on the market. Its product range also includes conditioner, soap, facial cleanser, hair mist and other natural herbal products.
 
The cooperative has invested in a production workshop, grinding and automatic filling machines, cooking and mixing equipment, as well as product packaging and labels. It also works with local medicinal herb growers to purchase raw materials and organise seasonal production. On average, it buys around 10 tonnes of various medicinal herbs from local residents each year.

In 2023, the People’s Committee of the former Muong La district provided 200 million VND (7,720 USD) in support for packaging, brand logo development, barcodes, product traceability, together with guidance on developing signature products. The support helped standardise products, strengthen brand recognition and improve market access.

To reach more customers, the cooperative has promoted its products on social media platforms, including Zalo, Facebook and TikTok, and conducts livestream sales. It has also participated in conferences, seminars and trade fairs, while placing products on consignment at tourist destinations inside and outside the province. Direct and online sales operate in parallel, helping expand its customer base and distribution network.

At the recent second Son La Coffee Festival 2026, the cooperative’s booth attracted large numbers of visitors and shoppers. Over the five-day event, it sold 400 sets of shampoo and conditioner and 1,200 other products, including bath soap, facial cleanser and hair mist. Prices ranged from 30,000 VND to 320,000 VND. 

Since the beginning of this year, the cooperative has earned a profit of 300 million VND after deducting investment costs. Its production and business activities also provide regular jobs for four local workers and seasonal employment for 15-20 others.

Hoang Thi Thien, an employee, said she has worked at the cooperative for more than a year, mainly processing raw materials, producing tea and shampoo, and introducing products through livestreams. The relatively stable work provides her with an income and enables her to remain with the cooperative in the long term.

By developing value-added products from natural medicinal herbs, the Muong La Medicinal Herb Cooperative is gradually increasing the value of local resources, expanding markets for agricultural produce, creating jobs and raising labourers’ incomes, thus contributing to the development of distinctive local products./.