Nam Tra My

Nam Tra My is a mountainous district in southwestern Quảng Nam, bordering Kon Tum province. The district capital is Trà My town. It is one of the wettest places in Vietnam, with average annual rainfall exceeding 4,000 mm, concentrated between October and December.

Nam Tra My is known for Ngoc Linh mountain (2,598 m), the highest peak of the Truong Son range, which straddles the border with Kon Tum. The mountain's upper slopes produce the prized Ngoc Linh ginseng (Panax vietnamensis), one of the most valuable medicinal plants in the world. The district is also famous for Trà My cinnamon, which has the highest essential oil content of any cinnamon variety globally.

By Plane

Da Nang International Airport (DAD IATA) is about 120 km east. A private car costs around 1,200,000–1,500,000 dong, about 3 hours.

By Train

The nearest major station is Tam Ky, about 90 km east.

By Car / Road

Access is via Highway 14E from Thang Binh or via Highway 40 from Kon Tum. The roads are winding and mountainous. Buses run from Tam Ky to Trà My town, taking about 2.5 hours.

Local xe om connect Trà My town to surrounding communes. For reaching the Ngoc Linh mountain area, a 4WD vehicle is recommended as roads are poor. Local guides are essential for trekking in the ginseng forests.

• Ngoc Linh mountain — at 2,598 m, the highest peak in central Vietnam, covered in primary cloud forest
• Ngoc Linh ginseng plantations — cultivated terraces on the mountain slopes where the world's most northerly Panax ginseng species is grown
• Trà My cinnamon forests — the source of Vietnam's finest Saigon cinnamon
• Tra My town market — a colourful highland market selling forest products

Trekking expeditions to Ngoc Linh mountain (multi-day, requires a guide). Visiting ginseng farms and learning about cultivation and processing. Purchasing Ngoc Linh ginseng products (be sure to buy from authorised sellers).

Local cuisine features forest vegetables, stream fish, and dishes cooked with Trà My cinnamon. Simple restaurants in Trà My town serve Vietnamese staples and local specialities.

Locally grown tea is the standard beverage, often infused with ginseng or cinnamon. Rượu cần (jar wine) is used in ethnic minority celebrations. Avoid tap water.

Basic guesthouses in Trà My town (200,000–400,000 dong). Homestays are available in some ethnic minority villages. Accommodation is limited; book ahead.

Ngoc Linh ginseng (sold as root, slices, or tincture) is the district's premier product. Trà My cinnamon sticks and powder are sold at the market. Prices for genuine Ngoc Linh ginseng are high — hundreds of dollars per kilogram for wild-simulated roots.

• Tien Phuoc — east, the neighbouring mountainous district
• Kon Tum — south via Highway 40, the Central Highlands city
• Tam Ky — 90 km east, the provincial capital